1. Introduction

In December 2001, the staff of the LINCOS Program in Costa Rica prepared the annual planning exercise and activity schedule for the two-year period 2002-2003.

This Work Plan is a guide that will allow all the members of the Program to assume the assigned tasks within the established terms and to thoroughly develop the concept of LINCOS: THE SECOND GENERATION. The research and development activities are an ongoing effort on our part; therefore, we wanted all the organizations sponsoring us to become involved and actively participate in the challenge of developing more than 60 new applications within a period of 24 months.

It is important to point out that this Work Plan includes all the activities established for the period of 2002-2003 (24 operative months).

2. Activities per Component

2.1. Technological Component: Research and Development of Technologies

2.1.1. Objective

Research and design the use of new technologies in order to universalize the LINCOS services in the communities, as a tool for local development.

2.1.2. Objectives to be Achieved

1. To support the development of new programs (software) for current and future LINCOS applications.
2. To design and develop new technologies for the LINCOS Units
3. To create documents of the new technological applications for end users

2.1.3. Activities to Carry Out

• Updating the Telemedicine system with respect to the consultation made by the supporting element through the web.
• Ancillary tests to determine cutting patterns for canopies.
• Developing a tool for Business Agents
• Completing development of the family file system, consultation through the web.
• Completing development of family file system, PDA collection
• Completing design and development of tool for quick diagnosis, e-RAPs.
• Developing a web site for communities, 2002 – Infocomm version
• Updating of Telemedicine system, case collection, visualization
• Developing a system for reporting, follow-up and classification of error cases
• Reviewing and updating the container equipment list
• Reviewing and updating the container software
• Project of alternative energy sources and storage for the Units
• Design and development of electronic kiosk for the communities
• Design for moving the local network outside the container
• Research of technologies for the VAN (Village Area Network)
• In site placement of wireless meteorological sensors
• Design of PDA systems to provide assistance to farmers in water and soil analysis
• On line development of water and improved soil manuals
• Updating technical documentation of environmental sensors system
• Updating the documents of the Telemedicine system including a functional description
• Updating the intellectual property document of the technological component
• Updating the technical documentation of the Telemedicine system
• Creation of technical documentation for the family file system
• Creation of technical documentation for the e-RAPs system
• Creation of technical documentation for the Business Agents system
• Updating the Units’ formal layout plans
• Updating the user manuals for the Telemedicine system

2.1.4. Expected Results (Projects)

• A web consulting system for the Telemedicine System
• An ancillary module to determine the cutting pattern of new canopy designs
• Support software for the Information Brokers to control sales
• A web consulting system about the Family File module
• A system to collect information about the Family File module for PDA
• PDA software for the e-RAPs
• An update of the Infocomm –2002 version website
• A pre-feasibility study for the use of alternative energy sources for LINCOS Units
• A preliminary design of the Virtual Kiosk
• A preliminary design for networking outside the container
• A profile study of the new technologies for the Village Area Network
• A proposal to install wireless meteorological sensors
• PDA software for water and soil analysis
• On line manual about water and soil (updated version)
• Updated manual about systems of environmental sensors
• Updated manual about the Telemedicine system
• Updated manual about LINCOS Technological Component

2.1.5. Person in Charge of Carrying out the Activities

Alejandro Valerio, person in charge of this area

2.2. Design and Construction

2.2.1. Objective

To design and create new applications and spaces for the members of the LINCOS communities, always respecting and incorporating cultural, ideological, economic, technological, anthropological and environmental aspects.

2.2.2. Objectives to be Achieved

• Design and create new applications to meet the needs of the LINCOS community members.
• Obtain feedback from the experiences lived in the Units installed in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

2.2.3. Activities to Carry Out

• Research and development of new energy alternatives for future LINCOS Units.
• Design of new design alternatives for LINCOS Units
• Specifying the corporate image of the LINCOS Program
• Cost study during the Execution Process (Building) of the LINCOS Units
• Cost study for the Installation Process of the LINCOS Units.

