In my
theory of cyber-hedonism I've always emphasized the fact that access to new technology opens up new opportunities for entertainment - not just for political activism. Whether this newly acquired access to entertainment then translates into political activity is a very complex and important question that we do not yet know how to answer.
Those without access to the Internet and computers have embraced the mobile phone as their primary entertainment gadget. The Wall Street Journal runs a fascinating story on the emerging industry of "
cellphone entertainment" in India:
In the furthest reaches of India's rural heartland, the cellphone is bringing something that television, radio and even newspapers couldn't deliver: instant access to music, information, entertainment, news and even worship.
Despite its rapid modernization, many of India's 750,000 villages remain isolated except for the cellphone reception that now blankets almost the entire country after a decade of rapid expansion by operators. So in villages that don't receive any FM radio stations, people have begun calling a number that has a recording of Bollywood tunes and listening to it on their headsets.
This primitive cellular "radio" service was used by close to 20 million Indians last year, phone company executives estimate.
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