Information lives of the poor :
Elder, Laurent,
Information lives of the poor : fighting poverty with technology / Laurent Elder, Rohan Samarajiva, Alison Gillwald, and Hern an Galperin. - xvii, 88 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm. - In focus . - In focus (International Development Research Centre (Canada)) .
Issued also in French under title: Les pauvres et l'information, combattre la pauvret e par la technologie; and in Spanish under title: Los pobres en la era de la informaci on, combatiendo la pobreza con tecnolog ia -- Title page verso.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 81-87).
Executive Summary Foreword Preface The issues and the development context Studies have indicated that investing in information and communication technologies (ICTs) can spur economic growth. This book draws on groundbreaking research that explores how access to ICTs affects lives and livelihoods among the developing-country poor -- Wireless signals, changed lives Poverty alleviation and ICT access Taking research questions into the home The approach A robust network of researchers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America has delved down to the household level to better understand the changes brought about by increased access to ICTs in the developing world -- Critical areas for research Research networks based in the global South The need for household-level information Collecting household data Africa Asia Latin America Current and potential uses of ICTs by the poor The unique household surveys conducted with IDRC support reveal how and why the developing-country poor are using modern communication tools. The research also highlights regional variations and uncovers evidence linking ICTs and poverty alleviation -- How the poor use ICTs Mobile phones everywhere you look Not the same information societies Internet going mobile where it can Women not coming to the phone Youth embracing ICTs, seniors showing reluctance The poor become an important market Ring me twice: Strategies for saving money Owners, borrowers, and renters Radio and TV retain an important role in Africa Why the poor use ICTs The mobile revolution explained Help in a crisis The social currency of ICTs Businesses that benefit Mobile money for the "unbanked" Phone-related jobs Online and on the job Price alerts for farmers Living mobile Can ICT access help ease poverty? Building social capital ICT access and the way out of extreme poverty Lessons for policymakers Analysis of the survey results from Africa, Asia, and Latin America provides lessons about how government, civil society, and the private sector can all play a role in ensuring greater social inclusion in the benefits of ICT access -- ICTs play a positive role in poverty alleviation The case for breaking up monopolies Competition comes from start-ups Important data must be released Governments' role in increasing ICT access The Internet needs an ecosystem Content is king Regions differ The future Crowdsourcing and open learning. Censorship and cyber warfare. Technology has both democratic potential and dark sides. This final chapter reflects on the promise and perils of ICTs for the poor in the developing world and recommends some future directions for research -- The open movement offers promise Harnessing the crowd The Facebook and Twitter effect Threats in an increasingly networked world New forms of exclusion Creative destruction, innovation, and intellectual property The rise of cyber warfare Privacy is dead Information and Networks program: IDRC's role Glossary of terms and abbreviations Sources and resources Publications Research networks Muhammad Yunus -- (starting p. ix) -- (starting p. xiii) / (starting p. xv) -- pt. 1 (starting p. 1) -- (starting p. 1) -- (starting p. 4) -- (starting p. 6) -- pt. 2 (starting p. 9) -- (starting p. 9) -- (starting p. 10) -- (starting p. 12) -- (starting p. 13) -- (starting p. 13) -- (starting p. 15) -- (starting p. 16) -- pt. 3 (starting p. 19) -- (starting p. 19) -- (starting p. 19) -- (starting p. 21) -- (starting p. 21) -- (starting p. 23) -- (starting p. 27) -- (starting p. 30) -- (starting p. 33) -- (starting p. 36) -- (starting p. 42) -- (starting p. 43) -- (starting p. 43) -- (starting p. 45) -- (starting p. 46) -- (starting p. 47) -- (starting p. 48) -- (starting p. 50) -- (starting p. 51) -- (starting p. 52) -- (starting p. 53) -- (starting p. 55) -- (starting p. 55) -- (starting p. 56) -- pt. 4 (starting p. 59) -- (starting p. 59) -- (starting p. 60) -- (starting p. 61) -- (starting p. 62) -- (starting p. 64) -- (starting p. 66) -- (starting p. 66) -- (starting p. 67) -- pt. 5 (starting p. 69) -- (starting p. 69) -- (starting p. 71) -- (starting p. 72) -- (starting p. 73) -- (starting p. 73) -- (starting p. 73) -- (starting p. 74) -- (starting p. 75) -- (starting p. 75) -- (starting p. 79) -- (starting p. 81) -- (starting p. 81) -- (starting p. 88)
Information and communication have always opened opportunities for the poor to earn income, reduce isolation, and respond resiliently to emergencies. With mobile phone use exploding across the developing world, even marginalized communities are now benefiting from modern communication tools. This book explores the impacts of this unprecedented technological change. It looks at how the poor use information and communication technologies (ICTs). How they benefit from mobile devices, computers, and the Internet, and what insights can research provide to promote affordable access to ICTs, so that communities across the developing world can take advantage of the opportunities they offer.
9781552505717 1552505715
20139800840 can
(AMICUS)000042144962
Information technology--Economic aspects--Developing countries.
Technological innovations--Economic aspects--Developing countries.
Digital divide--Economic aspects--Developing countries.
Technology and state--Developing countries.
Technologie de l'information--Aspect economique--Pays en voie de d eveloppement.
Innovations--Aspect economique--Pays en voie de d eveloppement.
Foss e num erique--Aspect economique--Pays en voie de d eveloppement.
Pauvres--Pays en voie de d eveloppement.
Information technology--Economic aspects.
Technological innovations--Economic aspects.
Technology and state.
Developing countries.
