Instructor: Kathy Wilson


A secure mobile communication platform, which can allow users to anonymously post/blog about any issues without the fear of personal reprecations in emerging nations within Africa.

Thesis Statement:
My thesis centers on the exploration and creation of my concept of anonymous mobile blogging. I would like to research this concept and attempt to build a working prototype, which would be able to encrypt the identity of the user as well as media asset, which has been transported from one person to another.

I would like to research the impact this concept can have on allowing people to express their viewpoints free from government interference and prosecution within emerging African countries. I would also like to research the social, political, and economical impact it can have on these on emerging nations as well as addressing the challenges and concerns in implementing my concept of anonymous mobile blogging.

Proposed Methodology:
I have been researching the impact that mobile phones have had on emerging nations for well over four months. This research was done with conjunction with my internship at Witness.org, which is a human rights organization.

In my research, I understand that the opportunity exists today to make use of the vast number of mobile phones a mechanism for allowing people to express their viewpoints free from government interference and prosecution, if the mobile application can protect the identity of the mobile subscriber as well as encrypt the message or media asset (voice, pictures, video file) that is transmissted form one person to another.

Im currently enrolled in the following courses and each one covers a specific area which will allow me to make my concept of anonymous blogging become a true and open-source mobile communication platform.

Cellphone Java Studio:
Will allow me to learn the programming language of J2ME and understand the coding software limitations for the mobile application component.

Every Bit You Make:
Will allow me to understand the influence technology has on impairing upon a individual privacy and what can be done to counter this influence.

Producing Participatory Media:
Will allow me to understand how blogs and other internet based social networks can be used to further community based discussion and action from media assets (audio, pictures, video clips) that have been uploaded by the mobile users of the application.

Non-For-Profit Organizations
I will continue to seek guidance and advice from Witness.org and other Human Rights groups as to how this concept can best be implemented. I will also seek the advice and support from the ITP community as well.

Universities and Research Centers:
Research: I will draw upon the vast talent at ITP and other research center in order to help me research the challenges facing this concept and attempt to build out a community driven encryptable mobile communication platform.

Inspiration Projects:
Grameen Foundation Village Phone whose founder is Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus
Witness/ Global Voices Human Righst Video Hub
Freeformed.org Mobile Application for The Witness Human Rights Video Hub