Technology and Answers Come to Impoverished Bangladesh Villages Via the InfoLadies.

The infoLadies ride bicycles from village to village in Bangladesh bringing answers and solutions to the problems people are facing. They have a phone, netbook computer, some medical devices like blood pressure monitors and pregnancy kits. They help people get information that they wouldn't be able to get otherwise.

For instance if someone has a pest problem with their crops, the infoLadies can search to find the information they need to solve the problem. They also can help people medically by doing blood pressure checks and other simple medical tests. If someone appears to have a common skin disease, the infoladies can find solutions.

Initially, the infoLadies were considered somewhat of a "scandal" but are now enthusiastically received in villages. One man wanted to get a job in technology but had never had a computer course. He was able to take a crash course on Microsoft office on one of the infoLadies' netbook computers. He had only seen computers previously in books.

This is another way that technology can be used to improve the lives of the poor. Knowledge is power and with a simple netbook there is a large library of knowledge available that would not be available otherwise. This information can be used for improving crop yields to improving people's health. This kind of concept should be expanded among poor communities around the world.

Original Story and image from Gizmodo   Source story by Kyle VanHemert