The Chalkboard Blog and the Town Square
When we talk about Internet and mobile communications, we should always keep in mind that in many parts of the world these technologies just don’t compute.
Take, for example, the video above from Liberia’s capital Monrovia. Here, where per capita GDP is $215, newspapers are too expensive to buy and Internet access is something the majority only hear about.
How to share and spread information then? The Chalkboard Blog.
Each morning, Alfred Sirleaf combs through the day’s news and writes headlines and stories on a giant chalkboard. Then readers come to discuss, debate in this newly formed town square. Call it the world’s least likely, most popular blog.
What’s amazing though in this video is how Sirleaf discusses design and technology issues associated with the medium. It’s a conversation any news editor can appreciate.
A different video on this can be seen here.
It’s another great example of innovation in providing access to information, though the lack of technology in this case is fascinating. The use of symbols to visibly display news topics and the uniting affect for the community (it’s even called “Daily Talk,” not “Daily Read” or “Daily Chalkboard”) are even of sociological interest.
I agree with Russell this example is fascinating. He’s adapted a model developed through technology – such as radio news announcements or digital news sites – to a context where even access to a newspaper is tremendously limited. I was also interested in how people were reading the “Daily Talk” – it’s a tool that promotes literacy. I like the public nature of the board – a gathered crowd always attracts other people’s curiosity.