The promise and challenges of using mobile phones for adult literacy training: Data from one Indian state

Worldwide, 800 million adults are illiterate; a vast majority of them reside in India. A problem on this scale requires solutions that are scalable and cost-effective. Due to their fast growth, portability, and technical capabilities, mobile phones may play a role in devising such a solution. Yet illiteracy itself may be one of the central barriers that could prevent the effective use of these phones. This study based on data from a 2010 survey of 409 illiterate men and women from semi-urban locations in one Indian state seeks to understand the potential of mobile phones to address adult illiteracy. The results show a mixed promise for using mobile phones to alleviate adult illiteracy. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.