In the past decade cell phones have emerged as a technology as essential to everyday life as electricity or heating. Cell Phones have expanded beyond their primitive role as a mere form of communication and become a portable multimedia hub that is essential to both social and economic growth. There are approximately five billion cell phones in use as of now, and that number is quickly growing. Cellphones differentiate from other technological phenomenons such as I- pods or because of their universal utility. It is not only the middle class of well- developed nations who are able to make use of it. In fact, it is often the lower classes of the developing world for whom this technology is most beneficial.
For example, when I went to India last summer I noticed that all of the rickshaw ( the Indian version of cabs) drivers in Pune were talking on cellphones. I was at first shocked, thinking about the enormous cost of cellphones and wondering if they could even afford it, but I quickly realized the multiple advantages of a cell phone for these drivers. First of all the cell phones allows for collaboration between rickshaw drivers, if there is an area with a lot of potential customers they can all benefit from it. Secondly, previously one had to wait on the corner of a busy street and hope that an empty rickshaw would emerge but now an on-call rickshaw service has evolved analogous to the cab services in America. Customers can call a company and the company can call the drivers cell phones and deploy them to the appropriate locations. As referenced in the "Innovations Reading," for workers in developing countries cell phones can often serve as both the home and work line. This not only more cost effective for the worker, but serves as a paradigm example for the "blurring of lives and livelihoods" by ICT. The cellphone not only allows economic benefits but provides a mechanism through which drivers family can contact them and know where they (through GPS tracking technology), thereby improving familial relationships. The positive impact that cellphones have broaden beyond the drivers themselves and in fact contribute to societal welfare as a whole. It improves the economic efficiency of the rickshaw drivers as well as the time efficiency of others. Additionally, it allows for the increased standard of living for these rickshaw drivers that is then spent back into the Indian economy, raising the standard of living of the country as a whole. The rickshaw drivers in India serve as a quintessential example of the importance of the principle of inclusion. The more people that are involved in the use of communication technologies, in particular the cell phone, the greater social benefit that is derived from the technology.
From my experiences, I can't help but question the gravity of the "digital divide." Yes, it is clear that the technology is much more prevalent in the more developed areas of the world such as. However, it is also clear that cellphones are gradually, through natural progression driven by market forces proliferating into the underdeveloped societies. For society as a whole to develop it is integral that this natural progression is both swift and successful. It is particularly important to ensure that minority groups such as women are able to share in the benefits of the cell phone technology, because it is in fact these minorities who derive the most benefit. I found an interesting article online detailing the benefits that women derive from cell phone usage in both Kenya and India. (The Link is Posted at the End of the Blog Post) In cultures that typically isolate women, most often by keeping them home bound, cell phones give these women access to information about the outside world previously inaccessible. include details of reduced fee programs to send their daughters to school. The cell phones allow women to cultivate better relationships with those outside their home and stay connected to their own family who they have moved away from. Though these positive effects are there it is important to note that cellphones do not address underlying issues of inequality such as imbalanced education and the burden of domestic labor forced upon many women. ICT is a great step for society in the realm of economics, social network, health and education, but it is only a step to bridge the societal inequality that persists globally to this day.
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I really enjoyed reading this blog post. It was nice to read about your first-hand experience from India. I also thought the same thing when I first saw that virtually everyone had a cell phone, regardless of class.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that the technology of cell phones can have a major impact for women in developing countries. Women often suffer when these new developments are introduced in rural regions, as the social stigma of women as lower class citizens in many of these places still persists. However, studies of cell phone programs have proven successful for women in rural regions, so I sincerely hope that these technologies can provide women with real access to education and information.
-Sonia
Your anecdote reminded me of a parallel phenomenon occurring in India; the introduction of the Nano car. Also often referred to the "people's car" its low price tag would provide even the poorest part of the population to have access to safer transportation. This could potentially have great implications to bridge the increasing gap between the poverty stricken regions of India and the new and developing regions (which are often found adjacent to one another.)
ReplyDeleteHowever, at the same time the increase influx of cars could lead to worse traffic congestion and even more problems on the roads of India. Thus, an alternative question arises with the introduction of technology in developing parts of the world, where technology may be beneficial to the individual, and at the same time negatively impact the society as a whole. On the other hand, cell phones may also alleviate the pressures on the infrastructures of India (which are not built to hold such numerous amounts of cars) by allowing micro-coordination among families and businesses and may be additional asset to the poorer people of India.