With Africa in the news this week, I thought this article from the Economist was timely in discussing how mobile phones must be designed and marketed differently in developing countries. I would love to see studies of pervasive or location-based mobile games in Africa. I still looking for research from Africa at CHI or Ubicomp conferences as some many of the projects and collaborative papers are European or North American based.
Mobile phones have become indispensable in the rich world. But they are even more useful in the developing world, where the availability of other forms of communication—roads, postal systems or fixed-line phones—is often limited. Phones let fishermen and farmers check prices in different markets before selling produce, make it easier for people to find work, allow quick and easy transfers of funds and boost entrepreneurship. Phones can be shared by a village. Pre-paid calling plans reduce the need for a bank account or credit check. A recent study by London Business School found that, in a typical developing country, a rise of ten mobile phones per 100 people boosts GDP growth by 0.6 percentage points. Mobile phones are, in short, a classic example of technology that helps people help themselves.
Relevance: Shows how mobile companies are looking at ways to help Africa and work towards bridging the digital divide.