BasicInternet:Impact Research

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Impact Research
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Our Research is focussed to fulfil the needs of the three billion people emerging. They are in need of education, health and innovation.

Impact Research on Education

We believe that research creating impact for the "emerging three billion has to be based on a combined view of people, things and services. We see lots of technology research leading into new devices/things or services, often overloading what people are able to use.

Following the Basic Internet mandate of low-bandwidth information provision, we believe that you don't need video and broadband networks to provide education. Wikipedia and apps on phones and tablets can work with a minimum bandwidth, providing more than 300 people with information instead of one person with a video.

Thus, we focus on (low-bandwidth) applications providing information to everyone. Examples of such information pages include web pages, where text and pictures are provided, or health applications providing information based on the sensor- or user-feedback.

Impact Research on Health

Cyber-physical systems, sensors will contribute to increased health and care taking, even in areas without professionals. The core idea is to provide the information about a person to over the low-bandwidth link of Basic Internet, and get personalised information back to the user.

Diabetes

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has indicated that 366 million people have diabetes in 2011; by 2030 this will have risen to 552 million [1]. They further indicate that 183 million people (50%) with diabetes are undiagnosed. According to the Transparency Market Research, the market for Diabetes devices and drug market having a value of USD 54.04 billion in 2012 and is estimated to reach a market worth of USD 83.0 billion in 2019 growing at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2013 to 2019 [2]

Projects like Diabetes during Pregnancy have demonstrated that personalised information on blood sugar, food and motion contributes to a substantial health increase. The information can be provided over low-bandwith apps in response to the blood sugar measures.

Blood pressure, Dementia and more health applications

There is a range of other health applications which can be supported through low-bandwidth communications. What we see clearly is how sensors contribute to the paradigm shift for health professionals, moving towards (i) better diagnosis through sensor-aided health information and (ii) faster support including remote monitoring. Studies performed have indicated that sensor-aided health will also have a substantial impact on the patients, providing them with autonomy, self-confidence and a better life, especially for patients having chronic sicknesses.

If you have examples, please inform us.

Business Innovation

Matchmaking is seen as the core activity in fostering business innovation in developing economies. Matchmaking includes

  • information about markets
  • information about co-operation partners
  • information about customers
  • tools for collaborative innovation

Technology challenges

An overview over our technology is provided at Technology, showing our access via satellite networks, radio links or mobile networks. We have identified a series of challenges in Technology evolution and Basic Internet versions, and invite you to help us in answering the challenges

Student Corner

Please be welcome to the Student Corner for BasicInternet.
Amongst the courses addressing the challenges, feel free to have a look at UNIK4700 Building Mobile and Wireless Networks.