2.2.4. Expected Results

• A Unit model with low energy consumption
• New prototype designs of LINCOS Units adapted to the needs of marginal communities
• A corporate image plan for LINCOS
• A proposal to establish a low cost production line
• An optimized proposal for the installation costs of the LINCOS Units

2.2.5. People in Charge of Carrying Out the Activities

Franklin Hernández, Person in charge from the Design area
Marco López, Industrial Design Supervisor
Freddy Chaves, Construction Supervisor
Leonardo Montero, Industrial Design Supervisor

2.3. Pedagogic Component

2.3.1. Objective

To empower (acquire the control of their lives, be able to make things and define their own agendas) the communities in need by means of constructivist and constructionist formation processes, designed to learn to carry out community projects that promote human sustainable development.

2.3.2. Objectives to be Achieved

1. To train new educational mediators in the Dominican Republic and in Costa Rica
2. To design new on-line educational courses.

2.3.3. Activities to Carry Out

• Providing the LINCOS communities with the updated training manuals
• Training new educational mediators in the Dominican Republic and in Costa Rica
• Training the staff of the head office in the Dominican Republic
• Designing new workshops and pedagogic courses for mediators and coordinators of the LINCOS Units.
• Designing new on-line pedagogic manuals
• Supervising the creation of educational materials developed by the educational mediators of the LINCOS Units.

2.3.4. Expected Results

• Educational manual available through the Web
• Training of educational mediators in five Dominican Units and two in Costa Rica.
• On-line pedagogic and support manuals

2.3.5. Person in Charge of Carrying our the Activities

Patricia Rodríguez

2.4. Business and the community

2.4.1. Objective

To propose sustainable alternatives for the LINCOS Units, in order to provide better opportunities and quality of life to the community members.

2.4.2. Objectives to be Achieved

a. To provide the communities with alternative opportunities to market their products at fair prices.
b. To establish a sustainable model for the LINCOS Units.

2.4.3. Activities to Implement

• Developing an e-commerce portal for all the LINCOS communities
• Developing a grid for community portals, based on the Infocomm format
• Implementing the Business Model in the LINCOS communities of Los Santos and San Joaquín de Cutris
• Developing a Business Model for the LINCOS communities in the Dominican Republic
• Developing the Training Plan for the Businesses and the community area
• Creating viability and market positioning strategies in the LINCOS communities

2.4.4. Expected Results

• A portal of on-line electronic commerce to cover the needs of all the LINCOS communities.
• A grid to establish community portals based on Infocomm
• A Sustainability Plan for the Units in Los Santos and San Joaquín de Cutris
• A Model of Sustainability and Income
• Manuals and support materials for the Business Agents

2.4.5. Person in Charge of Carrying Out the Activities

Marvin Cabezas

2.5. Health and the Environment

2.5.1. Objective

Promote healthy communities and environments by working in coordination with the local health systems and participants from the community. In order to make this objective a reality, the technological transfer is used as a tool to maximize the community potentials.

2.5.2. Objectives to be Achieved

1. Evaluate the methodological instrument called Rapid Assessment Procedure (RAP)
2. Reinvent the component of Health and the Environment, in accordance with the new needs identified in the LINCOS communities of the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica
3. Look into new technologies and applications for Health and the Environment.

2.5.3. Activities to Implement

• Developing a multimedia manual to implement the applications of Health and the Environment
• Methodological revision of the RAP
• Adapting the RAP methodology to a PDA format
• Designing an educational portal in the Internet for the component of Health and the Environment
• Training the staff in the Dominican Republic in Telemedicine applications
• Establishing the program of Health Monitors
• Developing the First Aid Kit
• Improving the design of the telemedicine kit
• Designing a water purification prototype
• Developing family files in PDA format
• Conceptual development of the Continued Medical Education
• Development of educational modules in Health and the Environment for the community Radio
• Development of the e-ASIS module
• Intervention Program for the LINCOS communities

2.5.4. Expected Results

• Support multimedia with information about this component and its applications
• Improved RAP methodology in PDA format
• Portal with on-line support and educational material
• Skilled staff in the use of the Telemedicine LINCOS tools
• Health monitors trained to provide services in the LINCOS communities
• A First Aid Kit prototype
• An improved version of the Telemedicine Kit
• A water purification prototype
• Software in PDA format with the Family File
• An educational program on Health and the Environment implemented by the community Radio
• E-ASIS in PDA format

2.5.5. Person in Charge of Carrying out the Activities

Dr. Oscar Villegas