Cool Cell Phone Research Topics¶

Cell Phones vs. Laptops¶

Which one is more ubiquitous? Which one has the greater capacity for social change?

• Africa: the Mobiles vs PCs Debate
• MITPress Journals - Technology, Governance, Globalization: Phone vs. Laptop: Which Is a More Effective Tool for Development?

Mobile Websites and Social Mobile Applications¶

What is the difference between a mobile website and a regular website?

• IEEE Explore: Social Mobile Applications
• How to Build Social Mobile Applications
• Instedd

Mobile Aid/Mobile Fundraising¶

What are the rates that companies charge? How successful is it? Where and when are the best times to target certain populations?

Mobile Finance/Banking¶

How does it work? Is it reliable/effective?

• mobileactive: mobile financial services
• Shared Phone Use and Sente

Social Activism through SMS¶

What are some instances where SMS proved to be a tool of social activism?

Data Collection¶

How does data collection work? Which organizations utilize it the best and under what circumstances?

• FrontlineSMS and FrontlineSMS Forums/Network
• Ushahidi: Crowdsourcing Crisis Information

Video/Audio Messaging and Data Collection¶

What are ways that everyday people in third world countries use their cell phones to better their lives?

• A Mobile Voice: The Use of Mobile Phones in Citizen Media

Mobile Hacking and Software Development¶

What is it? How is it utilized within social activism?

• MIT: Africa Information Technology Initiative
• Google Android
• Instedd

GSM networks¶

Who has cell phone coverage? Who has the best cell phone coverage?

• Measuring the Information Society: The Importance of Mobile Price Parity

GPS¶

What is it? How does it work? What are some ways to utilize this technology?

Power¶

What are the best ways to charge the cell phones? What is the longest lasting cell phone battery?

VoIP¶

What is it? Who benefits from VoIP?

Telemedicine/Telehealth¶

Who uses it? What does it consist of?

PBX¶

What is it?