Dr. Nimmi Rangaswamy presented two papers at the 10th International conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD) at IIM Ahmedabad from 3 – 7 January.
Her first paper was on Tool Smiths in Off-Shored Work: Socio-Technical System of Quality Testing in India” is based on ethnographic research among software companies in Hyderabad investigating work automation impacts on the job market and changing skill sets and her second paper was on India’s “Uberwallah”: Profiling Uber Drivers in the Gig Economy’ is based on an on-going qualitative research on Uber drivers across cities in India.
The international conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD) is organized every 12-18 months, and brings together researchers and practitioners working across domains, sectors, and disciplines to study the role of ICT in social, political, and economic development.
This edition of the conference focused on bridging the research-practice gap, and had created a host of opportunities for building and strengthening these bridges. In addition to research presentations by scholars from prominent academic institutions across the world, the conference program had a slew of variously formatted Open Sessions allowing for dialog and discussions among groups of researchers and practitioners. There was also a Research, Industry, and Practice evening, a reception by Young Researchers of ICTD, and a Doctoral Consortium for Ph.D. students aspiring to become future leaders in the field. And also had illustrious and inspirational keynote talks dedicated to ICT and Development from an array of perspectives.