Anthropology, Development and ICTs: Slums, Youth and the Mobile Internet in Urban India

Posted by AnneryanHeatwole on Mar 14, 2012
Author: 
Nimmi Rangaswamy, Edward Cutrell
ISSN/ISBN Number: 
978
Publication Type: 
Report/White paper
Publication Date: 
Jan 2012
Publisher/Journal: 
ACM Digital Library
Publication language: 
English
Abstract: 

In this paper we present results from an anthropological study of everyday mobile internet adoption among teenagers in a lowincome urban setting. We attempt to use this study to explore how information about everyday ICT use may be  relevant for development research even if it is largely dominated by entertainment uses. 

To understand how ICT tools are used, we need to study the spaces users inhabit, even if these spaces are dominated by mundane, non-instrumental and entertainment driven needs. The key here is for ICTD discourse to situate insights from anthropological studies (such as this one) within an understanding of what drives a specific user population to adopt technologies in  particular ways. Clearly there is a link between context and use, and understanding this may be invaluable for development research. Adopting a narrow development lens of technology use may miss the actual engagements and ingenious strategies marginal populations use to instate technologies into their everyday.

Countries: 
Featured?: 
No
Anthropology, Development and ICTs: Slums, Youth and the Mobile Internet in Urban India data sheet 1473 Views
Author: 
Nimmi Rangaswamy, Edward Cutrell
ISSN/ISBN Number: 
978
Publication Type: 
Report/White paper
Publication Date: 
Jan 2012
Publisher/Journal: 
ACM Digital Library
Publication language: 
English
Abstract: 

In this paper we present results from an anthropological study of everyday mobile internet adoption among teenagers in a lowincome urban setting. We attempt to use this study to explore how information about everyday ICT use may be  relevant for development research even if it is largely dominated by entertainment uses. 

To understand how ICT tools are used, we need to study the spaces users inhabit, even if these spaces are dominated by mundane, non-instrumental and entertainment driven needs. The key here is for ICTD discourse to situate insights from anthropological studies (such as this one) within an understanding of what drives a specific user population to adopt technologies in  particular ways. Clearly there is a link between context and use, and understanding this may be invaluable for development research. Adopting a narrow development lens of technology use may miss the actual engagements and ingenious strategies marginal populations use to instate technologies into their everyday.

Countries: 
Featured?: 
No

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