Phone Valuation – Information Valuation v/s Commodity valuation Security of Data v/s Security of Phone (hardware) These user statements indicate, two perspectives – one in which, as earlier highlighted that the phone has been reduced to a commodity. The valuation attached to this phone does not go beyond the price paid for the ―bare metal‖. While the other perspective indicates that the value of the phone increases as it is increasingly used for professional and personal use. In these cases, the value is in proportionate increase to the quantum of data stored by the users in Phonebooks, SMS and Media Gallery. The value attached in media, is more to personal or family content as opposed to media associated with entertainment. This is due to the view held that entertainment related media can be replenished in the even to a loss but, personal media cannot be. Such a view offers an opportunity to Design and deploy solutions which offer low cost archival services – which could start from a simple memory card to CD transfer (which albeit do exist with photography studios) to more digital and online services. The ‗safe‘ area of the memory card where in the images and videos lie could be uploaded to a more permanent location. Apart from the ―information‖ users, there are users who view the phone more from a consumption perspective and for them the phone is a commodity from a different perspective. The word ―timepass‖ is a more rooted word in this context. It indicates nonproductive usage of time and is generally frowned upon by elders. It offers them leisure or a gateway to a world which is distinct and different from their daily lives; lives where they are not happy with their professions. Most of the users in this segment us the phone for video consumption of Bollywood and Hollywood media. While the initial value of songs, mp3 does exist, there seems to be a new interest in video based content. Typically, users would load the content from freely available internet connections
and then share within their social circles via WhatsApp or via Bluetooth. From a Design Intervention, these users are morely likely to be interested in MicroNetworks – than usual social networks. Such users are more likely to use WhatsApp than Facebook. Such a well designed MicroNetwork would be more popular and can be used for interventions which aid in the growth of the individual – such as game based learning et cetera