Technology has been one of the great equalizers in history. It doesn’t matter if you are rich, poor, male, female, young or old; everyone has access to technology and can use it to improve their lives. Whether you live in the middle of a city or in a developing country, technology can help alleviate poverty and empower people. This article will cover how technology is helping to reduce poverty and its impact on different people around the world.
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What Is Poverty?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, poverty is defined as a family of four living on less than $24,000 annually. For many Americans, living at or below the poverty line is unimaginable. However, for families in developing countries, this is a reality they are faced with every day.
How Technology Helps to Reduce Poverty?
Every day, innovative minds are leveraging technology to make a difference in the lives of people living in poverty. More than 1 billion people worldwide live on less than $2.50 a day and lack access to basic services such as electricity and clean water.
Technology has been a great equalizer that has helped bridge this gap by providing access to information and communication with the power of one device.
For example, Mobile World Live reports that in sub-Saharan Africa mobile penetration is over 30% and reached close to 70% among those earning less than $1.25 per day. Research also shows that children who own a mobile phone perform better at school, leading to an increase in their chances for economic mobility.
However, due to high costs of smartphones and data plans , more than 50% of low-income households in India and more than 40% in Kenya have no internet connection.
Access to Information
A fundamental building block to reducing poverty is access to information. Whether it be through internet access or cell phone ownership, people living in poverty are more likely to be able to get jobs and improve their quality of life.
Education
Poverty has been a reality for many people for centuries. Many of these individuals are living without access to education and technology that could help them better their circumstances. Education is one example of this, as it can provide skills that can be used to help lift someone out of poverty.
However, there are also other ways technology can be used to help reduce poverty. For instance, mobile banking platforms can be used to make financial transactions more easily accessible and affordable for people who may not have had access before.
Health Care
Children living in poverty without access to adequate health care are more likely to die before the age of five. That is a stark contrast to children who are able to get the medical attention they need and live. As a result, it is essential for families and communities to work together and create partnerships with doctors, nurses, social workers, dentists and other professionals who provide services for free or reduced rates.
Job Opportunities
If you’re someone who’s looking for a job to help you get out of poverty, there are some great opportunities out there that you can take advantage of. All over the world, companies are looking for people to fill positions and they’re willing to provide training. If you’re motivated and ready to take on a challenge, this could be a great opportunity.
Agricultural Advancements
On a small scale, many technologies have been developed to help farmers with their labor. For example, many harvesters now have GPS guidance systems that automatically steer them to the most efficient areas of a field. These technologies reduce agricultural workers’ exposure to pesticides and reduce their manual labor while increasing their productivity levels.
One major advancement has been that of robotics. In a tomato processing plant in France, robots were used instead of humans for some tasks, leading to an increase in productivity and less human contact with harmful substances such as tomatoes which contain hazardous acids.
Improved Communication
The world has been democratized by technology. It has leveled the playing field for all and given people access to information and opportunity that they would have never had before. In many ways, this is good news for those living in poverty.
One of the most significant ways technology helps reduce poverty is through improved communication. Today, billions of people are connected to one another through various digital devices – from mobile phones to tablets to computers – through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Skype.
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Conclusion
Poverty is a worldwide problem. There are many factors that contribute to poverty, but for those who are living without resources, technology can be a great equalizer.
Technology can help to reduce poverty by providing more opportunities for people to work and learn on their own time, as well as access to information that may have been previously unavailable. There are many technological devices that provide these services and they range from cell phones and tablets to e-readers and laptop computers.
