Masters student: Xolisa Vuza, 2006 (cum laude)

Supervisor: Bill Tucker

Research question

This research project explores the provision of semi-synchronous multi-modal communication over Internet Protocol. In particular, this project addresses asynchronous video messaging and synchronous video conferencing within Multimodal Telemedicine Inter-communicator (MuTI), a system that is already in place in a rural tele-consultation environment [1]. Videoconferencing can be used to communicate synchronously and video messaging in a store and forward fashion can be used to communicate asynchronously. The aim of this research is to learn how to bridge a particular Digital Divide by building an application that is useful and relevant to tele-consultation. We are working within a rural South African context to conduct this research. We hope to produce guidelines and recommendations on how to develop multi-modal semi-synchronous applications to bridge the Digital Divide in a developing world context.

Related work

MuTI currently supports store and forward of still images, voicemail and text [1]. The system also supports real time communication by means of VoIP audio and text messaging. We are currently in the third MuTI prototype cycle, and have joined with the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) during 2004 to deliver this solution. We are enhancing the current offering by introducing video to increase the modality options, and intend to continue the work at another site in the remote Eastern Cape (former Transkei). In light of the many failures of rural ICT, we are as concerned with methodological issues of ICT deployment as the technical issues of the software solution. Therefore, we look to success stories of rural ICT development, such as [2] and also try to learn lessons from failures.

Research methodology

We are developing this application together with the users of the application in an iterative fashion where we build prototypes and engage end-users at each cycle. The design and development methodology, then, is based on the principles of Action Research and Participatory Design. Feedback and involvement from the end-users play an important role in building the prototype for the next cycle. In collecting data, we are most concerned with how end-user behaviour changes with respect to modifications in the software system. We are using a method called Outcome Mapping [3] in order to formulate and facilitate the collection of user behavioural data. The communication software is instrumented to provide statistics about the system usage. We are also collecting data from the users with questionnaires and focus group discussions. We compare the qualitative user data to the software usage statistics to learn which features in the system the users actually prefer to use. In this case, we are primarily concerned with video usage, which was shunned in a pre-MuTI version of the tele-consultation service due to poor quality and one-way deployment via webcam.

Expected outputs

There are several research outputs: knowledge gained, software artefacts and academic publications. We expect to learn how video messaging and conferencing will prove useful for both synchronous and asynchronous communication for a rural tele-consultation service. This project also intends to improve upon the current MuTI system with a cyclical approach to end-user engagement. This project’s Work in Progress paper was recently accepted at SATNAC 2004 [4] and will be submitted as a full paper for SATNAC 2005 in addition to at least one international conference and/or journal.

References

[1] Marshini Chetty, William Tucker and Edwin Blake. "Developing Locally Relevant Applications for Rural Areas: A South African Example", Proceedings of SAICSIT 2004, Cape Town, South Africa. 4-6 Oct, 2004.

[2] Nelson K. Sewakambo, Rebecca Riccio. “The Healthnet Uganda - Satellite Handheld Computer Project.” 2003, www.developmentgateway.org/download/221026/Satellife.pdf.

[3] Sarah Earl, Fred Carden and Terry Smutylo. Outcome Mapping: building learning and reflection into development programs, International Development Research Center, Ottawa, Canada, 2001, pp 1-15.

[4] Xolisa Vuza and William D. Tucker. "An IP based Multi-Modal Semi-Synchronous Rural Telehealth Service: Adding Video Messaging and Conferencing to MuTI ", Proceedings of the 7th South African Telecommunications Networks & Applications Conference, SATNAC 2004, Stellenbosch, South Africa.