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Minimal Computing

Overview

This page provides an overview of Minimal Computing tools and techniques for research and data analysis in low-bandwidth, low-resource environments, ideal for fieldwork and remote areas with limited internet and computational resources.

Disciplines and Techniques

Anthropology

  • Cultural Anthropology: Ethnographic fieldwork, participant observation, interviews.
    • Tools: Audio recorders, cameras.
    • Storage: External hard drives, local servers.
    • Software: NVivo, ATLAS.ti.
    • Statistical Techniques: SPSS, R.
  • Archaeology: Excavations, artifact analysis, radiocarbon dating.
    • Tools: Excavation tools.
    • Storage: External hard drives, local servers.
    • Software: NVivo, ATLAS.ti.
    • Statistical Techniques: SPSS, R.
  • Physical Anthropology: Excavations, skeletal analysis, artifact collection.
    • Tools: 3D scanning, photogrammetry.
    • Storage: Digital archives, physical storage.
    • Software: Morphologika, SPSS.
    • Statistical Techniques: Shape analysis.
  • Physical Geography: Field measurements, remote sensing.
    • Tools: Specialized databases, physical sample storage.
    • Storage: External hard drives, local servers.
    • Software: ArcGIS, QGIS, ENVI.
    • Statistical Techniques: Environmental modeling.

Environmental Science

  • Techniques: Sensors and monitors, field surveys.
    • Tools: Environmental databases, physical sample storage.
    • Storage: External hard drives, local servers.
    • Software: Matlab, R, Python.
    • Statistical Techniques: Environmental modeling.
  • Botany: Specimen collection, genetic analysis.
    • Tools: Microscopes, DNA sequencers.
    • Storage: Specimen databases, genetic data repositories.
    • Software: GIS, R, Python.
    • Statistical Techniques: Spatial analysis.

Social Psychology

  • Techniques: Experiments, surveys, observational studies.
    • Tools: Online survey tools, psychometric tests.
    • Storage: Digital databases, encrypted storage.
    • Software: Qualtrics, SPSS, R.
    • Statistical Techniques: Data analysis.

Common Resources

  • Open Data Kit (ODK): Can create a variety of form types, works online and offline, connects to various apps, and is used across various sectors (public health, global development, crisis response, environmental research, etc.).
  • KoboToolbox: Open source platform for collecting, managing, and visualizing data. Used by social impact organizations worldwide for research, monitoring, evaluation, and humanitarian action.
  • Paper: Forms, questionnaires, surveys.
  • Local storage: USB drives, external hard drives, local servers.
  • NVivo: Offline functionality with collaboration cloud.