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VillageSuite

Challenges Entered: 

VillageSuite is a concept for a multi-user suite of applications focused on empowering people in developing countries whether urban or rural.   The applications focus on allowing users to utilize banking institutions, receive fairer prices for goods and crops, and increase literacy.  

 Applications include:

Mobile Banking- an application allowing users to utilize payments and transfer funds remotely since many Africans do not have access to bank institutions and are unaware of current mobile banking operations.

Market Prices - Ensures growers can get fair prices for their crops when many are unaware of current market prices by offering daily updated prices from local,   national, and regional markets.  

Store - A simple app utilizing (if available) a phone's camera   and simple interface for villagers to list items for sale from singular to bulk local or internationally. Included would be a payment system linked with the banking app to ensure villagers receive cash and has it protected.   Farmers could also use this app to inform buyers of harvests, overstock, and other sales items as well.

Reading - An application devoted to increasing literacy by teaching users how to read with audio and quick tests.

Math - Allows children to learn basic math concepts from adding and multiplication to more concept business related subjects.

Logistics - Bring drivers, pilots, and producers together with updated pickup, shipping, and delivery times as well as alerting each other of new orders and changed schedules to enhance efficiency and cut down   on cost.

The suite would have a multi-user interface to allow people to share the same device while not giving up privacy or security.   In case some users are illiterate, the icons will be user-friendly and clear of purpose as well as an audio byte in the native language the app's basic function when pressed.   This last feature can be turned off however would be the default. The software would be open-sourced so other developers could personalize and improve upon it as well as increase the availability via cost.

 

Project Assessment
Financial support: 
No
Sustainability Model: 
The financial model would concentrate on partnering with local mobile operators and handset makers and through targeted advertising in the urban and emerging areas. The software would also utilize APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) as well to increase visability and usability without extra cost.
Expertise needed: 
Technical Expertise: The Technical expertise needed would be programming ability to write the code for the software applications to go on phones including multiple OSs (like iPhone, RIMM, Microsoft Mobile, and more).   How to make the programs easily adaptable with multiple languages and designed for multiple regions.
Identified Obstacles: 
The major potential obstacle is getting the mobile phones into people's hands however cell phone sales in developing countries have soared the past couple of years so the availability of phones and programs will grow in the coming years.   Another obstacle would be finding translators for the diverse set of languages. This is why a steady roll-out instead of waiting for all editions to be ready would be essential.

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