Topics for Master Thesis

Open Master Thesis related to BasicInternet
  • A decentralised Internet for local Empowerment (Supervisor(s): Josef Noll, Maghsoud Morshedi, Jonathan Muringani,
    Objective:
    The thesis will address how a decentralised Internet can be established. Bandwidth- and cost-constraints have manifested the digital divide, especially in developing economies. According to the "Gender Gap" report by the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), less than 1% of people had access to meaningful Internet in 2021. Such a low Internet usage requires novel concepts, e.g. a decentralised Internet providing free access to information through local information spots in the community. Such a concept, as described in BasicInternet:Solutions, is based on a village server, being e.g. a Raspberry Pi. Concepts of content caching, which were popular in the beginning of the Internet, are less applicable due to the need for encrypted communications. This thesis will explore the mechanisms for a freemium access in remote areas, including e.g. subscribe services on the decentralised cloud. The solution can be exploited and tested in schools in Africa South of Sahara (SSA), e.g. Kenya or Tanzania.)
  • A more secure Internet through Internet Lite (Supervisor(s): Josef Noll,
    Objective:
    Internet lite is the terminology used to address the free access to information for all. The role of digital technology in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is well-established and integrated into the Agenda 2030. The thesis will address how Internet Lite, e.g. using the AMP layers, enhances the security of the Internet. The "full Internet" has a series of challenges, e.g. email attachments with macros in .xls, .docx, malware hidden as heavy java codes or other functionalities inviting for attacks. By introducing an Internet lite consisting of the "bare minimum", e.g. text, pictures and a set of lightweight java scripts, one can reduce the attack vectors drastically. The thesis will explore methods for accessing and comparing the security aspects of Internet Lite vs full Internet. Digital access is the key to digital development – a global public good, which can act as a catalyst towards achieving sustainability, participation and inclusive development. Digitalisation is intrinsic to achieving good health (SDG 3), good education (SDG 4), equality and empowerment (SDGs 5 and 10), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), partnership (SDG 17), all driven by SDG 9 – industrial innovation and infrastructure. Internet lite establishes the freemium (free & premium) model for digital access. Free access to information, being text, pictures and local video, and premium access to broadband content such as video and games. The concept was established by the Basic Internet Foundation in order to enable digital inclusion in developing economies.)
  • Access to Digital Public Goods (Supervisor(s): Josef Noll,
    Objective:
    Based on the Report of the High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, " The Age of Digital Interdependence ", https://digitalcooperation.org, UNICEF has taken the lead to support the recommendations 1A and 1B: 1A: We recommend that by 2030, every adult should have affordable access to digital networks, as well as digitally-enabled financial and health services, as a means to make a substantial contribution to achieving the SDGs… 1B: We recommend that a broad, multi-stakeholder alliance, involving the UN, create a platform for sharing digital public goods, …. The Basic Internet Foundation is mentioned in the report: "One example of building internet access around community needs, in this case health, is a collaboration between the Basic Internet Foundation and health centres in Tanzania; see Vision 2030, available at https://www.vision2030.no/index.php/en/visjon2030-projects/non-discriminating-access-for-digital-inclusion. Having suggest the combination of 1A and 1B as "free access to digital public goods", work is ongoing to define both the network architecture and sustainable business models supporting this claim. The suggested work will focus on how to endorse Digital Inclusion through the free access to DPGs and the combined implementation of 1A and 1B.)
  • The Freemium Model for Access - Internet Lite (Supervisor(s): Josef Noll,
    Objective:
    Internet lite is the terminology used to address the free access to information for all. The role of digital technology in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is well-established and integrated into the Agenda 2030. Digital access is the key to digital development – a global public good which can act as a catalyst towards achieving sustainability, participation and inclusive development. Digitalisation is intrinsic to achieving good health (SDG 3), good education (SDG 4), equality and empowerment (SDGs 5 and 10), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), partnership (SDG 17), all driven by SDG 9 – industrial innovation and infrastructure. Internet lite establishes the freemium (free & premium) model for digital access. Free access to information, being text, pictures and local video, and premium access to broadband content such as video and games. The concept was established by the Basic Internet Foundation in order to enable digital inclusion in developing economies. Though the concept focussed primarily on developing economies, it is of imminent importance for individuals, companies and societies at large. The freemium access to the Internet empowers everyone. Digital empowerment for all will create the necessary basis for industrial uptake, equipping individuals and communities with life and coping skills. The widening digital divide between urban and rural, and between people with or without digital access prevents people from achieving full access to health, education and decent work. The Internet lite concept is supported by the InfoInternet standard. A potential application is the 5G network layer providing free access to information on the mobile network.)
  • Open Source modular Village Information Spot (Supervisor(s): Josef Noll,
    Objective:
    The Basic Internet Foundation has established village information spots focussing on Digital Health. Though, a more generic approach is needed addressing a) user involvement (how can users contribute) b) village content (new ways of interaction) and c) education and health services. The thesis will evaluate methods for user involvement and user empowerment through interaction with a village platform, look into novel entrepreneurial opportunities, and prototype a concept. Novel Web standards for light-weight implementations, such as Google AMP, web light and others shall be evaluated.)
