Language Technology/IT work in Ngombale Project

I got an invitation to come help the Ngombale project in Babadjou in the Western Region of Cameroon out. The initial problem was that they need training on how to do back translations properly, easily and faster too. When I got there, I first of all noticed that their data was not in order so I spent a good couple of hours trying to fix their paratext data from 3 computers combining them into one while making sure that nothing will get lost in the process. I also cleaned their computers of viruses and have them updated before the training proper the following day.
When we started the training, two people indicated to me immediately that they have never touched a computer with their hand. Hmmn! I said to myself that we are in trouble become I have come to train them on how to use the computer entirely and leave aside pen and paper. I encouraged them that before the end of the day they were going to find themselves typing and that actually happened.
Before they will extract their data from paratext, format it with double spacing and have the back translators go through it and make a word for word (mot-a-mot) translations and then go ahead to make a free translation out of that. With the new method that I thought them, paratext will actually go through their data and guess the word for word translations and then they will go through it and clean it up either accepting the suggestions or denying them and editing it accordingly. They they will export the guessed renderings and edit the free translation and then later send it to their translation consultant for checking. The advantage in this method is that they can email their back translations to the consultant even from a distance for the translation consultant to start working on it before they will meet to finalize. It will also reduce the cost of printing and significantly reduce the amount of time they spend doing the back translation manually.
Before I could leave, one of the ladies who initially said she couldn't type on the computer was already doing her work. I even asked her to come over and help the other team members as I was making my training interactive and cooperative. Learning never end!