Birds of Feather(BoF) Beginner First Talk

Community-Centred Technology

Review Pending

Session Description

Discussion will explore how free and open-source technologies can be developed and sustained in collaboration with communities rather than simply deployed for them. Drawing on Janastu's experiences working with rural and marginalized communities, we will discuss projects including community-owned mesh networks, local-first applications for low-connectivity environments, community radio, and AI-based voice anonymization for protecting vulnerable voices. And also about 3 month residential course for IT related people. The session will invite participants to reflect on the technical, social, and organizational challenges of building community-owned digital infrastructure. Through an open discussion, attendees will share experiences, exchange ideas, and explore how FOSS can better support local autonomy, privacy, participation, and long-term sustainability in community-driven initiatives.

Key Takeaways

References

https://open.janastu.org

Session Categories

Knowledge Commons (Open Hardware, Open Science, Open Data etc.)

Which track are you applying for?

Main track

Speakers

Dinesh T B Technical Director | Janastu

Dinesh as technical director of Janastu, works near Bangalore, India on social and developmental issues like Web content accessibility for the low-literate, Wifi-mesh networks, use of 3D methods for location interpretation, methods on using social semantic web concepts for storytelling and other open source social platforms. At IruWay Labs, Durgadahalli near Tumkur, they strive to develop platforms that are Inclusive, are Cohesive and value Indispensability. He was a member of the W3C Working Group on Web Annotations as an Invited Expert, Working Group for W3C India Accessibility Standards and IEEE Working Group on Rural Last Mile Connectivity. He is now on board of APC - Association for Progressive Communications.

Shalini A Manager | Janastu

I have been part of Janastu - a software NGO, and Servelots - an IT company that engages with local contexts for their research and development needs for more than a decade. Our organization focuses on Community Networks in the remote villages, preferably a local network to encourage local content and archival of local knowledge over the WIFI Mesh network and to bring in the internet whenever required. I have been engaging with Community Owned WIFI-mesh networking by setting up a network and building mesh applications. I advocate these technologies with the local craftswomen and youth for this CN area.

Mouhamed Noordeen Software Engineer | Janastu

Noor is a software engineer, interested in decentralised technologies and also in understanding the relation between technology and society.

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