Submissions/Not your Internet

After careful consideration, the Programme Committee has decided not to accept the below submission at this time. Thank you to the author(s) for participating in the Wikimania 2015 programme submission, we hope to still see you at Wikimania this July.

Submission no.: 2098

Title of the submission

Not your Internet

Type of submission

Presentation

Author of the submission

Jared Zimmerman
Maryana Pinchuck

E-mail address: Jared.zimmermanwikimedia.org
mpinchuckwikimedia.org

Username

Jaredzimmerman (WMF)
Maryana (WMF)

Country of origin

USA

Affiliation, if any (organisation, company etc.)

WMF

Personal homepage or blog

wikimedia.org

Abstract

People in the rest of the world use the internet differently than you. Stop building products for yourself.

How much longer will we continue to think of the Internet as a distinct concept? As more of our communications and interaction between each other are mediated through private and proprietary channels, what does the concept of "Internet" even mean?

The way that users in the LMIC/Global South/Majority World use technology products is both very similar and very different than those who happen to be born elsewhere. How can we learn more about the need and challenges faced by those in the Majority World to make sure that we develop a level of empathy and understanding to create product that solve real needs, work well under the challenges of poor infrastructure, lack of access to modern technology, and fit with a life where priorities and tradeoffs must be made between food, and shelter vs learning and education. We learn that digital natives, and more specifically those born after the creation of the modern internet that the concept of what it means to be online differs greatly from those who have seen huge technology shifts during their lifetime, for many Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram (all facebook companies) are the only window into what outside of the Majority World would refer to as the internet. What does building relevant products in their world mean?

Track

WikiCulture & Community

Length of session (if other than 30 minutes, specify how long): 30 minutes

Will you attend Wikimania if your submission is not accepted?

Yes

Slides or further information (optional)

TBD

Special requests

Interested attendees

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Ocaasi (talk) 23:43, 4 March 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Risker (talk) 02:24, 8 March 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Mrjohncummings (talk) 23:50, 9 March 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Pginer-WMF (talk) 13:06, 16 March 2015 (UTC)[reply]
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