Creating a Low-Cost, Cell Phone-Based System for Increased Uptake and Coverage of Childhood Vaccinations in Rural India
Loading...
Authors
Campbell, Erin
Issue Date
2012
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The following paper details my experience as a research assistant to Dr. Aditya Johri at the
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, Virginia
during the summer of 2011. During the eight weeks I spent at Virginia Tech, I worked with
a small group of students and professors from both the Industrial Design and Engineering
departments to design a cell-phone based system for increased uptake and coverage of
childhood vaccinations in poor rural regions in India. Because communicable diseases still
prove to be a leading cause of child mortality in India, we believe that a cell-phone based
approach to recording vaccinations delivered by healthcare workers will help to improve
the number of children a healthcare worker is able to reach and accurately administer
immunizations to. Our final system incorporates the taweez, a culturally significant
ornament in India, and a smart phone capable of scanning Quick Response (QR) codes
stored inside the taweez, which will serve to identify children. My principle role during our
design process was to provide input from a technical point of view considering various
design constraints and cultural factors. My experience working on this project at Virginia
Tech provided me with a much greater understanding of the steps necessary to produce a
successful digital product for use in developing countries.
Description
iv, 28 p.
Citation
Publisher
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written