Lab+3

1) Jan Chipchase is a social anthropologist whose main goal is to define the role of cell phones in developing countries. His research has demonstrated the ability for cell phones to increase the productivity and wellbeing for individuals that have access them. Having a cell phone introduces the idea of inclusive capital. It is the ability for individuals to be empowered to have control over their production. The functionality of a cell phone is drastically changing, transforming to serve new purposes. This is due to “street-up innovation.” Individuals living in developing countries are redesigning and re-innovating technologies such as the cell phone, to be used for ways alternative to just communication. Cell phones are employing individuals, it act as a social insurance number, it is someone’s identity, they are acting as a banking system, creating infrastructure within the community. Everyday the cell phone is morphing into an entity that is completely globalized.

Analyzing and defining their use in different cultures is essential for the development of cell phones as a communications technology. Our culture defines who we are and in many cases the way that we use certain products. Since cell phones are transforming to fulfill unique individual needs, it is important to identify these needs relative to one’s culture. Identifying how individuals in different countries can benefit from using cell phones is important in order to create a market strategy in order to sell cell phones to more customers. Identifying their needs is a key factor to developing the marketing strategy. For example, the salesman in India hung up his clothes in order to keep them from soiling in the damp weather. Designing a cell phone with a hook to integrate the cell phone as a major household product that cannot be destroyed by the weather could be a marketing pitch that many similar Indian natives would be attracted to.

To Westerners the cell phone is a communicative device that is typically used for social interaction and convenience. Though this is our definition of a cell phone, someone living in Uganda would have a completely different definition for the cell phone. The cell phone is no becoming a unique device that fulfills a different purpose for each individual user. Defining its use unique to each individual depending on culture and location could cause cell phone developers to develop a product that is efficient and productive to its user. In turn causing more individuals to imagine the use of a cell phone in their lives and therefore making the one time investment to buy a cell phone. This could greatly expand the cell phone market, allowing for its use anywhere, anything for anything.

2) **Ensuring a Strong, Healthy and Just Society** Mircofinance supports all the characteristics of this theme. It supports diversity, and enables equal opportunity to all individuals by providing the same services to those that are more well to do receive. It allows individuals to increase their well-being and creates social cohesion by creating equality. All customers can experience the feeling of belonging to a similar network that strives for the same purpose, whether it maybe to save, be insured or borrow in times of need. Since microfinance creates infrastructure in communities where there is none, it also contributes to growth in economy. Providing financial services to all promotes opportunity to all, allowing all individual equal opportunity to prosper. These opportunities helps increase knowledge and teaches responsibility, which in turn can allow individuals to be responsible in other aspects, such as efficient resource use.
 * Achieving a Sustainable Economy **