Earth’s population currently sits at an estimated 8.2 billion.
Approximately 7.3 billion of those people have smartphones (Christopher Walken excluded, of course). That’s 89%. Let’s call the Blackberry the first smartphone. It came out in 2002. But we all know the first smartphone that went to the masses was the iPhone, and it came out in 2007.
Let’s look at some other technologies and their penetration into the world’s population:
- Running water: Practically available in the 1600’s. Currently, ~6.5 billion people have daily access. That’s 79%.
- Clean/Safe water: Practically available in early 1800’s. Currently, ~6 billion people have daily access. That’s 73%.
- Electricity: Practically available in late 1800’s. Currently, ~7.1 billion people have electricity in their homes. That’s 87%.
- Car ownership: Practically available in early 1900’s. Currently, ~1.6 billion people own cars. That’s 20%.
- Banking: Practically available in the 1400’s. Currently, ~6.4 billion people have bank accounts. That’s 78%.
In approximately 20 years, the smartphone has out-penetrated all of these other technologies/services, some of which we could argue should be a basic right of every citizen of this planet (who desires it).
I’d be lying if I said I knew exactly what this all means.
Is it power? Economics? Geography? Maybe it’s choice. Like most complex problems, it’s probably some combination of many variables.
What we do know, however, is that connectivity is king. Connectivity, in whatever form it takes, is a fundamental human need.
If you’re trying to make a difference in this world, focus on connectivity.
