Reflection Paper 10/16 – Mobile Techonololgy V.S. Sacrifice

Mobile phone has been spreading out at the fast speed both in the north globe and south globe. For people from the north side, those cool mobile phone functions such as camera, Internet access, GPS…etc, are taken for granted. People would change a new phone regardless the price just because of a upgraded function on the phone. Many people from the developed world sometimes “text” their friends instead of using the phone’s original function – talking. So what do those things mean to the our neighbors from the south side?

Ling and Donner hold the positive attitude about the mobile phone’s future in the developing world but also have concern about it might create bigger gaps. That is possible, but we still need to focus on the birght side of how the new communication technology can help people in the BOP countries. Since computers are way more difficult and expensive to afford, mobile phone sure is a better option for the developing areas now. It offers a chance for them to reach out and more opportunities to gain knowledge of the outside world. It eventually will become a huge platform for people to gather together and exchange information, just as the way people from the north side use their computer and Internet. Again, this theory is based on the foundation of good government leadership in these countries.

I am not sure if it is worthy for some people from the BOP countries to sacrifice their food for mobile phones, but the author points out that sometimes “value” is not measured finacially, I am not an expert, I hope those who suffer hungry for cell phones get what really nourish them.