Comments on: FT, March 19: Mobiles can close digital divide

By: Sabine McNeill

Sabine McNeill — Sun, 25 May 2008 08:44:51 +0000

Yes, James,

The conclusion seems to be part of the journalistic level of sensationalising and generalising in a simplistic way.

At the same time, I do recognise that the mobile phone technology (as well as web technologies) could dissolve centralised banking and financing systems.

The question is whether the ‘centre of technology’ is designed to be be empowering, methinks…

With many thanks for your comment,
Sabine

By: James

James — Sun, 25 May 2008 06:29:16 +0000

To assume that computer tech will magically close the digital divide is a joke

By: Ashley

Ashley — Sun, 11 May 2008 05:57:26 +0000

I do agree that some companies and global institutions globalise is a negative way and sometimes exploit the developing world. However if digital technology is improved in these countries it hopefully means that people are more connected and it is harder to ignore the problems that are right in front of us

By: Sabine

Sabine — Tue, 06 May 2008 07:11:38 +0000

Yes, Ashley,

Thank You for your comment. I was particularly pleased when I read that Grameen Solutions use a http://www.obopay.com for money transfers.

So banks have at least this ‘service’ taken away from them.

Yes, people globalise as individuals, too, and that is positive. However, the way that institutions globalise is not so good. Think about World Bank and IMF!

With ‘globally warm’ regards,
Sabine

By: Ashley

Ashley — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:29:41 +0000

I agree that mobile technologies are part of the answer to closing the digital divide and are also a partial answer for closing the socio-economic gap between the third world and the first. I believe that this emphasizes the positive aspects of globalisation not the negative that are publicized everywhere else