Maid in India

Can someone who doesn’t even know how to read or write use a computer? Microsoft Corp. is probing that question at a research lab in India.

Microsoft seeking ways to help illiterate. That is promising.

And then this…

Working with a local advocacy group, Microsoft has developed a prototype of a system that would connect illiterate domestic workers in India with families seeking their services. The system uses pictures, video and voice commands to tell women what jobs are available, how much the jobs pay and where they are.

Read the full report.

I have mixed feelings about this one, most of them not so good. I am very excited about the possibilities that such systems could open up – bringing those with less access (illiterate or otherwise) closer to information in some way. echoupal does that now (although that is not a project aimed at the illiterate).

Here are some of my reasons for the not-so-good feelings :

Willingness to learn

The fantastic hole-in-the-wall experiment has shown that it is indeed possible for someone who does not know how to read or write to use a computer. But they in this experiment are children, they are naturally curious about the world around them, they are willing to experiment and to make fools of themselves in the process.

Human interaction v/s machine gobbledygook

But why domestic workers? In a country like India, the word-of-mouth system works best – I need a maid, I tell the watchman in my building, he tells others and the next morning three women are at the door-step. I do not have a fixed idea about how much I will pay for the job, not a series of tasks that I can put up on a computer.

Is there a need?

And in most places, there is a decent, well-balanced demand-supply system in place, unlike perhaps the larger employment market. Given that, I do not understand why either a potential employer or employee will need to or want to use such a system.

What is the benefit?

echoupal benefits the farmer by eliminating the middleman, the farmer has updated knowledge about prices and market trends and makes beter money for his produce. In case of domestic workers, there are no middlepeople(?)

Where does the twain meet?

The researchers say they are now trying to figure out how to implement the system, since most women who do domestic work don’t own computers. One option is to put up a kiosk in a community center, Toyama said. Er, most women, meaning some of them do? And what about those wishing to employ them – do they all own computers? If not, do they also go to a kiosk? How does communication work if both sender-receiver are not on a shared platform – any kind of platform?

I think the concept is interesting and powerful, but fraught with all the questions and that leapfroggers tend to evoke in those watching. As a confimed leapfrogger-cheerer, I’d be very happy to read somewhere the answers to these questions. In the meanwhile, here is a blasphemous suggestion – can time at Microsoft research be perhaps put to better use?

11 comments

  1. excellent write up Charu, and very pertinent points.

    Here, i don’t see a need……and it seems similar to the way a lot of energy is being wasted. Nice, “cute” ideas that don’t really serve a need, or work on a speculative “future” market (that may or may not exist).

    But i like the way technology ideas are churning right now in India. One out of 10 is bound to be a winner, so there needs to be this constant effort of new ideas.

  2. Thanks Sunil, (I was beginnning to worry at this complete lack of response to this post – has microsoft’s world dominaiton plans come true while I was asleep types)

    I get very excited whenever I read about such initiatives… which is very often these days. but often, the idea is interesting but really irrelevant to the people it aims to address. almost like technology for the sake of it…

    like in this case, I kept thinking that if MS could indeed crack – “Can someone who doesn’t even know how to read or write use a computer”, that is fantastic – but why not teach illiterate or school drop-out children about using these computers. or if it has to be these maids, why not teach them something? once a maid, always a maid?

  3. this one was good to read. but when MS founder Bill GAtes starts making a mockery of the MIT led 4$100 laptop – u really start wondering about intentions !

  4. Harini, haven’t you heard the hoary marketing funda – “be there first. else, make fun of who did make it first”

  5. Greetings:
    And excellent and well-written blog 🙂 As a thoughtful person, may I commend to you my book Master of the Jinn: A Sufi Novel, a mystical adventure tale on the Sufi path of Love.
    You can view the book and read an excerpt at http://www.masterofthejinn.com
    In the Name of the Most Merciful, 10% of all profits go to charity.

    Ya Haqq,

    Irving

  6. I shook my head as I was reading this–It’s very idealistic, but the chances of it working fully, properly, and without corruption are few in between.

  7. flwrlak, I shook my head too as I read it 🙂 I am not so worried about the corruption (that will come later, if it does) but the very purpose of such an idea… just the thought – are there better things to do with a computer and a bunch of illiterate people?

Comments are closed.