In April of 2008, Wayan Vota started the Technology Salon™ as a forum where technology and development professionals could share their opinions on emerging trends in ICT and international development in an intimate and informal discussion around

• technology's impact on donor-sponsored technical assistance delivery, and
• private enterprise driven economic development, facilitated by technology.

Through its focus on conversation, the intimacy of the conversations, and their private nature, the Technology Salon has grown in both size and stature, slowly evolving into a community of practice.

It is a network of professionals who share a common passion for expanding the role of ICT in empowering development, and through regular discussions on relevant topics, are improving their knowledge and expertise in the ICT4D field. In addition to the discussions, the Technology Salon allows for networking between the two groups, establishing connections that move beyond talk, and into action.

As of April 2009, the Technology Salon is sponsored by the UN Foundation's Technology Partnership with the Vodafone Foundation.

Technology Salon Key Attributes

The Technology Salon is a community of practice - a network of professionals who share the common passion for expanding the role of ICT in empowering development, and through regular discussions on relevant topics, are improving their knowledge and expertise in the ICT4D field. In addition to the discussions, the Technology Salon allows for networking between the two groups, establishing connections that move beyond talk, and into action.

The Technology Salon has achieved this success and growth by following three key attributes:

Hot Topic: The Rise of 4P Computing

1. Conversation, not presentation
   The Technology Salon is primarily a forum for discussion, so presentations are discouraged and Power Point is generally banned. Speakers have only 10-15 minutes at the beginning to present their activity, before participants are free to ask questions, share their own experiences, and drive the conversation in a direction that interests them. This both brings forth the group's knowledge and keeps participants engaged for the full meeting.


2. Intimacy of participants:
   The Technology Salon attendance is capped at 15 people to make sure each participant has the opportunity to speak and share their experience. This cap also encourages pre-registration and subsequent attendance. Last but not least, it allows for quality pre-and post-event networking by participants.


3. Confidentiality of opinions:
   The Technology Salon employs the Chatham House Rule - what is said in its discussions can only be attributed to the Salon itself, not to any specific participant. At the same time, the Salon is not recorded nor the discussion transmitted outside its meeting place. These precautions allow participants to speak their opinions freely, thoughts that would not be shared if participants worried about attribution or out-of-context quoting.

UN Foundation Sponsorship

The UN Foundation's Technology Partnership with the Vodafone Foundation is now the official sponsor of the Technology Salon. The Technology Partnership recognizes the success of the Salon and through its sponsorship, the Technology Salon will grow into an accepted community of practice that increases the discussion and dissemination of technology's role in developing solutions to long-standing international development challenges. Yet the views and opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily reflect those of the UN Foundation or The Vodafone Foundation.