Earlier this year we did a small little test run: A group of rural school dropouts in a Tanzanian town 100 km from the nearest tarmac road got access to computers and internet through a commercially operated "telecenter" we had helped launch. Their level of education is low, their English skills just barely sufficient for small talk. They had never even touched a computer. Let’s see what happens….. Big surprise: Within a week these guys were each having their facebook account and exchanging on it among themselves (and beginning to fall victims to the typical scams on facebook) - and then they ask me to please come in and help them discuss an issue which was…. - now get this: Whether and how "globalization" (whatever they meant by that) enhances or diminishes their local culture. Phew, what on Earth is going on? Among youth in a remote rural town like that? What effects, what impacts? Certainly a lot more than just on agriculture, that's for sure! Ueli Scheuermeier

There is almost no value in trying to analyze the socio-economic impact of ICTs in rural areas! Not because there is no impact, but because it's almost impossible to grasp what's going on in this fast evolving scene. We can comfortably assume there is a huge impact, given that mobile phones and their use are exploding across rural areas, with the second wave of smart phones chasing the first one, and I already observe first indications of the third wave taking off in rural areas: Laptops! These waves of technological change are washing over diverse remote areas I have known and worked in over the years, resulting in effects that keep stunning me. Rural people spend a surprising amount of money on connectivity. Very little of this was driven by any projects. As a matter of fact most ICT projects and programs I observe struggle to catch up with the fast moving reality, often finding themselves side tracked by new technology. Why try analyzing any impact of this?