Indigi-Net investigates ways in which technology can help eliminate the existing layers and bureaucracies separating between those who have, those who need and those who can actually deliver to developing nations. This is a service aimed at creating more meaningful connections between independent travelers and local entities in developing countries by facilitating service and skill exchanges between the two. Indigi-Net takes advantage of technology to help empower locals in developing nations and support these connections made when travelers visit the third world. The service supports a grassroots movement of socially aware travelers, resulting from a change in perspective. Every year millions of people strap on a backpack and go off to see and be part of the world. They visit small villages and remote locations. No one wants to be just a tourist, and many often wish they could do something that could both connect them in a more substantial way to local people and also be truly useful for the local communities. I see these explorers as a potential distribution system of needed resources and information - a perpetual and sturdy link between the remote and the urban, the developed and the third world. Each person has different skills and knowledge that can be used to the local community’s advantage. They are also usually “armed” with mobile phones and cameras, amongst other devices which enable both data storage and communications.

Indigi-Net focuses around three main possibilities for exchange: knowledge, skills and conversation. I believe that each traveler can use their different skills and strength to the benefit of the local communities they visit. This provides foreign visitors a way to truly give back instead of constantly taking from the hosting community. There are endless ways to contribute while traveling; if by having a conversation in English with a local student or even by simply painting a mural on a wall. I believe that a traveler can directly benefit local artisans by uploading photographs taken while traveling to the web and writing information to help promote their webpage, increasing their web presence. One can teach a local businessman how to use Microsoft Word to his advantage; how to format a formal letter to a potential partner, or how to label an invoice. If someone is interested, it is even possible to help paint the decaying walls of a preschool’s playground. The possibilities are endless, and every person can contribute somehow. It is possible to browse through the different needs and exchange possibilities on the Indigi-Net website. Information is fed directly from local entities or from travelers who roam those areas. As a result, instead of simply bringing candy and chocolates, it is possible to gather enough information from the site, providing users with more meaningful exchange opportunities while traveling.

Indigi-Net incorporates mobile phone technology along with online social networking. More than 80% of the world's population is covered by the GSM cellular networks , and more than 2 billion people own a mobile phone. Indigi-Net takes advantage of this increasing penetration of the cellular networks. By merging a mobile phone based service with the additional strength that social networking has in connecting between people with similar interests, it is possible to create a powerful tool which is accessible, inexpensive and simple to use. This results in a lower entry barrier, allowing for active participation even from those who do not have internet access, or are computer illiterate. Indigi-Net's underlying goal is to empower local communities by facilitating the ability to post and edit data regarding their initiatives online. By letting locals post their own initiatives, it is possible to take that one step further. In this case, technology is used as a tool to encourage connections to take place between locals and travelers and not as the main focus of the service.

When implementing IT related projects in rural locations around the world, throwing technology at the local communities in what is called the “parachuting approach”, is quite common. This method does not take into account social aspects and cultural differences in technological implementations. Implementation of technology is rather a social matter, not only a physical one. Some refer to a “parasite approach”, or parasiting (in contrast to parachuting), where the new technology almost acts like a parasite in the community. It makes an entry with a meager presence, growing and becoming more and more refined as time goes by. Physical implementation is just the first stage of the social implementation, which takes into account a two-way cycle of operation between the technology developers and the local communities.

Independent travelers are usually technology savvy and most of them own mobile phones. Many of them go back and forth between the more urban, central regions and the remote, rural areas. I see great potential in taking advantage of this already existing network of people who are “armed” with technology in addition to a variety of valuable knowledge.
This existing gap, or so called feedback loop, in network terms, is an opportunity; an opportunity to enhance the traveling experience on the one hand by making it more engaging, educational and reaching out to the needs of local communities. While on the other hand, using people’s knowledge and familiarity with technology, as an access method to allow for a more meaningful way for information and services exchange; a physical gateway to some of the services we take for granted by having unlimited and access to the web.

PROJECT GOALS:

I dream of Indigi-Net growing to be a global and actively updated repository of data on local initiatives and exchange opportunities in developing countries. The millions of travelers who roam these nations on a yearly basis would be able to consult this information before heading out on their adventures, similar to the way a Lonely Planet guide book is used. Whole trips could be planned around ‘where I could do what’ for a local cause. With the existing structure of travel-volunteering opportunities, it is unbelievably difficult to gather valid and updated local information before visiting a developing country. Backpackers and independent travelers go to these locations anyhow; almost all take photos and update personal trip journals. I see this data used to help promote local causes. Just by writing about a local organization and placing that text in an online space, it is possible to raise awareness to problems that a community faces. By promoting their initiatives it is possible to get many more people to help them out. This can be seen as a form of micro-philanthropy, allowing foreign travelers to take part in small yet meaningful actions while visiting a country.

I see travelers as agents of change, being able to engage with their hosting communities instead of taking the passive role of a viewer. My hypothesis is that with increasing local information coming from these areas, the connections made between those who have, those who can need and those who can get it there could have a long-lasting positive effect on locals, communities, travelers and local non-governmental organizations.
The immediate project goals for this thesis project are listed below. If successful, this will serve as a proof of concept, which can then be magnified on a much larger scale.

* Focus on a simple, grassroots solution using technology. Prove that a bottoms-up method can also serve as a solution to help lessen the imbalance caused by travel and generally the tourism industry.

* Make sure the system is sustainable and aimed at truly empowering local communities. Finding representatives from the local communities who are willing to participate is a key factor for testing usability of such a system.

* Use technology as a facilitator, not the main focus of this service.

* Simple and cheap to use: the system must be affordable for locals as well as travelers in developing countries.

* Use this written paper as the base-line structure for a grant proposal in order to continue this project either at a university setting, or through a business venture.

* Develop a presentation to promote the idea with possible partner organizations such as airline carriers, Kiva and Lonely Planet, amongst others.