September 1st, 2004

Khalid Quadir’s computer programming skills and understanding of building dynamic databases are minimal, but that didn’t stop him from using those concepts to solve the problem of public access to documents in developing countries.

“Government documents and business documents are difficult to access even for urban dwellers. In the developing world, people have to wait in a long line for a simple application,” said the Bangladesh native.

After contemplating a variety of solutions, Khalid decided Internet-enabled kiosks could be deployed in rural areas to provide nearby residents with the ability to search and print documents. An investment banker by trade, he understood the business side of the venture, but didn’t have a strong grasp on the technology necessary to build the device.

It was around this time that Khalid applied to the Digital Vision Program. Looking for an environment packed with computer enthusiasts and an atmosphere conducive to nontraditional business ideas involving technology, Khalid came to Stanford University in 2003.

During the fall, Khalid began refining his idea to use kiosks to help people living in rural areas access government documents. By collaborating with other fellows he was able to cut down the size of his project into a manageable and viable business venture. He named it e-Hutt.

“Many of the other fellows had very strong technical backgrounds and working with them and other sources helped me understand the limitations of the technology and crystallize the functionalities and ideas,” he said.

The fellows helped Khalid solidify his project’s scope, but to take the idea from the drawing board to the rural lands of Bangladesh he needed a prototype, a testing field and help in understanding the market. He needed a partner.

Halfway through his fellowship, Khalid spoke at a software development forum on Stanford’s campus and had a casual conversation with an attendee that took his idea from concept to reality in one night.

While Khalid was speaking about e-Hutt it caught the attention of a representative from Japanese document giant Ricoh, which maintains a research and development office in Palo Alto called Ricoh Innovations. The representative questioned Khalid about his project and suggested he work with researchers at Ricoh Innovations to develop his project.

Once Khalid had the interest of Ricoh he found it easier to attract the necessary talent and experts needed to get his project up and running. He forged relationships with Stanford computer science professor Terry Winograd and the D-School, a design school and partnership between Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley.

The D-School is currently working on designing two prototype kiosks. One will be deployed by the end of 2004 in a socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhood in the Bay Area and the second will be set up in Bangladesh. Depending on the two pilots, Khalid will choose one of the prototypes to be mass manufactured and distributed around the United States and developing countries.

“[The Digital Vision Program] gives you the opportunity to discuss your project and attract other potential sponsors and affiliates. That’s an important part of making something more sustainable,” said Khalid.

—Lia Steakley

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