Comments on: Illiterate? Not a problem with voice applications http://www.oafrica.com/mobile/voice-applications/ Tracking African ICT Progress Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:58:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: OA http://www.oafrica.com/mobile/voice-applications/comment-page-1/#comment-91 OA Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:07:25 +0000 http://www.onlineafrica.net/?p=882#comment-91 Well argued, Wayan. I appreciate the critique and have come to realize how that specific point is rather weak. I initially saw a comparison centered around the universal attraction to graphical interfaces, but that was all. Considering the vocal scope of the main argument, the comparison is unnecessary and untrue. Well argued, Wayan. I appreciate the critique and have come to realize how that specific point is rather weak. I initially saw a comparison centered around the universal attraction to graphical interfaces, but that was all. Considering the vocal scope of the main argument, the comparison is unnecessary and untrue.

]]> By: Wayan @ ICTworks http://www.oafrica.com/mobile/voice-applications/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Wayan @ ICTworks Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:09:52 +0000 http://www.onlineafrica.net/?p=882#comment-90 Hmm... I find your analogy here quite lacking: "If a university educated iPhone user relies on voice applications on a daily basis, why wouldn’t an illiterate African farmer?" First, I don't know of any power iPhone users who thinks of their device as a conduit to voice applications. Most iPhone users are connecting with the device through its touch screen - visually absorbing data. If its audio, its music, not web browsing. Next, the two groups you speak of - global elite and African farmers - do not have the same daily info needs, not by a long shot. While I might make or loose a sale based on my speed in replying to an email or catching a Tweet before others on a minute-by-minute basis, a farmer is more concerned about input costs, weather, disease/pets, and output prices over a 3-6 month (at least) growing season. Last but not least, yes, farmers do need data, and yes, voice data can be more accessible to them - in fact radio + voicemail in local languages has been successful in multiple countries. So make the case for voice-accessed Internet boosting information dissemination in Africa, but leave out the weak comparisons to iPhone users Hmm… I find your analogy here quite lacking:

“If a university educated iPhone user relies on voice applications on a daily basis, why wouldn’t an illiterate African farmer?”

First, I don’t know of any power iPhone users who thinks of their device as a conduit to voice applications. Most iPhone users are connecting with the device through its touch screen – visually absorbing data. If its audio, its music, not web browsing.

Next, the two groups you speak of – global elite and African farmers – do not have the same daily info needs, not by a long shot. While I might make or loose a sale based on my speed in replying to an email or catching a Tweet before others on a minute-by-minute basis, a farmer is more concerned about input costs, weather, disease/pets, and output prices over a 3-6 month (at least) growing season.

Last but not least, yes, farmers do need data, and yes, voice data can be more accessible to them – in fact radio + voicemail in local languages has been successful in multiple countries. So make the case for voice-accessed Internet boosting information dissemination in Africa, but leave out the weak comparisons to iPhone users

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