Weekly+Lab+3+Response

=Lab 3=
 * //1.In three paragraphs, describe the role of Jan Chipchase in defining the role of cellphones in the developing world for Nokia, and the benefits of analyzing and defining their use in different cultures as part of their market expansion.//**

Jan Chipchase has been an employee of Nokia for the last seven years. Chipchase's area of research has to do with human behaviour. His job requires him to study people from all over the world and accumulating as much useful data as possible. Observations that Chipchase gathers will then be used by several departments at Nokia in regards to the design and how it may be marketed to different people around the world.

His position at Nokia is extremely unique but at the same time relatively important to the growth and development of Nokia's products. Nokia wants to understand their customers more which is something that can not be done over the Internet or in a labs. Therefore, the act of sending someone like Chipchase armed with camera out into the real world can aid the company target their customers. Chipchase acts as an anthropologist in understanding the reasons and techniques in how people communicate. One of the most important piece of information that Chipchase has been able to discover is how "the cellphone is becoming the one fixed piece of our identity" (Corbett 2008).

Furthermore, by studying beyond the Western culture they will be able to expand their market. This is important because of the increasing market in mobile technologies and how even poor countries invest some income on a cellphone. Also, it will focus on "human centred design" where companies like Nokia are building cellphones that everyone will find valuable. Chipchase will get to know potential customers and use that information to design future cellphones.Him and his team of researchers will help steer Nokia into the right direction. Chipchase travels to different parts of the world to understand the uses people have for a cellphone and how they use it. His research only poses as a benefit for the company.


 * //2. How does the idea of microfinance support two of the key themes of sustainability as outlined in the diagram posted on your class wiki '5 Key Themes for Sustainability'? Write one paragraph for each of your chosen theme//**

Microfinance is a kind of financial service which provides small loans to poor people in developing countries. This in itself helps practice sustainability.

Ensuring a strong, healthy, and just society: by allowing poor people to take and pay for loans we are ensuring the future of a community. It gives people of a lower income range to take out small loans which are reasonable to pay back in a certain amount of time. It gives off the idea of a fair and just society. You are creating a just society by allowing people to work for a living and gain income on their own.

Achieving a sustainable economy: by allowing smaller loans to be approved gives people a chance to stimulate the growth of the economy.By giving out small loans you are giving people a chance. It gives people that do not have a lot of income to work harder to pay for the loan. Smaller loans are easier to pay back than bigger ones.

Bibliography Corbett, Sara. "Can the Cellphone end Global Poverty?" __The New York Times__ 13 April 2008, New York.