Open World

The Internet is remarkably context-dependent depending on where users are located and what infrastructure they can access. Weather-dependent in Cambodia, subject to invisible and constantly shifting censorship in Uzbekistan or China, or still delivered primarily over dial-up speeds in rural areas around the globe, the objective measure of "Internet access" doesn't tell us that much about what kinds of content people can access, the interaction and communication modes they adopt, and how the technology gets integrated into everyday life and professional practice. In these areas of greater constraint, people are innovative and unpredictable in how they adapt certain technologies to local needs. When we look at specific countries and patterns of adoption and usage, how does our understanding of the global Internet change? How does the innovative use of Internet and mobiles in emerging markets point to the future of other emerging technologies?