Abstract

A Guide t o Computing Systems Evaluation and Adoption for users in LDGs—Some problems encountered in applying standard techniques Simon Bell School of Development Studies University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ United Kingdom Introduction This paper is intended to be a practical guide to the multitude of newcomers to computing who find themselves attempting to set up computer based systems in the less developed countries (LDCs). It provides: (i) background to the kinds of issues which are involved in such an enterprise (both technical and other) (ii) a simple set of technical points to note (iii) a revised set of guidelines produced in the light of experience. However the paper should have a wider interest and for those with some computing experience and specifically with experience of setting up and installing new systems the paper contains a case study of one such experience. Others (e.g. Edmonds, L. 1985, Gotsch, C. 1985 and Brodman, J. Z. 1986), have already given overviews of the possible applications of computers in LDCs. Gotsch dealt in particular with the main areas of microcomputer use and the requirements in terms of training levels and the hardware and software required. The attempt made here is