Cell Phones Changing the World

Recent articles in the New York Times and Economist spotlight the far-reaching impact of mobile phone technology on issues ranging from family life, work, relationships, and education to efforts to combat global poverty. The 14-page Economist Survey traces the growth of "digital nomadism” as more and more people live on-the-go lives made possible by wireless communication. The effects of the mobile revolution run deep, influencing the language people use, how they interact, how public spaces are constructed, and even traffic patterns.

Sara Corbett’s Times article profiles Nokia human-behavior researcher Jan Chipchase as he studies people’s needs, particularly in developing countries, and how mobile technology can best meet them. Cell phones are playing a growing role in poverty alleviation due to their “ability to increase people’s productivity and well-being, mostly because of the simple fact they can be reached.” According to the article, 80% of the world’s population now lives within range of a cellular network with 68% of the world’s mobile subscriptions being in developing countries.

NYTimes

Economist.com