The Social and Economic Implications of

Mobile Telephony in Rwanda

Jonathan Donner

Presentation : Anousha Fluck

Rwanda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lOSL1KyeG0

Digital Divide• Jan van Dijk and Kenneth Hacker (2003) distinguish

four barriers to access to digital services.

• Lack of elementary digital experience

• No possession of computers and network connections

• Lack of digital skills

• Lack of significant opportunities -> In the case of Rwanda there is a lack of usage access.

• http://vis4.net/blog/posts/mapping-internet-and-population/

Beeping by Donner

• Mobile’s feature is connectivity. The benefits are both positive economic and social changes.

• powerful technique to maximize the benefits of a mobile whilst minimizing money expenditure

• In Rwanda users have taken this to next level by diversifying this practice. There are three kinds of beeping

• Call back

• Pre-negotiated instrumental

• Relational

• allowing users to feel connected.

• It is a “phatic communication” signaling the existence of a relationship or communication channel.

• mobiles are rewriting the spatial and temporal constraints of all manner of human communications – whether for working family, or recreation and entertainment

• http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/27/tech/mobile-culture-usage/index.html

Discussion

• 1. Form groups 2. discuss with class

• When you wake up in the morning how long is it until you use your mobile or Internet?

• How would you feel if your mobile and Internet was taken off you for 3 days?

• Do you think you could organize your life without your mobile?

• Choose one question and

• Tweet #MDIA5003 your answer