| Old School Technology |
4 February 2010 |
We love the Internet, don't we? And we love to see it as the great, new tool for spreading God's Word among the nations. It's cool. It's fast. It's literally a "world wide web," right?
Well, maybe not. Much of the unreached world also remains un-wired. Indeed, research indicates the best way to reach the unreached is through old school technology like print, radio, and the newest addition to AARP, television. And while TV brings with it plenty of problems, it also has a variety of
positive impacts on developing cultures (including increasing literacy rates).
"Charles Kenny, a development economist with the World Bank, argues that television, far from being a mature or fading phenomenon in areas like India, Africa and Brazil, has picked up quite a bit of steam over the last decade or so in population penetration and impact," writes Fast Company's Kevin Randall.
The article goes on to say this: "Using a robust sample of data over many years and countries, Kenny shows a high correlation between areas that receive and consume TV and positive trends in literacy, school enrollment, health outcomes, birth control, lower levels of drug use and corruption, and even increased prosperity."
So, should we abandon the Internet? No. But we can't ignore the obvious, either. As we look for ways to influence the world for Jesus, we can learn a lot by staying old school.
Here's a link to the Fast Company article:
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/kevin-randall/integrated-branding/just-boob-tube-not-youtube-transforming-world?partner=homepage_newsletter
