You can help the blind see with this app

I came across the Be My Eyes service very recently, when scanning some Innovation awards entries.

In summary, it’s an app that helps blind people solve everyday tasks and problems with the help of a sighted volunteer, via videochat on your smartphone or tablet. You can sign up from any country, but you can set (or indeed add) any languages you speak in the Settings of the app.

It’s remarkably easy to use and it took me, ooh, 30 seconds to sign up as a sighte volunteer.. The app is up for multiple innovation awards as is the founder Hans Jørgen Wiberg. You can download the app from either of the major App stores so take a look at the video below and get involved!

 

 

What can mobile technology do to improve global disaster relief?

• Who is this post for? Everyone
• What does it discusss? Important innovation aiding global disaster relief
• How does it benefit you? Understand necessary actions in order to understand how we might play our part or channel our donations

My interest in making this post was piqued when I saw what may be a unique conference promoted recently – Techfugees – which, in its own words, was held in London to “bring together the incredibly creative tech community with the organizations dealing with the European Refugee crisis.”

It prompted me to wonder how technology, particularly (and naturally) mobile technology, might be being used to help aidworkers and those suffering in the event of global disasters, be they natural or man-made.

It’s not unusual to find the best digestible summaries on the BBC’s website and this was no exception. I particularly liked Vodafone’s ‘instant network’ and it’s good to see the GSMA, an organisation that represents all network operators globally, coordinating the resources of the companies who provide vital connectivity – a job akin to herding cats.

Read on here to see how such crucial work is being delivered. Are you aware of any other innovation in this field?

What are the three technologies Bill Gates says could help the entire planet?

• Who is this post for? Anyone interested in understanding what technologies might help the future of our planet
• What does it discuss? How public and private sectors need to invest in order to ensure our safe future
• How does it benefit you? It might influence your next vote at the election or purchase at the till

Last week was a MAJOR time for big announcements from titans of technology. We had Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement about the use of 99% of his Facebook fortune.  we also had Bill Gates and 27 other wealthy individuals announcing a new collaboration in order to find new ways to create new technologies that can help solve the looming energy crisis.

I really don’t want to enter the debate about the wealthy opting-out of corporation tax. This post is about the possibility that technology might safeguard the future of the planet for future generations and, therefore, what we might demand of the governments we vote for and the companies where we spend our wages.

Bill Gates has written an 8-page essay called ‘Energy innovation: Why we need it and how to get it’ and you can download it right here. It highlights Solar Chemical, Flow Batteries and Solar Paint as the three key technologies – I knew nothing about these prior to reading the essay and found it fascinating and digestible reading. I hope you do too and would be fascinated to hear about this might change your behaviour in any way.

 

 

How to charge your mobile phone using a mud oven

Now I’m often to be found cursing around the house looking for a phone charger. But I have to say it’s never occurred to me that I could whip up a mud oven to get the job done!

British and Irish Aid are currently funding a project in Malawi trialling small generators that use heat to make electricity. Check out the ingenious project in this short video.

 

Will you get paid to walk?

• Who is this post for? Anyone interested in earning money just by walking
• What does it discuss? The launch of a new virtual currency and service called Bitwalking
• How does it benefit you? Get fitter, get richer

Walking is good for your health, and it might soon fatten your wallet too. A new virtual currency and smartphone app called Bitwalking has been developed that will pay its users based on the number of miles they walk each day.

The app is launching very soon on Android and iOS in the UK, Kenya, Malawi and Japan and people can request an invite to download the app from the firm’s website right now (I have, what have you got to lose?)

People will need to walk around 5 miles to earn the current equivalent of 1$US. That would mean about an extra £5 in my pocket each week but in less affluent nations, this could seriously affect income in a positive manner. It will be fascinating to see how this is adopted in Kenya and Malawi, Africa’s two launch nations, where rural workers can sometimes earn only about $1 a day. By walking with a tracker in their pocket, they could double their salary.

It has also been suggested that many companies will participate in the scheme, in order to encourage their employees to stay fit and healthy. For a more in-depth look at the service and to evaluate its chances of success, read here.  Let us know what you think of this initiative? Brilliant idea or totatlly harebrained?

Changing Kenya’s education by mobile phone

Unsurprisingly, it’s often cited that what holds back the economic progression of some of the world’s less affluent nations is the state of its education. This is a problem that’s rarely to do with the quality of the educators but more to do with the logistics and associated costs. For example, if a child lives in a rural village it may be impossible to practically travel to the place of education due to poor transport infrastructure.

Which makes this report from the BBC all the more inspirational. Read about an education program that aims to make “50 million students in Africa smarter” via the use of mobile phones, and then share freely!

Have you seen any other successful education programs with mobile phones at their heart?