[Ict4d] Is DTN dead?

[David Johnson]

Hi all

One of my lectures in my Net4D honours modules is on the use of DTN as
a connectivity option for poorly connected areas. The slides I have
are mostly about historical work such as DakNet (2004) and KioskNet
(2007)

My sense is that this research has mainly continued to have traction
in the realm of Vehicular networks and space networks and that its no
longer considered as a serious contender for rural/poorly connected
regions ... there are some interesting new developments that mix
social networks and delay tolerant networks - but they seem mostly
like playful ideas than something to take seriously.

Then you get weirdness like this 2014 paper from Disney on a DTN
solution for mico-entrepeneurs using  DTN-enabled projects (cinemas in
a backpack) - the example being moving content between urban areas in
Pretoria and an under-served ex-homeland North of Pretoria - there is
not one African researcher on the paper ... I think I will use this as
a prime example of what goes wrong when communities don't participate
in the research process.

So DTN for rural/under-serviced areas - dead?

David Johnson
Principal Researcher
Networks and Media group
Meraka, CSIR
Adjunct Senior Lecturer
ICT4D, Computer Science Department
University of Cape Town
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