SP.720 D-Lab: ICT

Information and Communication Technologies for Development

D-Lab ICT is an engineering lab class that teaches the use of Information and Communication Technologies to address specific needs in developing countries. The goal of the course is to provide the knowledge and skills needed to successfully deploy an ICT project, with a focus on appropriateness, transferability, and long-term sustainability. The class is comprised of lectures, discussions, and hands-on laboratory modules. Topics include: low-cost computers and instrumentation, low-power sensors, radio technologies (RFID, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi), power generation (solar, wind, bio, and mechanical), cell-phone accessories, and network architectures for data-collection and mapping. Students work in multidisciplinary teams on their projects, closely collaborating with local community partners, field practitioners, and experts in relevant fields.

Course Information