Continue the Conversation - Design for Africa

re:

2009-10-05T12:03:05Z

This particular MIDlet uses a "fallback mechanism" to prioritize the cheapest method (assumed to be GPRS) for data transport ...Ed Hardy | UGG Boots

2009-02-21T21:35:20Z

>>>Africa has more languages in use than any other continent

Africa has so many peoples and as the result languages, that it's ... terrible problem for localization... Oh, my translator's community had feeled this(

Video is great, thanks!

2008-12-19T00:10:32Z

Great video, thanks for sharing. I only think the video had not enough views on youtube (only 267).

Some promotion would be good!

2008-10-08T10:08:19Z

jdmoore, thanks for the clarifications!
Now I understand that such approach would be useful in many circumstances.

Response to: ...SMS sending cost?

2008-10-08T01:35:20Z

Hi Damavik. This particular MIDlet uses a "fallback mechanism" to prioritize the cheapest method (assumed to be GPRS) for data transport.

SMS would only be used if GPRS was not available.

Also, it's worthwhile to note that localization of the UI or commands can require only a few SMS messages. Depending on the markup used between the client/ server, the packages can be optimized and reduced further in size.

Also, I'm certain a data size threshold could be applied to MIDlets that do transfer large amounts of data--unlike ours--so as to completely avoid SMS if deemed too expensive. (For example - sending high resolution wallpaper for a phone, or a polyphonic ringtone would require much more SMS traffic than simple text.)

In terms of innovation, I personally feel that allowing end users/ communities to hyper-localize their own UI and User Experience of a client/ server Java solution...with practically no Java skills...is the more interesting aspect of the project.

Thanks again for your comments!

And what about SMS sending cost?

2008-10-07T15:52:36Z

Hi!
I think it's not a completely innovative way of using sms stuff. Very often quite the same approach is used in DRM stuff (e.g. application license activation). Although we shouldn't assume SMS bearer as channel for transferring large amount of data, because cost of the SMS is quite high. Not only for users of the emerging markets :(