Into a New Era Through Smart Technology
Communication has gone a long way particularly in the world’s remotest areas, and mobile technology is rapidly transforming it. Out of the 7 billion people in the world today, it is estimated that 6 billion are active mobile phone subscribers. That is why many companies, governments, and NGO’s upon realizing the potential of mobile phones, are gearing up to sustain and support its development. Let’s take a look at some areas where mobile phone technology made an impact:
1. Education
In most countries, if not all, education is considered as a basic right, but it is depressing to take note that there’s still so many countries with low literacy rate. With the help of NGO’s and private companies the world literacy landscape is rapidly changing with the help of mobile phone technology.
2. Surveys and Polling
In the realm of international development projects often times requires grants which are data driven. Collecting data are essential and could make or break a community that heavily relies on it. Mobile devices has allowed workers collect data in rural communities instead of relying from paper surveys.
3. Agriculture
The mobile phone technology has also been transforming our rural landscape in terms of agriculture. Today, Kenyan farmers can gain access to market prices before traveling to markets that often requires long distance travelling. This technology allows the farmers to negotiate deals with traders, and it also greatly improve the timing and delivery of crops in the markets.
4) Banking the Unbanked
In 2012, the World Bank reported that more than 2.5 billion people (half of all adults in the world) are unbanked or without access to a bank account. But this is now quickly being addressed through mobile phone technology. More than fifty five million Africans today can now use basic phone services for money transfer, taking out insurance policies and collect payments from government agencies.
5) Data Analysis
Mobile phone technology through service providers are now helping in countering human trafficking today by making it more risky and less profitable. The data extracted from cell phones and mobile networks amount can now serves as a trail of information and powerful evidence for tracking, identifying, and prosecuting traffickers.
The mobile phone technology has indeed transformed our society today, bringing us to a new era of civilization, the digital age.
