Topic: One question nobody is asking... - page 3. (Read 2695 times)
If there is one problem that the BTC community doesn't need to worry about solving, it is this. The amount of capital getting thrown at expanding the reach of the internet makes the Bitcoin market cap pale in comparison.
Internet connectivity is growing with faster pace.Even when I would be done posting this,more people and area would be connected to internet.
Have you contacted your phone company about this? I was actually in your situation not that long ago and we finally figured out that we could get DSL out where we live. DSL runs over your phone line, but because it uses a different kind of signal (digital), it doesn't interfere with your phone service (analog). I know more people are dumping their land lines lately, but most houses are still wired for phone service and, if you have at least one functional phone jack in your house, you could probably get DSL.
But you are right about lack of Internet service being a possible obstacle for Bitcoin adoption. A lot of Internet companies never bothered to expand into disadvantaged regions because they think there's no market in areas where nobody can afford to pay for Internet service. One thing I'd like to see is free access to Wi-Fi in public places in these regions and everybody gets a cheap tablet. That would be a good start for getting more people on the road to access to things like Bitcoin and online marketplaces where they can buy and sell to their hearts' content. You'd think capitalists would love this idea of more people "earning money -- and spending money!"
But you are right about lack of Internet service being a possible obstacle for Bitcoin adoption. A lot of Internet companies never bothered to expand into disadvantaged regions because they think there's no market in areas where nobody can afford to pay for Internet service. One thing I'd like to see is free access to Wi-Fi in public places in these regions and everybody gets a cheap tablet. That would be a good start for getting more people on the road to access to things like Bitcoin and online marketplaces where they can buy and sell to their hearts' content. You'd think capitalists would love this idea of more people "earning money -- and spending money!"
I think Google is working on this with the world wide blimp/weather balloon network they want to put in place.
If 10% of the ones with proper internet would own BTC it would be enough to take off.
Your calculation is good for Dogecoin imo.
Your calculation is good for Dogecoin imo.
Mate you really are not seeing the bigger picture, and are very backward looking, thech can change over night, hold on to your hat over the next 3 years.... 
Smartphones
Router 4G LTE Wireless
Have You seen such devices?
Put it in highest place in the building or on pole with USB alimentation.
That's what I thought. Everyone is going to spot read what I wrote and simplify it. Read the last part. My argument is NOT about the internet service alone.
Let me spell it out...
Getting and using the internet is just the first step in a several year long process. Those that had AOL dial up in 1995, started using online banking in 2000. If they didn't get internet access until 2000, then they didn't start online banking until 2005. Do I need to continue?
The internet access was only one part of the delay.
Let me spell it out...
Getting and using the internet is just the first step in a several year long process. Those that had AOL dial up in 1995, started using online banking in 2000. If they didn't get internet access until 2000, then they didn't start online banking until 2005. Do I need to continue?
The internet access was only one part of the delay.
Well worldwide internet isn't 100% available yet but so what? Look at everyone on smartphones and how that succeeded. The world will catch up.
In order for BTC to take off it will require one basic component that does not exist yet... reliable and affordable mobile internet EVERYWHERE.
Yeah, I know, you're ready to pounce and tell me to wake up. Entertain me for a minute. Let me explain...
I live in the United States, about 40 miles from a city with a population of about 45,000. We have three choices for internet; dial up, satellite, or a mobile hotspot (if you can get a connection). Satellite is okay, but it is metered, so if you actually use it, it can be very expensive. Smartphones and hotspots are becoming more common, but they aren't very helpful unless we are close to the city. And dial up, actually, I am not sure you can even get that anymore.
Oh, I forgot to add that I am only fours hours drive from NYC.
I think people on here are putting the cart way before the horse. If you don't believe me, take a drive out to the country and try to use your smartphone. Of the several houses on my street, I am the only one that has access to the internet, mobile or otherwise. I live in the sticks. I explained Uber to about 20 coworkers a few weeks ago. Several of them said it would never work. (Just trying to paint a picture of what I see.)
So my question is,
How can this technology benefit the "unbanked" in developing countries within the next several years? Really, how close are we to smart contracts and self driving cars and a sustainable BTC price of >$1000?
I keep hearing how BTC is going to help the "unbanked" in developing countries... like that is going to happen in the next year or two. I keep hearing about Etherium, smart contracts, self driving cars. I saw a video on youtube of a prominent BTC person saying that we are almost there. He substantiated it by saying that self driving cars already exist and function. They may exist, but they wont function where I live. In fact, they wont function in most of the world. If I can't call my wife on the drive home from work, how the hell is my car going to drive itself?
For BTC to grow in the time frame many of you propose, developing countries would have to have cheaper and more reliable internet access than me, four hours outside of NYC?
Think about that. That is what I have a hard time wrapping my head around.
I am not bashing BTC. I own a little and want to cash in someday just like everyone else. I see the potential. I am just trying to offer a perspective that I think most are overlooking.
And please, do not simplify what I am saying. Where I live, people just started using debit cards in place of their checkbooks, and are just now making their first internet purchases!
So even if the access to the internet improves, there is still a long time before the trust factor enters the equation.
Sorry, but three years from now, millions of people in the western world will still be writing checks, and millions in the the developing world will still be seeing the internet for the first time.
Yeah, I know, you're ready to pounce and tell me to wake up. Entertain me for a minute. Let me explain...
I live in the United States, about 40 miles from a city with a population of about 45,000. We have three choices for internet; dial up, satellite, or a mobile hotspot (if you can get a connection). Satellite is okay, but it is metered, so if you actually use it, it can be very expensive. Smartphones and hotspots are becoming more common, but they aren't very helpful unless we are close to the city. And dial up, actually, I am not sure you can even get that anymore.
Oh, I forgot to add that I am only fours hours drive from NYC.
I think people on here are putting the cart way before the horse. If you don't believe me, take a drive out to the country and try to use your smartphone. Of the several houses on my street, I am the only one that has access to the internet, mobile or otherwise. I live in the sticks. I explained Uber to about 20 coworkers a few weeks ago. Several of them said it would never work.
(Just trying to paint a picture of what I see.)So my question is,
How can this technology benefit the "unbanked" in developing countries within the next several years? Really, how close are we to smart contracts and self driving cars and a sustainable BTC price of >$1000?
I keep hearing how BTC is going to help the "unbanked" in developing countries... like that is going to happen in the next year or two. I keep hearing about Etherium, smart contracts, self driving cars. I saw a video on youtube of a prominent BTC person saying that we are almost there. He substantiated it by saying that self driving cars already exist and function. They may exist, but they wont function where I live. In fact, they wont function in most of the world. If I can't call my wife on the drive home from work, how the hell is my car going to drive itself?
For BTC to grow in the time frame many of you propose, developing countries would have to have cheaper and more reliable internet access than me, four hours outside of NYC?
Think about that. That is what I have a hard time wrapping my head around.
I am not bashing BTC. I own a little and want to cash in someday just like everyone else. I see the potential. I am just trying to offer a perspective that I think most are overlooking.
And please, do not simplify what I am saying. Where I live, people just started using debit cards in place of their checkbooks, and are just now making their first internet purchases!
So even if the access to the internet improves, there is still a long time before the trust factor enters the equation.
Sorry, but three years from now, millions of people in the western world will still be writing checks, and millions in the the developing world will still be seeing the internet for the first time.
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