Hello, looking ofrward to a great debate!

Hello, I'm Ben and work at the International Institute for Environment and Development. I am very pleased to see so much interest in this forum, and look forward to participating! In particular my interests lie in looking beyond the technology hype that mobile phones bring (however exciting it may be!) to better understanding who is using mobile, associated technologies, and services - and what for. This may sound like a simple question, but amidst the hype of a “mobile revolution" and exponential numbers of subscribers, questions as to the development benefits as well as risks that these technologies bring are often forgotten. Lessons from ICT4D projects have shown that technologies can facilitate knowledge transfer and lower costs of doing business. However it is important to remember these technologies are a means to an end and that from a development perspective “the user" and benefits and risks to their livelihood benefits brought by new technologies should be centre-stage. I believe higher recognition is needed for work to measuring the nuances of livelihoods impacts mobiles and associated technologies bring (including who is further excluded by introducing the technologies at a local community level). Associated with this and aside from the wider headlined infrastructure and affordability issues, disadvantaged groups will not maximise development benefits and create new innovations themselves without capacity building, a feeling of local ownership, and a sustainable operations model. I look forward to some great discussions around "moving beyond infrastructure issues" and "technology hype and selling services to the poor".