Dr. Ndemo,

When http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/science/brainlike-computers-learning-from-experience.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0 broke, my friend Bob Palitz posted it on her fb page and commented "Cool story, with prominent mention of Ghanaian Kwabena Boahen, giving us a memorable quote. But the question left unanswered is not when will we have computers that can learn from experience, but why there are still so many human brains that don't."

My response was "Bob, the difference is humans have the "will" not to, computers don't yet. I met Kwabena in 2004/5 when I was a fellow at Stanford and then we both were TED Global Fellows in 2007 at the inaugural TED Global conference in Arusha, Tanzania. At that event not only did George Ayittey postulate the "Cheetah" generation but Kwabena stood as an example so it is a good way to end the year seeing his many years of lab activity now emerging as the next frontier of computing......Kwabena, ye mawu ayekoo"

I urge caution in advocating that technology would change behaviour.

HNY to all.

Eric here
 


On 4 Jan 2014, at 09:56, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:

Ngigi,
I am reading Jean Dreze and Amartya Sen's book, An Uncertain Glory India
and its Contradictions (recommended to me by one of the listers here after
my India trip).  They have dwelt on India's corruption in many of the
chapters and they conclude that only technology will save India from its
endemic corruption.  They think technology too will help change behaviour.
Indeed even the western world, technology plays a big role in behavioural
change.  Indeed if we moved to digital platforms, much of our values will
improve.

Our problem is that we never get to study the impact of these new
technologies.  Preliminary finding from my current research on the impact
of mobile money show that digital payments have to a large extent dealt
with petty corruption.  As a former accounting officer, I can confirm to
you that the switch by government to RTGS really undermined corporate
corruption.  We cannot hope that religion will change our rotten
behaviours.  This only happened in Europe during the reformation period.
Our preachers now want money than entrenching morals.


Ndemo.






You can take a man from the village, but not the village out of him.
Behaviour, is a really hard thing to change.

If anything, technology exercebates bad behaviour for the already badly
behaved.

Kiriamiti, with a gun, could walk to a bank and steal a sack-full of
money.
With modern technology, you can steal a truck load without leaving your
bedroom and not think twice that Kiriamiti served 20yrs in prison.

Before mobile technology, if you had a problem with someone, you walked
upto them and had a one-one talk. Today, you just send them insults on txt
and before we know it we are crafting laws to protect us online.

Not long ago we had two politicians put digital cameras in their hotel
rooms and record their escapades which ended up being plastered infront of
their families.

That woman(the on in the VW) will learn,and quickly, the advantages of a
Digital camera on her vehicle.

Next time she causes a mishap just the threat that she can brandish her
evidence digitally will be used against her unlucky victims.

Technology, makes crime convenient, just as it makes the rest of our
lives!

Waithaka Ngigi

Alliance Technologies
Nairobi, Kenya

www.A1.io
On 4 Jan 2014 10:02, "ICT Researcher" <ict.researcher@yahoo.com> wrote:


She would have to think twice before accusing the next driver.
Technology
has changed her behaviour.

------------------------------
On Sat, Jan 4, 2014 9:33 AM MSK Ohaga JB wrote:

I do share @Ngigi's opinion, seeking technological solutions to all our
bad
behavior is a favourite pastime of technological determinists, however,
we
should view technology as instruments that aid in making the world a
better
n easier place to live in. So wht we need is behavior change in our
midst
n
basic good manners, so that someone does not back up into your car n
then
accuse you of having hit them.

In all fairness, does Doc think that the lady in question won't falsely
accuse the next driver that she does that to just because she already
met
one guy whose car was fitted with digital cams? I really doubt it...
On 04 Jan 2014 9:20 AM, "Ngigi Waithaka" <ngigi@at.co.ke> wrote:

Aren't you scared of having technology being pervasive in every facet
of
our lives?

Add to that the fact that our Governments don't shy away from peeping
into
our privaye lives through all these gadgets we have.

Its quite a slippery road.

I believe in a simple digital world, but not simpler!

Waithaka Ngigi

Alliance Technologies
Nairobi, Kenya

www.A1.io
On 4 Jan 2014 08:55, "Barrack Otieno" <otieno.barrack@gmail.com>
wrote:

Happy New Year Dr. Ndemo, i agree, technology will help a lot, ATM's
are
already doing this we should extend the same every where.

Best Regards


On Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 8:16 AM, Bitange Ndemo <bitange@jambo.co.ke
wrote:

Yesterday morning as I drove to the city, my trip was disrupted by a
woman
driving ahead of me.  She was most likely driving a stick shift
Toyota
when at Muthaiga Market (has a small hill as you join on to
Parklands)
her
car slowly sled backwards resting on the front of my VW bug.  She
realized
her mistake too late but when she came out, she said to me
"Mheshimiwa
umenigonga kutoka nyuma" (Honorable you just hit me from behind).  I
just
had to smile as I opened my door.  The vehicles behind us sped off.
I
knew I had no witness.

Her car had minor damage and as she prepared to call the police, I
encouraged her to do it quick since this is a simple matter.  She
then
says to me "a simple matter".  I said yes.  What do you mean she
retorted.
It is simple because my car is digital, I said.  Digital! what do
exactly
mean she says.  My car has digital cameras all round and when the
police
arrive, I just will show them exactly what went on.  She stops
making
her
call and started to look at my car carefully.  This time I tell her
that
I
am calling the police.  She then turns to me as says "this digital
business is not good, can we just agree that we just cover our
costs".
I
said no.  This is the very reason why I mounted a digicam on my car.

She starts to plead with me.  She offers to cover my cost.  I said
no
but
asked her to put it in writing that she was on the wrong.

Lesson 1:  Technology will help us correct our values.
Lesson 2: If all our PSV vehicles are mounted with cameras, we shall
gather good data to hep us deal with road carnage
Lesson 3:  There are other benefits that will accrue if car
manufacturers
were to in-build cameras just like mobile phones.


Ndemo.


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KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
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KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
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Eric M.K Osiakwan
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