#next billion

The October 17 2024 episode of the Bloomberg Originals ‘The Future With Hannah Fry‘ program had the theme ‘The Next Billion‘, and asked, as another billion people get online, how will these new users embrace this technology to transform their lives, and what will it mean for the rest of the world? VIEW Bloomberg | YouTube  TRANSCRIPT https://isoc.live/misc/bloomberg_next_billion.txt TWITTER…

The smartphone market in the United States is almost saturated. It is estimated that 20-30% of the U.S. population does not have a smartphone but the reason isn't because they don't want one but because they cannot afford one. The Motorola E represents the American giants first major attempt at reaching the "next billion" with a smartphone. $129 is a killer cost for an unlocked GSM world phone that runs the latest variant of Google's Android. It has the ability to be deployed in developing markets to facilitate payment systems, international sales, local communications, and essentially everything the computer promised the world.

There are a dozen projects attempting to reach the next billion individuals that are not connected to the internet. Project Loon by Google, Firefox OS by Mozilla, Chromebooks by Google, and micro payments via WeChat are just a few. Connecting the next billion is, arguably, more important than connecting the first few. We're not talking about the ability to post a selfie or start a revolution, though those are good causes, but the ability to access information and establish new markets. I am writing this on a Chromebook from HP, a 2.3 pound laptop that sacrifices weight for cloud based innovation. Empowering the next billion through whatsapp, wechat, bitcoin, enhanced localized mobile operating systems, and more are what will provide prosperity. Handing individuals these tools will spark new ideas to solve centuries old conflicts and provide efficiency in the marketplace.

By Daniel Gross

A WorldHaus prototype home in the outskirts of Chennai, India. (All images courtesy of WorldHaus).

We’re living a moment in history when solving the world’s problems is more necessary and achievable than at any other time. With rapidly expanding population growth putting increasing strain on domestic natural resources, providing safe, reliable housing to millions of citizens is an intensifying challenge to governments around the world. At the same time, advances in technology and communication mean low-cost, culturally appropriate solutions can be delivered more effectively across borders today than ever before. At WorldHaus, we aim to address the global housing crisis by developing a sustainable, affordable way to protect people in developing nations from the elements and give them a permanent home they can be proud of. This January, the WorldHaus concept became a reality with the completion of our first prototype.

After months of planning and securing the prototype location in the outskirts of Chennai, India, we were ready to build in late summer of 2011.  Mother Nature had different plans and we were forced to postpone construction for two months due to two fierce monsoons that led to severe flooding.  Although recovery and cleanup was long and tedious, the storm only accentuated the need for solid, disaster resistant housing in India.      

When we finally started, our team of four local laborers built our house quickly, using our proprietary building system to create a house that stands apart from traditional rural structures in three ways:

Strength - Strong, weather resistant, reinforced walls that provide increased protection from natural disasters and a roof that can support multi-story construction.

Speed – A building system that allows completion in 10 days, rather than months.

Comfort – A light, insulated roofing system that protects families from the heat and a large covered exterior porch.

The owner of the first WorldHaus is Mr. Ramaswamy and his family (Pictured left).  He’s a watchman and day laborer, as is Mrs. Ramaswamy.  They share the home with their son (a hospital assistant), his wife and their two month old daughter.  Once finished, the house and family received a traditional blessing called a Puja.  Steeped in Indian tradition, the Puja ceremony brought good luck to the home and its residents and highlighted the importance of integrating local cultural practices into our business.

In addition to the storm, we faced challenges in India which we foresee in other countries, including a deeply ingrained preference for overbuilding which can lead to unsafe and unaffordable houses. The experience showed us that a highly standardized building and materials management system is critical to keeping down costs and maintaining high quality. Training local masons and laborers into an intuitive building system increases speed, reduces waste, and gives ongoing benefits to local livelihoods.

Following the successful completion of our prototype, we have overwhelmed with the positive response. Landowners looking to provide affordable housing to their constituents, including state governments, property developers, and NGOs, are partnering with WorldHaus to deliver beautiful and affordable housing communities that transform livelihoods. We begin our first housing development next month and aim to build over 500 houses by the end of the year. Partnerships with housing finance companies are also increasing access to families that previously could never dream of a mortgage and an affordable high quality home.

WorldHaus is an Idealab and Anavo Global company. You can learn more at http://worldhaus.com. (WorldHaus was designed in cooperation with Gensler and powered by Duron Energy, a fellow Idealab company). 

(Above: A storyboard detailing the WorldHaus construction).