Smartphone rules

With elections round the corner, the smartphones in our hands have become the battleground and the weapons are WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter. But the reality elswhere is starkly different, where common people make use of their phones and apps to improve their lives. As part of a research project, we talked to smarphone users (in Ranchi) across age groups, incomes, and involved in small businesses (like tea vendors and auto drivers). Some interesting insights emerged, one being that most of them are creative and use technology creatively.

Technology is playing an important role in bridging the rich-poor divide. The survey showed that the increasing usage of WhatsApp and Paytm is fuelling the desire, especially among children from underprivileged sections of society, to learn more about the technology. This new knowledge will improve their confidence level and help them to be ready for future job demands.