Armed with a PDA and a Spear

Scientists are putting CyberTrackers(TM) in the hands of Bushmen and others. GPS software allows people who can not read to still give accurate accountings for animal and plant species and their locations.

"For example, the screen may show an icon of a bird, reptile, hoof or paw print, plant or four-legged animal. If a Bushman sees a rhino, he would first click the hoof print icon. A new screen of icons would list a variety of possible animals the hoof could belong to.

"Clicking on the rhino icon would take the Bushman to a screen of icons for possible rhino activities, such as eating, running, or drinking water. Another screen would allow him to enter the number of rhinos he saw."

The odd PDA and spear juxtaposition reminds me of the e-mail I received from an African friend reporting that her tourist bandas now had "sit-down" toilets. (An E-mail message from someone celebrating a move up to a sit-down toilet seems almost as odd to me as the PDA and the spear.)