Open Data Kit 2.0: Expanding and refining information services for developing regions

Waylon Brunette, Mitchell Sundt, Nicola Dell, Rohit Chaudhri, Nathan Breit, Gaetano Borriello

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

115 Scopus citations

Abstract

Open Data Kit (ODK) is an open-source, modular toolkit that enables organizations to build application-specific information services for use in resource-constrained environments. ODK is one of the leading data collection solutions available and has been deployed by a wide variety of organizations in dozens of countries around the world. This paper discusses how recent feedback from users and developers led us to redesign the ODK system architecture. Specifically, the design principles for ODK 2.0 focus on: 1) favoring runtime languages over compile time languages to make customizations easier for individuals with limited programming experience; 2) implementing basic data structures as single rows within a table of data; 3) storing that data in a database that is accessible across applications and client devices; and 4) increasing the diversity of input types by enabling new data input methods from sensors. We discuss how these principles have led to the refinement of the existing ODK tools, and the creation of several new tools that aim to improve the toolkit, expand its range of applications, and make it more customizable by users.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationACM HotMobile 2013
Subtitle of host publicationThe 14th Workshop on Mobile Computing Systems and Applications
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
Event14th Workshop on Mobile Computing Systems and Applications, ACM HotMobile 2013 - Jekyll Island, GA, United States
Duration: Feb 26 2013Feb 27 2013

Publication series

NameACM HotMobile 2013: The 14th Workshop on Mobile Computing Systems and Applications

Conference

Conference14th Workshop on Mobile Computing Systems and Applications, ACM HotMobile 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityJekyll Island, GA
Period2/26/132/27/13

Keywords

  • ICTD
  • data tables
  • mobile computing
  • mobile databases
  • open data kit
  • paper forms
  • sensing
  • smartphones
  • spreadsheets
  • vision

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Computer Science Applications

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Open Data Kit 2.0: Expanding and refining information services for developing regions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this