Hardware Design for International Development

Creative Capacity Building training in Arua, Uganda. January 2024. Photo: Courtesy MIT D-Lab/Swathi Srinivasan
Creative Capacity Building training in Arua, Uganda. January 2024. Photo: Courtesy MIT D-Lab/Swathi Srinivasan

Using repurposed electronics for transformative impact in low-income communities

 

About the class

In this class, students explore possible uses of repurposed electronic devices in several sectors of development, including agriculture, education, health, and energy, to have a positive impact on people living in low-income communities. Guest lecturers provide insight into current trends in information and communication technology for development.

Prerequisites

None.

Student teams and projects

Students work in teams to apply principles of participatory and inclusive design to specific projects that they develop in collaboration with community innovators in refugee camps in Northern Uganda and rural areas of Tanzania. This class is offered in conjunction with the MIT D-Lab program Design for Second-Life Innovations.

Student travel

Optional travel to Uganda and Tanzania occurs over subsequent IAP with D-Lab partners in the field. Graduate students complete additional assignments.

Course Information

Instructor(s)
Semester Offered
Fall
Lecture Location
N51-350
Lecture Times
W2-5
Units (credit hours)
3-0-6
Class Size
18
Grading
A-F
Course #
EC.751, EC.793 (G)