cell phones helping communities: not a new idea
08:25, 27 September 2010
.. Posted in Development, Relief and Advocacy Efforts2 trackbacks
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Back in 2001, I had what my colleagues thought was a radical idea: that cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDA) and other hand held electronic technology would become essential tools in projects focused on developing countries and in community improvement projects anywhere.
I got the idea because I was hearing stories about such hand held tech being used in a variety of community and environmental initiatives, often by volunteers. I was working as part of the United Nations Technology Service (UNITeS) at the time. Since UNITeS was all about volunteers using ICTs as a part of their service, I decided to put together a section on the UNITeS web site that listed all of the instances I could find regarding cell phones and other hand held tech being used community service/volunteering/advocacy efforts. It presents examples as of 2001 of volunteers/citizens/grass roots advocates using handheld computer/personal digital assistants (PDAs) or phone devices as part of community service/volunteering/advocacy, or examples that could be applied to volunteer settings. It also included some lessons-learned.
I've continued to pay attention to this subject, though I haven't been in a position to do any further in-depth research at all. Some things that have gotten my attention:
- MobileActive.org, particularly this report, Wireless Technology for Social Change: Trends in Mobile Use by NGOs
- NetSquared
- Internet & cell phones, & online volunteers, helping in disasters (not just Haiti)
- list of service delivery via mobile phones in the developing world from 2009
- Mobile banking in Kenya
- "Ever Upwardly Mobile: How do Cell Phones Benefit Vulnerable People? - Lessons From Farming Cooperatives in Lesotho"
- Kenyan Pyramid of Peace initiative
- Ushahidi
Hand held technology must be used with great caution, however. Musician and U.S.A. Green Party activist Jello Biafra noted in an article on Zdnet.Uk: "Be careful of the information gossip you get on the Internet, too. For example, late in 1997 I discovered out on the Internet that I was dead."
More about how quickly misinformation can now be spread in this resource: Folklore, Rumors (or Rumours) and Urban Myths Interfering with Development and Aid/Relief Efforts, and Government Initiatives. Also lists tips on how to address widespread misinformation.
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