April 29, 2004
Asia puts faith in mobiles
Mobiles phones are not usually seen in the West as a way of keeping in touch with God. But the growing popularity of communication technologies is providing a way for people in Asia to express their faith, say researchers, according to the BBC.
"Dr Bell has spent the past two years travelling around Asia, looking at how people are using technology in their daily lives.
For her research, she visited 100 homes in seven countries such as diverse as India, China, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Dr Bell says, in the West, the phone is considered an information and communication tool. But what is happening in Asia is a "re-imaging" of the role of the mobile.
She noticed that technology was being adapted to fit in with cultural habits, in particular when it came to local beliefs.
"One of the most popular services on China Mobile, which is one of the large mobile phone providers in China, has been the lunar almanac," Dr Bell told the BBC programme, Go Digital.
In her travels, she has come across people using mobile phones to show them the direction of Mecca or remind them of when it is time to pray".
For more on how different religions use cell phones and text messaging as a ways of reaching out to young people and spreading the good word, check out the SMS and Religion category as well as Textually's year-end roundup (2003), SMS, good for the soul.
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