CSEP 590B: Information and Communication Technology for Development : A Development Engineering Approach

Spring 2020

Important update

Since the university will not hold in class instruction spring quarter, all of the class will be conducted on-line. The current plan is to rely on Zoom meetings for the class. Zoom information has been sent out on the class mailing list. If you have not received the link, please contact the instructor. The main class session will remain at 6:30 PM on Monday, but there is the possibility that extra discussion sessions will be scheduled during the day.

Course description

This is an engineering course teaching the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to address specific needs of developing countries. While ICTs are having an enormous impact on livelihoods worldwide, deployment environments vary dramatically based on available infrastructure and technologies accessible to people. The goal of this course is provide background to develop and deploy technologies in a global setting that address development challenges. The course will take a Development Engineering perspective which combines the principles of engineering with economics, entrepreneurship, design, business and policy to create technological interventions to meet the needs of individuals living in low-resource settings. The course will utilize content being developed for a new textbook on Development Engineering. Topics will include: Digital Identity, Election Monitoring, Community Cellular Networks, Mobile Financial Services, Low Cost Medical Devices, Voice Based Social Networks, and Platforms for Mobile Data Collection.

The class sessions will be a lecture / discussion format with readings and assignments. There will be a weekly written assignments requiring reading, research or design. Course grades will be based on the seven of nine assignments giving flexibility for travel or work deadlines.

Class Meetings

Monday 6:30-9:20 pm; Place: Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering (CSE1), room 305; MS: Building 99, room 1915 Lectures will be conducted using Zoom. Zoom link will be distributed via the class mailing list.

Contact Information

Instructor: Richard Anderson, anderson@cs, Office hours: TBD

Homework

Due at start of class via electronic submission. There will be weekly homework assignments.

Readings

Weekly readings with expectations that students will have read the primary readings before class.

Exams and projects

No final exam or course projects.