Technology at the Margins: How IT Meets the Needs of Emerging Markets
Technology at the MarginsInformation and communication technologies (ICTs) have revolutionized our lives by changing the way we live, play, work, communicate, learn, manage our finances, and stay healthy—just think of life without Facebook, cell phones, or email! But the majority of the world's people—the four billion at the bottom of the global economic pyramid living on less than $2 a day—remain largely unable to benefit from the ICT revolution, mainly due to its irrelevance to their needs and the high cost of technology in relation to their purchasing power. What if we could change all this? What impact would it have on reducing poverty and improving lives? What barriers need to be overcome before this can happen?A close-up look at the emergence of a new global ethos of innovation, Technology at the Margins is a wake-up call for every international corporation eager to remain competitive through accessible, affordable, and relevant ICTs. Take a look at just a few of the areas discussed here, as well as examples of ICTs that are already creating new market opportunities and changing the futures of entire populations:Health education—mobile ovulation alert servicesDisease surveillance and information gathering—a camera-phone microscope powerful enough to diagnose malaria and tuberculosisICT in the classroom—Intel-powered Classmate PC, a rugged laptop for kids and Microsoft's Windows Multipoint Server for schoolsMicrofinancing—meeting the financial needs of poor households through affordable drip irrigation technologiesMinimizing the impact of natural disasters—wireless sensor networks that provide early flood detection in underserved countriesReflecting the authors' diverse backgrounds in engineering, science, business, architecture, education, and economic geography, Technology at the Margins challenges today's global companies to reframe their uses of existing technologies with innovative new ones that make a difference in social and economic development.