The Space of Possibilities - Political Economies of Technology Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Explore a thought-provoking conference talk that delves into the political and economic factors shaping technology innovation in sub-Saharan Africa. Discover how a wide-ranging survey of 116 individuals across 26 countries reveals the significant impact of structural and systemic factors on technological possibilities. Learn about the role of monopolies, international power dynamics, race, and access to capital in opening or constraining innovation. Gain insights into how these factors influence technology development in Africa and beyond, often in ways underestimated by technologists. Recorded at the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, this 24-minute presentation challenges conventional thinking about user-centric design and device-focused constraints, offering a broader perspective on the complex landscape of technological innovation in developing regions.

The Space of Possibilities: Political Economies of Technology Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa