A Library in Your PocketA Library in Your Pocket

Dr. Mohamed AllyDr. Mohamed AllyDirector and ProfessorDirector and Professor

Centre for Distance EducationCentre for Distance EducationAthabasca UniversityAthabasca University

CanadaCanadamohameda@athabascau.camohameda@athabascau.ca

May 20, 2010May 20, 2010

Athabasca Athabasca UniversityUniversityCanada’s Open Canada’s Open UniversityUniversity

Digital DivideDigital Divide

No longer trueNo longer true The gap between those who have and The gap between those who have and

those who do not have technology is and those who do not have technology is and will be something of the pastwill be something of the past

Information DivideInformation Divide

The gap between those who have access The gap between those who have access to information and those who do not have to information and those who do not have access.access.

Mobile cellular has been the most rapidly Mobile cellular has been the most rapidly adopted technology in history. Today it is the adopted technology in history. Today it is the most popular and widespread personal most popular and widespread personal technology on the planet, with an estimated 4.6 technology on the planet, with an estimated 4.6 billion subscriptions globally by the end of 2009.billion subscriptions globally by the end of 2009.

Mobile broadband subscriptions overtook fixed Mobile broadband subscriptions overtook fixed broadband subscribers in 2008, highlighting the broadband subscribers in 2008, highlighting the huge potential for the mobile Internet.huge potential for the mobile Internet.

In 2008, mobile phone penetration in In 2008, mobile phone penetration in developing countries had reached that of developing countries had reached that of Sweden under ten years earlier; for infant Sweden under ten years earlier; for infant mortality, the rate in developing countries mortality, the rate in developing countries in 2007 was at the level where Sweden in 2007 was at the level where Sweden was 72 years earlierwas 72 years earlier

The Learning DivideThe Learning Divide

• • In the Philippines, there is a four-year education In the Philippines, there is a four-year education gap between the richest and poorest households. gap between the richest and poorest households. The gap in India is seven years. The gap in India is seven years. • In Nigeria, the average youth aged 17-22 has • In Nigeria, the average youth aged 17-22 has received seven years in education. For poor rural received seven years in education. For poor rural females, that figure drops to less than 6 months. females, that figure drops to less than 6 months. • In Mexico, one quarter of the young adults in the • In Mexico, one quarter of the young adults in the southern state of Chiapas have fewer than four southern state of Chiapas have fewer than four years of education. years of education.

Globalization – Shift to MobilityGlobalization – Shift to Mobility E-learning to M-learningE-learning to M-learning E-Commerce to M-commerceE-Commerce to M-commerce E-government to M-governmentE-government to M-government E-collaboration to M-collaborationE-collaboration to M-collaboration E-library to M-libraryE-library to M-library E-health to M-healthE-health to M-health

Bridging the Information DivideBridging the Information Divide

A library in everyone’s pocket will help A library in everyone’s pocket will help bridge the information divide gap.bridge the information divide gap.

Why a Library in Everyone’s PocketWhy a Library in Everyone’s Pocket

Immediate access to informationImmediate access to information Just in time application of informationJust in time application of information Can access information from anywhereCan access information from anywhere Affordable to citizensAffordable to citizens It is a human right for achieving basic educationIt is a human right for achieving basic education ““Education for all” is possibleEducation for all” is possible Help to achieve the UN Millennium Development Help to achieve the UN Millennium Development

GoalsGoals

Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Hunger Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Hunger

and Povertyand Poverty

Goal 2: Achieve Universal Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary EducationPrimary Education

Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Womenand Empower Women

Goal 4: Reduce Child MortalityGoal 4: Reduce Child Mortality

Goal 5: Improve Maternal HealthGoal 5: Improve Maternal Health

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseasesMalaria and other diseases

Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Goal 7: Ensure Environmental SustainabilitySustainability

Goal 8: Develop a Global Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for DevelopmentPartnership for Development

Electronic vs PrintElectronic vs Print

The total cost of putting eight religious books The total cost of putting eight religious books online was $940. Over a 10-week period these online was $940. Over a 10-week period these books were downloaded 102,256 times and print books were downloaded 102,256 times and print sales of these books increased 26%. sales of these books increased 26%. Comparisons with historical book sales and Comparisons with historical book sales and sales of comparable titles suggest a positive but sales of comparable titles suggest a positive but modest connection between the increase in print modest connection between the increase in print sales and the online availability of the free books.sales and the online availability of the free books. Hilton, J. (2009). Hilton, J. (2009). How Giving Away Religious Digital Books Influences How Giving Away Religious Digital Books Influences the Print Sales of Those Booksthe Print Sales of Those Books. Doctoral Dissertation.. Doctoral Dissertation.

Ally, M. (2009) Mobile Learning: Transforming the Ally, M. (2009) Mobile Learning: Transforming the Delivery of Education and TrainingDelivery of Education and Training

((http://www.aupress.ca/index.php/books/120155)http://www.aupress.ca/index.php/books/120155)

A library in your pocketA library in your pocket

Famous PredictionFamous Prediction

There will be a libraryThere will be a library

in everyone’s pocketin everyone’s pocket

A Library in Everyone’s Pocket will provide A Library in Everyone’s Pocket will provide intellectual nourishment to citizens around intellectual nourishment to citizens around

the world (Ally, 2010). the world (Ally, 2010).

If the intellect is developed then survival will If the intellect is developed then survival will be possible (Ally, 2010).be possible (Ally, 2010).

Intellectual (mental) starvation is more Intellectual (mental) starvation is more severe than physical (nutritional) starvation severe than physical (nutritional) starvation

(Ally, 2010).(Ally, 2010).

““To know where you can find anything, that To know where you can find anything, that in short is the largest part of learning.”in short is the largest part of learning.”

- - AnonymousAnonymous

Questions and DiscussionQuestions and Discussion

Mohamed Ally, Ph.D.Mohamed Ally, Ph.D.mohameda@athabascau.camohameda@athabascau.ca