Here’s a 15-minute video from the TED conference, of Iqbal Quadir talking about mobile phones and poverty.
I know you’re all working on your midterms, so I don’t want to give you a huge assignment — so here’s a 15-minute video on a topic we’ve already discussed. See you in class!
His philosophy is amazing to me. He is more concerned with how to help THE PEOPLE. Once people are empowered there is no stopping them. However, Once people stop blaiming the government for all their problem, they can become the solution
Tonight’s discussion was really interesting, I enjoyed it. I think that we are living in a society that is full of innovations, and people from different countries want to be in the same track. They want to be able to gain some of the technological improvements that the society has. Watching this video from Bangladesh showing people’s interactions with new technology has impressed me. The way people is changing their different resources in order to have some of this technological advanced is amazing. Something that I think is funny in some way when Mr. Quadir shows on the screen the connection between sources. First, it shows how people in Bangladesh survive utilizing a cycle of resources that includes a cow, and then it changes the cow to a cell phone. I was laughing and amazed by watching that, and seeing how the technology is affecting in many different areas people’s way of living. Sometimes we do not even realized how technology could affect the society.
Iqbal Qudir’s idea i believe is simply brilliant. His concept of having private corporations helping the public empower over the government is one that is significant in any society, specially one that is poor. Iqbal’s concept on productivity with cellphones is one that is practical, which he brilliantly related to his own personal life. Instead of supporting poor countries with monetary aid, which most of it if not all goes to higher officials as bribes, supporting them with new innovations through private corporations and non-profit organizations can help these dedicated and hardworking people stand on their “own feet.”
It’s very interesting when he showed us the diagram in which you have the cow, you can earn money by trading it with people. Simlilarly, if you have the cell phone to contact with people, you can have the business. I think that technology not only integrated people together, but it also enhanced the development of the country. Today, even though in the poor countries, they still need the technology to bring them a better life and more convenience. That’s why more and more technology are approaching to these contries.
Technology is everywhere. I can’t understand why here in America anyone would not have access to some form of computer, HDTV, cellphone, etc. Poverty still exists in some parts of America as in India. Anyone in the communications field know technology is a million dollar business. Even conferences today can’t be held without some mode of technology. As a kid, my mother took me to her job one day. She worked on a community board. I remember she had a conference that day and I sat there watching all the adults talk about community programs for the neighborhood. I thought it was boring. It was boring because they had no outstanding mode of technology back in the 70’s other than a tape recorder. My major is economics and I also liked when Iqbal Qudir’s used a chart or diagram to point out relevant data. He also mentioned that giving more aid to the country is not what’s helping to produce better results, and what is more important for prosperty is establishing business through the distribution of phones.
The quote I liked best from this video clip is: “Economic Development is of the people, by the people, for the people.” I will never forget that. I found it very impactful. This solidifies for me that being an entrepreneur is not a bad enterprise (it has been on that I thought of as scary in the past).
This is a very ingenious idea and explains a lot. It was interesting that he pointed out when you give a poor country food and funding it fails to promote economic development but when you give them cell phones it does. Who would’ve thought.