2016 ICT4D Conference

Literacy Bridge developed the Talking Book as a low-cost, simple, and durable audio device to provide on-demand access to locally relevant knowledge across many sectors and SDGs. The Talking Book also collects user feedback, usage statistics, and interactive quiz results.

We will demonstrate the functionality of the battery-powered Talking Book and explain how local users designed it to address challenges found in the most underserved rural communities, such as illiteracy, numerous dialects, unreliable electricity and networks, and unequal access to technology for marginalized groups including women and girls.

We will discuss some of the early deployment problems and how the product became packaged as part of a service that includes behavior change communication design, content strategy, audio production, and monitoring, learning, and evaluation.

We will demonstrate new features in 2016 such as the cloud-based dashboard presenting key performance indications and data exploration so partners can immediately and transparently access the state of deployment and user interaction-- even those in remote communities with networks.

Finally, we will share newly developed best practices for partnerships. Literacy Bridge is now shifting from bilateral to multilateral partnerships, so that partners like UNICEF can develop maternal & child health content that is deployed alongside farming instruction for women farmer's in CARE International's Village Savings and Loan Associations.