Appropriate Mobile Technologies: Is Grassroots Empowerment for All?

Abstract

Mobile phones have become the most rapidly adopted technology in human history. In what amounts to little more than the blink of an eye, mobiles have given us a glimpse of their potential to help us solve some of the most pressing problems of our time. With evidence mounting, this paper addresses one central question: If mobile phones truly are as revolutionary and empowering as they appear to be—particularly in the lives of some of the poorest members of society—then do we have a moral duty, in the ICT for Development (ICT4D) community at least, to see that they fulfil that potential? In addition, the paper addresses some myths and misconceptions to openly deal with this question.