Papua New Guinea and new technology  

From drum calls to cell phones! This isn't especially design related but is fascinating nonetheless, the way that objects can make real changes that are in some ways for the better.

Papua New guinea, a little north of Australia, has some serious social and health problems but with the relatively affordablity of mobile phones things like safe sex and health messages about hiv/aids can be sent out at little cost. It seems that a big jump is happening there with entire formats like cd audio being skipped.

But of course there is always the flip side, read about the mining of tantalum for your computer and phone, its not pleasant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coltan#Environmental_concerns

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/futuretense/stories/2010/2948623.htm