  • Network-aware traffic shaping (Supervisor(s): Maghsoud Morshedi, Josef Noll, Elin Sundby Boysen,
    Objective:
    Future Networks need to be application aware in order to provide an appropriate Quality of Service. As an example, 5G networks will start in cities with high-traffic, but people will use the 5G applications also in areas where mobile networks are weak. Given a traffic jam somewhere out in the forest, currently all traffic tries to achieve maximum throughput, without any form of prioritisation. This thesis will analyse the traffic requirements of mobile applications (apps), will create a database containing the traffic characteristics, e.g. port number, encryption, url-specific content, communication protocol. Based on the analysis, the thesis will suggest a method for prioritisation of traffic types, depending on the network characteristics, e.g. throughput.)
  • Remote Configuration of Communication Infrastructure for Developing Economies (Supervisor(s): Josef Noll, Maghsoud Morshedi, Toktam Ramezanifarkhani,
    Objective:
    Investigation on how to remotely configure equipment. In areas with underdeveloped mobile access, we often face unreliable networks and high costs for the access. By deploying information spots in rural areas with preinstalled broad-band content, like the bandwidth-intensive parts of Digital Public Goods (DPGs). The challenge to be addressed is how remote configuration and update of village information spots containing theses DPGs.)
  • 5G Network Slicing for Free Access to Information (Supervisor(s): Josef Noll,
    Objective:
    In Mobile Communications, 5G Research is focussing on (a) massive mobile broadband, (b) billions of sensors connected to the network, and (c) ultra-reliable and low-latency networks. A promising technology for addressing these issues is network slicing. This thesis will look into network slicing for free access to information, and thus address the challenges of sustainable development. The free access to information (InfoInternet) is answering the needs of digital inclusion, and addresses the needs of 4 billion people currently not using the Internet. InfoInternet means free access to information for all, and addresses directly the SDG goal 9.c of the Agenda 2030. InfoInternet is further the basis ans the catalyst for SDG 3 (health), 4 (education), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work), 10 (reduced inequalities), 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 17 (partnership for the goals). The envisaged Thesis will elaborate on the network slicing for InfoInternet, and evaluates the technological and societal aspects. see also: Thanh van Do, Josef Noll, Sudhir Dixit, Bruno Dzogovic, Van Thuan Do, Boning Feng, "Reducing Inequalities with 5G Internet Light Network Slice", 5G World Summit, IEEE 5G World Forum, 9-11July2018, Santa Clara, California, USA)
  • Education and Health through InfoInternet (Supervisor(s): Josef Noll,
    Objective:
    Info Internet means access to text and information... to be completed)
  • Analysis of Proxy services for an Information-Internet (Supervisor(s): Josef Noll, Iñaki Garitano, Jan Standal,
    Objective:
    The need for basic information delivery over capacity-limited networks requires new standards for an Information-Internet (InfoInternet), delivering basic information for free to everyone. The Internet links several billion devices worldwide together, and consists of a multitude of networks with local or global scope, private or public connected to a broad array of networking technologies. Today, around 46% of the world’s households have access to Internet through either fixed or mobile subscriptions. However, the gap between developed and developing countries is still wide. According to ITU [2], by the end of 2015, 34% of households in developing countries had Internet access, compared with more than 80% in developed countries. In the least developed countries, only 7% of households have Internet access. In this same set of countries, 12 of 100 inhabitants have active mobile broadband subscriptions, whereas less than 1 of 100 inhabitants have fixed broadband subscriptions. Thus, a large number of inhabitants don't have access to information, not even basic information. The goal of this Master Thesis is to elaborate proxy solutions for converting of Web Content into (compressed) Text and Pictures. The proxy solution used in Opera Mini performs exactly this solution, and can be taken as an example of the work.)
  • Elaborating and implementing http2 standards for server-side compression (Supervisor(s): Josef Noll, Iñaki Garitano,
    Objective:
    The need for basic information delivery over capacity-limited networks requires new standards for a "low-capacity Internet", delivering basic information for free to everyone. The Internet links several billion devices worldwide together, and consists of a multitude of networks with local or global scope, private or public connected to a broad array of networking technologies. Today, around 46% of the world’s households have access to Internet through either fixed or mobile subscriptions. However, the gap between developed and developing countries is still wide. According to ITU [2], by the end of 2015, 34% of households in developing countries had Internet access, compared with more than 80% in developed countries. In the least developed countries, only 7% of households have Internet access. In this same set of countries, 12 of 100 inhabitants have active mobile broadband subscriptions, whereas less than 1 of 100 inhabitants have fixed broadband subscriptions. Thus, a large number of inhabitants don't have access to information, not even basic information. The goal of this Master Thesis is to elaborate the use of novel web standards for server side compression. The idea is to send compressed texted and pictures to the mobile phone. Opera Mini is currently the only browser following this principle, by reducing Web pages to text and pictures, and compress the page before sending the compressed page to the mobile phone. The thesis needs to elaborate e.g. http2 for server-side compression of content or other functionalities to deliver LC-Internet.)

More details are available at OpenThesis

Do you have an idea for a topic? Add, or talk to anyone from The BasicInternet Team.

supply keyword: Basic Internet

Finished Master Thesis related to Basic Internet


References

  1. Sara Webber, Media Information Pack on Diabetes, The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), http://www.idf.org/sites/default/files/Media-Information-Pack.pdf
  2. "Diabetes Devices Drugs Market Expected to Reach USD 83.0 Billion Globally in 2019", Transparency Market Research 2014, http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/diabetes-devices-market.htm