Technologies that Empower Women: Tom Watson

Tom Watson, in his post Technologies that Empower Women, talks about the surprising ways that new technologies change the lives of women and their families for the better around the world.

"In most cases, it's not cool social-media widgets or super-wired gadgets that are making a difference. Much of the social change being driven by technology involves local innovation, local investment, and local custom. Technology that can be sustained at the country or regional level and through public-private partnerships—without massive international aid—is the kind that often brings the most lasting change. Often, this kind of transformation entails looking past the established solutions of the developed world and adopting canny new technological shortcuts."

Here are the technologies Watson cites. Are they the technologies you would have guessed? Used in the ways you would expect? Do read his article. It's fascinating.

1. Video Everywhere
2. Clean Cooking
3. Birthing Kits -- 25 Cents each
4. Electronic Election Monitoring (note: not electronic voting)
5. E-learning
6. Clean Water Nanotech
7. Mobile Digital Banking
8. Peer-to-Peer Funding Networks
9. Micro-Agricultural Technologies
10. Connected Communities