(This article was originally published on The Conversation)
 
By Hernan Galperin, François Bar and Annette M. Kim
 
Los Angeles is home to some of the most creative people and businesses in the planet. Our filmmakers, musicians, visual artists, software engineers and scientists entertain the world and push the knowledge frontier forward. Their process is often a mystery, but their tools are not. Underpinning their intellectual pursuit is broadband Internet access, which fosters creativity and innovation by enabling access to information and supporting collaborative work…. Read More » “Broadband: We must do better”

Toyama’s (2015) Geek Heresy is a poignant self-reflection and examination of the misguided promises and immense pitfalls of techno-centrism within information and communications technologies for development (ICT4D) work, particularly in relation to international efforts and projects attempting to foster economic development or address the knowledge gap. That is, throughout this accessible, non-academic read, Toyama debunks techno-deterministic myths and imaginaries within industries such as education, business, and computer science. He illustrates the ways in which these narratives have misinformed ICT4D interventions and led to failed attempts at addressing social ailments…. Read More » “Geek Heresy Book Review”