The document discusses the importance of localized, self-sourced software and technology solutions to enable communities in developing areas to address their own unique needs. It describes forecasts from a game where participants discussed opportunities around empowering local communities to create their own digital tools and content in local languages. Examples highlighted creating open-source studios, translation tools, and platforms to give teachers access to lessons in their language. Signals from present examples included software created in Nigeria to make budgets understandable and a crowdsourced translation news website.

1. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
© 2013 Institute for the Future. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
March 2013
Foresight Engine Game Analysis:
25 Zones of
Future Innovation
© 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
A project by Institute for the Future and The Rockefeller Foundation
www.iftf.org/our-work/global-landscape/catalysts-for-change/catalysts-zones-of-innovation
Contact: Tessa Finlev, tfinlev@iftf.org

2. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
10 | Self-Sourced Software
2

3. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
As the world becomes increasingly
connected, we’re discovering that
providing access to technology alone will
not create resilience and equitable growth
around the world.
These resources have to be localized and
contextualized. What’s more, they have to
enable local communities to build their own
digital tools for needs as diverse as micro-
learning, anti-corruption efforts, online group
procurement, community-led urban planning,
and much more.
3
10 | Self-Sourced Software | Future Innovation
© 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B

4. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
The importance of creating locally relevant technology in order to find new
paths out of poverty was highly debated by Catalysts for Change players.
Players pointed out the great opportunity to simultaneously spark local innovation,
entrepreneurship, and employment through local software creation. Ideas ranged
from new ways to bring illiterate users onto the Internet, to open source innovation
hubs focused on building regionally relevant web content and tools, to the potential
to link marginalized communities to the global economy through localized
technology solutions.
4
10 | Self-Sourced Software | From the Players
© 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B

5. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 5
Set up open source studios to
facilitate local entrepreneurs
and start-ups and teach new
ICT skills like programming
and graphic design*
Mozambique/Sweden**
10 | Self-Sourced Software | Micro-forecasts from the Game
*Cards have been lightly edited for readability
**Player location was self selected

6. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 6
Mobile devices are ubiquitous,
reaching the poorest areas.
Empowering (young) people to
create local digital content is a
major opportunity.
South Africa
10 | Self-Sourced Software | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Set up open source studios to
facilitate local entrepreneurs
and start-ups and teach new
ICT skills like programming
and graphic design
Mozambique/Sweden

7. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 7
Develop robust, free
translation tools that allow
access to educational
resources across language
barriers.
USA
10 | Self-Sourced Software | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Set up open source studios to
facilitate local entrepreneurs
and start-ups and teach new
ICT skills like programming
and graphic design
Mozambique/Sweden
Mobile devices are ubiquitous,
reaching the poorest areas.
Empowering (young) people
to create local digital content
is a major opportunity.
South Africa

8. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 8
Create optimized internet kiosk
that navigates links via spoken
word when mouse hovers over
written description, to enable
illiterate users.
Canada
10 | Self-Sourced Software | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Set up open source studios to
facilitate local entrepreneurs
and start-ups and teach new
ICT skills like programming
and graphic design
Mozambique/Sweden
Mobile devices are ubiquitous,
reaching the poorest areas.
Empowering (young) people
to create local digital content
is a major opportunity.
South Africa
Develop robust, free
translation tools that allow
access to educational
resources across language
barriers.
USA

9. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 9
Low-cost central (e.g. a
Raspberry-Pi) sends task to
near solar/crank mobile
lowcost devices, each
spreading tasks to far ones
like a virus.
Italy
10 | Self-Sourced Software | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Set up open source studios to
facilitate local entrepreneurs
and start-ups and teach new
ICT skills like programming
and graphic design
Mozambique/Sweden
Mobile devices are ubiquitous,
reaching the poorest areas.
Empowering (young) people
to create local digital content
is a major opportunity.
South Africa
Develop robust, free
translation tools that allow
access to educational
resources across language
barriers.
USA
Create optimized internet
kiosk that navigates links via
spoken word when mouse
hovers over written
description, to enable illiterate
users.
Canada

10. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 10
10 | Self-Sourced Software | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Support education efforts in
developing countries by
creating a platform that gives
teachers access to video
lessons in their language.
USA
Set up open source studios to
facilitate local entrepreneurs
and start-ups and teach new
ICT skills like programming
and graphic design
Mozambique/Sweden
Mobile devices are ubiquitous,
reaching the poorest areas.
Empowering (young) people
to create local digital content
is a major opportunity.
South Africa
Develop robust, free
translation tools that allow
access to educational
resources across language
barriers.
USA
Create optimized internet
kiosk that navigates links via
spoken word when mouse
hovers over written
description, to enable illiterate
users.
Canada
Low-cost central (e.g. a
Raspberry-Pi) sends task to
near solar/crank mobile
lowcost devices, each
spreading tasks to far ones
like a virus.
Italy

11. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 11
10 | Self-Sourced Software | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Digital content in local
language(s), and sensitive to
local culture and social
realities (illiteracy). Avoid text -
use multimedia.
South Africa
Set up open source studios to
facilitate local entrepreneurs
and start-ups and teach new
ICT skills like programming
and graphic design
Mozambique/Sweden
Mobile devices are ubiquitous,
reaching the poorest areas.
Empowering (young) people
to create local digital content
is a major opportunity.
South Africa
Develop robust, free
translation tools that allow
access to educational
resources across language
barriers.
USA
Create optimized internet
kiosk that navigates links via
spoken word when mouse
hovers over written
description, to enable illiterate
users.
Canada
Low-cost central (e.g. a
Raspberry-Pi) sends task to
near solar/crank mobile
lowcost devices, each
spreading tasks to far ones
like a virus.
Italy
Support education efforts in
developing countries by
creating a platform that gives
teachers access to video
lessons in their language.
USA

12. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 12
10 | Self-Sourced Software | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Lifelines India offers
educational Q&A in-context,
and in local languages
http://www.comminit.com/?q=i
ct-4-
development/node/279545
USA
Set up open source studios to
facilitate local entrepreneurs
and start-ups and teach new
ICT skills like programming
and graphic design
Mozambique/Sweden
Mobile devices are ubiquitous,
reaching the poorest areas.
Empowering (young) people
to create local digital content
is a major opportunity.
South Africa
Develop robust, free
translation tools that allow
access to educational
resources across language
barriers.
USA
Create optimized internet
kiosk that navigates links via
spoken word when mouse
hovers over written
description, to enable illiterate
users.
Canada
Low-cost central (e.g. a
Raspberry-Pi) sends task to
near solar/crank mobile
lowcost devices, each
spreading tasks to far ones
like a virus.
Italy
Support education efforts in
developing countries by
creating a platform that gives
teachers access to video
lessons in their language.
USA
Digital content in local
language(s), and sensitive to
local culture and social
realities (illiteracy). Avoid text
- use multimedia.
South Africa

13. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 13
10 | Self-Sourced Software | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Set up open source studios to
facilitate local entrepreneurs
and start-ups and teach new
ICT skills like programming
and graphic design
Mozambique/Sweden
Mobile devices are ubiquitous,
reaching the poorest areas.
Empowering (young) people
to create local digital content
is a major opportunity.
South Africa
Develop robust, free
translation tools that allow
access to educational
resources across language
barriers.
USA
Create optimized internet
kiosk that navigates links via
spoken word when mouse
hovers over written
description, to enable illiterate
users.
Canada
Low-cost central (e.g. a
Raspberry-Pi) sends task to
near solar/crank mobile
lowcost devices, each
spreading tasks to far ones
like a virus.
Italy
Support education efforts in
developing countries by
creating a platform that gives
teachers access to video
lessons in their language.
USA
Digital content in local
language(s), and sensitive to
local culture and social
realities (illiteracy). Avoid text
- use multimedia.
South Africa
Lifelines India offers
educational Q&A in-context,
and in local languages
http://www.comminit.com/?q=i
ct-4-
development/node/279545
USA

14. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
Signals from the Present
14
10 | Self-Source Software

15. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 15
The Co-creation Hub in Lagos,
Nigeria was founded by Nigerians
who wanted to build software to
address Nigerian social, economic,
and political issues.
BudgIT
BudgIT, born from the Co-creation
Hub, is a social start-up aiming to
make the Nigerian budget more
understandable for average
Nigerians and build civic
engagement along the way.
10 | Self-Source Software | Signals from the Present
Co-creation Hub
Image Source: www.yourbudgit.com
Image Source: Tessa Finlev, IFTF

16. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 16
Reading Pens and Mobile Translators
provide a powerful tool for people learning
a new language. Although the price point is
currently out of reach for most people,
imagine the potential to aid illiterate or
blind people in navigating the written word
and the Internet.
Meedan
Meedan.net is a news website
that allows the audience to
translate stories from Arabic
to English, and vice versa.
10 | Self-Source Software | Signals from the Present
Portable Scanning Translators
Image Source: www.meedan.netImage Source: www.wizcomtech.com

17. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
© 2013 Institute for the Future. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
March 2013
Foresight Engine Game Analysis:
25 Zones of
Future Innovation
© 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
A project by Institute for the Future and The Rockefeller Foundation
www.iftf.org/our-work/global-landscape/catalysts-for-change/catalysts-zones-of-innovation
Contact: Tessa Finlev, tfinlev@iftf.org