HCI4D: Infrastructure

As one of the important thrusts of ICT4D is developing infrastructure to provide power, connectivity, and devices appropriate for the prevailing conditions in a sustainable manner, the focus on infrastructure is absolutely relevant.
To highlight its importance, I would like to briefly mention the 'low-cost computer for poor' as an example. Following the success/failure stories of OLPC, simputer and many other technologies including existing attempts to develop cheaper computers for poor, it clearly highlightsaffordability of computing as a still remained primary barrier. As we know that the idea of leapfrogging technology (off-the-shelf solutions) that could be replicated - doesn't work and low-cost terminals is definitely a central part of ICT4D. But, even though the quest for the low-cost computer has been one of the most significant pursuits of ICT4D, most projects have fared poorly in markets, despite the apparent enthusiasm for many such initiatives. Demand is therefore to develop low-cost approaches and replicable hardware, and also serve the unique needs of developing regions and populations.
The need to support open standards to encourage interoperability of emerging technical solutions is highlighted as one of the grand challenges. My personal interest is to introduce and explore the use of an open platform (open-source software and open-source copyleft hardware) in the context of ICT4D.
The restricted license of a proprietary devices do not allow using hardware designs freely. But, the copyleft approach ensures the design is always open for a complete customization, enhancement or extension, allowing the community to influence its future hardware revisions and there is no end of life for devices as in a proprietary system. If coplyleft approach used, even if the device fails, it can at least ensure that the design can continue to live and be improved in future. But, as it has happened with open source software, though, it may take some years and test cases for legal clarity to emerge in open source hardware. Therefore, while benefits of an open-source software are well established, hardware based on an open-source copyleft designs to support specific need in the developing regions are yet to be seen. Also, as Weiss highlighted, open source hardware also faces several challenging questions such as how would business benefit from open sourcing hardware and who is really going to make their own device?