“There’s an app for that!”
The iPhone’s tagline resonates for those of us with means, but for the other 90% — not so much.
Networked mobile phones, televisions, game consoles and PCs hold massive potential as catalysts to a better life. But you know that.
The cost of devices and bandwidth continues downward. Facebook membership is growing at 10% per month in some African countries. Open Source is disrupting the software industry. However, broadband accessibility, relevant content and digital literacy remain large needs.
Our company, One Economy, has for ten years now, been applying the power of the Internet to improve the lives of low-income people around the world. First comes access. We help get people connected via wi-fi for a low rate. Next follows content. On The Beehive, we provide tools and know-how for getting a better job, better education and better health care amid the difficult circumstances in which so many find themselves. Finally there is training. Our Digital Connectors program teaches technology skills to youth who in turn teach their families and neighbors.
We’ve learned much. The talented people in our company, at our funders’ companies and in partners’ organizations form a powerful guild of experts in mobile networks, web development, application software, video production, community services, education and research. The blending of these voices has resulted in amazing music. What we want to do now is grow the choir.
Where you come in.
We’ll be looking at all internet-capable devices to promote applications to bridge the digital divide. By building a brilliant, multi-talented collective intelligence around this mission, we’ll exploit the wave of more affordable internet access, ubiquitous devices and social networking to solve big problems.
What if an XBox could help a kid practice job interviews in a variety of situations?
There should be a game app for that!
What if a busy social case worker could teach a young single mother to use an intelligent virtual guide to the services available at the times she and her children need them to build their lives?
There should be a web app for that!
How much cost and suffering could be saved if midwives in a poor country carried a device with monitoring attachments, video documents and capability to consult with a doctor during a risky birth?
There should be a phone app for that!
In one place there are people with a need. In another, a solution. From elsewhere can come programmers to write the code, companies to fund it, strategists to make it sustainable and scholars to study what works.
Welcome to Applications for Good! In the coming months we’ll be writing about public purpose applications from around the the world. We’ll discuss problems that need solutions. We’ll highlight innovators. And we’ll introduce them to each other and the people needing their inventions.
Please tell us about an app that should be.
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