Octopus / GvP 6

Sam Hopkins summarizing the last presentations followed by a presentation with Cynthia Chepkemoi about infrastructural problems in slums in Nairobi and what kinds of alternative models emerge of this, like sharing content offline via bluetooth and other methods, and for what purposes the people use the internet. With the progress and application of Information Technology (IT), Networking and Internet access has been gaining world’s attention. It is relatively a growing phenomenon whose value has proven beyond doubts, though its’ application is majorly in developed countries and cities. Slums and Rural areas have been neglected and less has been done on its applications and they lack these services so they seek alternatives means. This paper attempts to analyse how people in slums and rural areas network,use mobile phones, share content offline and their identity. The research seek to identify which alternative devices they use to network and share content offline.

CYNTHIA CHEPKEMOI regards herself as an archivist interested in the particular complexities of personal experience. She works in qualitative and quantitative research for both academic projects and market research companies. Her works employ research and surveys to understand Kenya at the margins, beyond the staple subjects. She has been involved with reports on various topics, including by ipsos on teenage pregnancies, medical insurance accessibility to Kenyans, the views of shareholders in KCB Bank research, the plight of sex workers in Salgaa in Nakuru County and agribusiness in Kericho County. She has a background in logistics and supply chain management and six year’s experience working in procurement in Nairobi.