Smart Devices

Smart devices

Smart devices include:

Smart phones have the advantages of cell phones but with greater interactivity and wider access to other media (e.g., internet).
Tablets (e.g., ipads and androids) or
"Audio computers"

Examples. Audio computers Talking books

Pros

Many smart devices have the advantages of cell phones - portable, relatively cheap and increasingly available. They can download more information than basic or featured cell phones and have multiple uses

Market and input access. Farmers can contact buyers and sellers directly offering a powerful way to improve market access and input access
Problem diagnosis and Accessing technical information. Can be linked to Apps or on-line problem diagnostic sites. Offers more interactive contact with call centers - but effectiveness depends on the availability of experts or expert systems at the "call center".
m-Banking. Offer a powerful way for poor farmers to build savings through mobile-banking.

Cons

Smart device (as with Cell phone) coverage can be limited
Costs can be high
Some applications require availability of experts or expert systems which may not be the case.

Key principles

The key principles depend on the medium being accessed. See

For more

Literacy Bridge are one group using smart devices to bring Talking books to rural communities Link

Smart devices allow access to a range of media