The Anthropology of Mobile Phones

Having learnt all about zombies awhile back, I’m now reading another anthropology book, this time it’s on the way that mobile phones are used in Jamaica, particularly by those in low income groups. Up till now I’ve known very little about Jamaican society so ‘’ The Cell Phone" by Heather Horst and Danny Miller has been an unusual introduction to the culture there as well as an intriguing look as how people interact with technology.

Among the low-income groups in Jamaica, having an extensive network of contacts can mean the difference between dire straits and getting by all right. For example, having someone help watch the kids or help with an errand means that a single mum can get a job and still manage to maintain a plot for home grown food. Or, men can get oddjobs or do little deals through people they know. For people in such circumstances, it is also critical for survival to have people to turn to for money or other kind of help in time of need. Where the landline infrastructure is patchy, especially in rural areas, the cellphone is a lifeline in sustaining there crucial networks.

Many calls tend to be short and about nothing much - the sort of chit chat you might have if you passed a neighbor in the street. The point is to touch base (link- up) as a way of keeping the connection with that person ongoing rather than there necessarily being any particular reason or objective for the call. Texting is also used a lot although the group of people in the study were not strong in literacy - the simplified and truncated nature of text messaging removes the stigma of bad spelling. The phone is also the primary channel for accessing the internet as many in this group would not be able to afford a computer.

For those without a cell phone or landline, making simple arrangements would involve a long trek to halt face to face with someone or queuing to use the phone at the local shop. Keeping in touch with family members who have gone abroad to find work is of course also much more difficult.

There are many causes of poverty but what this book highlights is how relationships and networks help individuals survive the worst of its effects and how technology like cell phones can play an important role in sustaining those connections. In my mind, for those of us who are fortunate enough to have more resources than the group in the book, also rely on communication technology to increase our chances of success. Websites, email, blogs, Facebook and of course cellphones keep us connected with friends, family, works, customers, clients and help create business opportunities - and to some extent, in today’s world, if you are offline you are less likely to have access to as many opportunities as those who engage regularly online.

I’m also struck by how the cellphone is becoming more and more a communications hub for many people, whether low-income Jamaicans or high-flying Silicon Valley types. It’s a phone, an address book, a diary and you can do pretty much everything you can do on a computer as well as text and take photos and video. And you can have it with you at all times. In fact, I’m writing this blog post on my phone now.

How do you use technology to maintain your personal and business networks? How important is your cellphone as a communications hub? I hope you’ll add a comment and share your experience.