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Monday, March 9, 2009

Tech / Teh Internets Today's Weird Assembly of Facts

Posted by on Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 1:32 PM

According to this post by Stephen's Lighthouse, "more than half of humanity use cell phones" but "Internet usage still hasn't quite reached a quarter of the world's population." I can't help but think that the world would be better off if those numbers were reversed. But still: How far we've come in 10 years.

Also in futuristic technology: Thought-controlled wheelchairs!

 

Comments (12) RSS

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1
Even if, to us, cell phones might not seem as good as the internet, they are extraordinarily useful and popular in many parts of the world. In Kenya (and I'm pretty sure lots of other countries) you can wire money to people over a cell phone, for instance. And even smartphones are way cheaper than a laptop and the internet - which is why the numbers are the way they are, and not reversed.
Posted by Duna on March 9, 2009 at 2:20 PM
2
Yahoo News just told me that the average cost of a cell phone call is about three dollars a minute (because of all the people who have regular monthly plans but then only talk for ten minutes a month). That isn't really very relevant I guess, but I just happened to see it thirty seconds ago. It's not immediately clear whether the figure applies to the entire half of humanity that uses cell phones, or just to the U.S., or just to some local market where they did the study.
Posted by bc on March 9, 2009 at 2:22 PM
3
Agree with @1. When I visited east Africa, people used cell phones b/c they were so much more reliable. I can't imagine how anyone got anything done there before cell phones. Agree that higher Internet use would probably be great, but you're underestimating the impact that cell phones had/have.
Posted by left coast on March 9, 2009 at 2:39 PM
4
I heard cell phone minutes are a new currency in the third world. Beats airline miles.
Posted by Amelia on March 9, 2009 at 2:47 PM
5
Most people share cell phones.

Only around here are people non-sharers.

Says something.

Not about them - about us.
Posted by Will in Seattle on March 9, 2009 at 3:07 PM
6
Perhaps one of the most surreal experiences in my life was trying to explain what the internet was to a young man in rural Ghana. He had heard of cell phones but not email. How do you explain the internet when someone isn't even familiar with a computer? It was like some lame improv excercise.

Then he tried explaining to me how to better speak his people's tonal language and I saw the same frustrated and bewildred look in his eye that I had had moments before in mine.
Posted by stuckinboston on March 9, 2009 at 3:13 PM
7
Here's what I want to know about cell phones: I carry these two (!) powerful microwave transmitters in my pants, very close to my nuts. No previous generation in history has done this, and long-term studies haven't been conducted. Is this going to make me sterile? Will cell phones be the new Thalidomides?

Is Golob going to be at the party on Thursday?
Posted by Greg on March 9, 2009 at 4:54 PM
8
Let's hope so, Greg.
Posted by Will in Seattle on March 9, 2009 at 5:10 PM
9
I dearly hope that you are looking forward to the fulfillment of my last question only, Will.
Posted by Greg on March 9, 2009 at 5:20 PM
10
Of course, Greg.

Your nuts becoming radioactive is more of a bonus ...
Posted by Will in Seattle on March 9, 2009 at 8:44 PM
11
Perhaps this monkey is without sin.
Posted by Sad Comment on March 9, 2009 at 11:01 PM
12
wtf? How did that happen. I submitted a comment under the rock throwing monkey and slog posted me here?

Huh?
Posted by Sad Comment on March 9, 2009 at 11:03 PM

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