HC59.72.I55 / E46 2013
303.48/33091724
Information lives of the poor : fighting poverty with technology / Laurent Elder, Rohan Samarajiva, Alison Gillwald, and Hern an Galperin. - xvii, 88 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm. - In focus . - In focus (International Development Research Centre (Canada)) .
Issued also in French under title: Les pauvres et l'information, combattre la pauvret e par la technologie; and in Spanish under title: Los pobres en la era de la informaci on, combatiendo la pobreza con tecnolog ia -- Title page verso.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 81-87).
Executive Summary Foreword Preface The issues and the development context Studies have indicated that investing in information and communication technologies (ICTs) can spur economic growth. This book draws on groundbreaking research that explores how access to ICTs affects lives and livelihoods among the developing-country poor -- Wireless signals, changed lives Poverty alleviation and ICT access Taking research questions into the home The approach A robust network of researchers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America has delved down to the household level to better understand the changes brought about by increased access to ICTs in the developing world -- Critical areas for research Research networks based in the global South The need for household-level information Collecting household data Africa Asia Latin America Current and potential uses of ICTs by the poor The unique household surveys conducted with IDRC support reveal how and why the developing-country poor are using modern communication tools. The research also highlights regional variations and uncovers evidence linking ICTs and poverty alleviation -- How the poor use ICTs Mobile phones everywhere you look Not the same information societies Internet going mobile where it can Women not coming to the phone Youth embracing ICTs, seniors showing reluctance The poor become an important market Ring me twice: Strategies for saving money Owners, borrowers, and renters Radio and TV retain an important role in Africa Why the poor use ICTs The mobile revolution explained Help in a crisis The social currency of ICTs Businesses that benefit Mobile money for the "unbanked" Phone-related jobs Online and on the job Price alerts for farmers Living mobile Can ICT access help ease poverty? Building social capital ICT access and the way out of extreme poverty Lessons for policymakers Analysis of the survey results from Africa, Asia, and Latin America provides lessons about how government, civil society, and the private sector can all play a role in ensuring greater social inclusion in the benefits of ICT access -- ICTs play a positive role in poverty alleviation The case for breaking up monopolies Competition comes from start-ups Important data must be released Governments' role in increasing ICT access The Internet needs an ecosystem Content is king Regions differ The future Crowdsourcing and open learning. Censorship and cyber warfare. Technology has both democratic potential and dark sides. This final chapter reflects on the promise and perils of ICTs for the poor in the developing world and recommends some future directions for research -- The open movement offers promise Harnessing the crowd The Facebook and Twitter effect Threats in an increasingly networked world New forms of exclusion Creative destruction, innovation, and intellectual property The rise of cyber warfare Privacy is dead Information and Networks program: IDRC's role Glossary of terms and abbreviations Sources and resources Publications Research networks Muhammad Yunus -- (starting p. ix) -- (starting p. xiii) / (starting p. xv) -- pt. 1 (starting p. 1) -- (starting p. 1) -- (starting p. 4) -- (starting p. 6) -- pt. 2 (starting p. 9) -- (starting p. 9) -- (starting p. 10) -- (starting p. 12) -- (starting p. 13) -- (starting p. 13) -- (starting p. 15) -- (starting p. 16) -- pt. 3 (starting p. 19) -- (starting p. 19) -- (starting p. 19) -- (starting p. 21) -- (starting p. 21) -- (starting p. 23) -- (starting p. 27) -- (starting p. 30) -- (starting p. 33) -- (starting p. 36) -- (starting p. 42) -- (starting p. 43) -- (starting p. 43) -- (starting p. 45) -- (starting p. 46) -- (starting p. 47) -- (starting p. 48) -- (starting p. 50) -- (starting p. 51) -- (starting p. 52) -- (starting p. 53) -- (starting p. 55) -- (starting p. 55) -- (starting p. 56) -- pt. 4 (starting p. 59) -- (starting p. 59) -- (starting p. 60) -- (starting p. 61) -- (starting p. 62) -- (starting p. 64) -- (starting p. 66) -- (starting p. 66) -- (starting p. 67) -- pt. 5 (starting p. 69) -- (starting p. 69) -- (starting p. 71) -- (starting p. 72) -- (starting p. 73) -- (starting p. 73) -- (starting p. 73) -- (starting p. 74) -- (starting p. 75) -- (starting p. 75) -- (starting p. 79) -- (starting p. 81) -- (starting p. 81) -- (starting p. 88)
Information and communication have always opened opportunities for the poor to earn income, reduce isolation, and respond resiliently to emergencies. With mobile phone use exploding across the developing world, even marginalized communities are now benefiting from modern communication tools. This book explores the impacts of this unprecedented technological change. It looks at how the poor use information and communication technologies (ICTs). How they benefit from mobile devices, computers, and the Internet, and what insights can research provide to promote affordable access to ICTs, so that communities across the developing world can take advantage of the opportunities they offer.
9781552505717 1552505715
20139800840 can
(AMICUS)000042144962
Information technology--Economic aspects--Developing countries.
Technological innovations--Economic aspects--Developing countries.
Digital divide--Economic aspects--Developing countries.
Technology and state--Developing countries.
Technologie de l'information--Aspect economique--Pays en voie de d eveloppement.
Innovations--Aspect economique--Pays en voie de d eveloppement.
Foss e num erique--Aspect economique--Pays en voie de d eveloppement.
Pauvres--Pays en voie de d eveloppement.
Information technology--Economic aspects.
Technological innovations--Economic aspects.
Technology and state.
Developing countries.
HC59.72.I55 / E46 2013
303.48/33091724