Abstract-This paper describes a research endeavor aimed at exploring the role that technology can play in improving child literacy in developing communities. An initial pilot study and subsequent four-month-long controlled field study in Ghana investigated the viability and effectiveness of an automated reading tutor in helping urban children enhance their reading skills in English. In addition to quantitative data suggesting that automated tutoring can be useful for some children in this setting, these studies and an additional preliminary pilot study in Zambia yielded useful qualitative observations regarding the feasibility of applying technology solutions to the challenge of enhancing child literacy in developing communities. This paper presents the findings, observations and lessons learned from the field studies.

The growing demand for technological innovation to enable empowerment of developing communities requires new and creative educational initiatives. Thus, well designed higher educational initiatives geared towards appropriate technology for developing communities can have a significant global impact. This paper presents the challenges and benefits of three higher education initiatives in Sri Lanka, Ghana, and the USA that focus on innovating and implementing relevant technology for developing communities. The authors examine the potential intersections of robotics and its component technologies with education and sustainable development. The paper concludes with an assessment of factors that contribute to the success of higher educational initiatives designed to enable technology relevant to developing communities.

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