Contrary to popular belief, Africa is not completely absent from the Internet. In fact, the continent at large is undergoing a connectivity revolution unlike anything it has ever seen. Mobile phones in particular are propagating at an incredible rate, with penetration ranging from 30% to 100%. The average is 30.4% and there are 280 million [...]
Ushahid.com Blog- Open Question: Mixing Analog & DigitalQuestionBox is a project that allows offline people in emerging markets to ask questions and get answers. It’s an analog solution for those who don’t have their own digitally connected data devices. Open Question is a free and open source software application used for the purposes of collecting and disseminating information via phone [...]
- Getting Better at Design and Crisis MappingI’m really (REALLY) excited today. Today I get to announce that two amazing individuals who have been long-time Ushahidi community members are joining the team to help with areas that we have a great need for their expertise in. First though, a big thank you to the Cisco Foundation. Through their generous [...]
- An Internet Emergency KitI’m a big fan of MAKE magazine, and as a web addict, I’m also always keen on finding ways to maintain connectivity. IN their recent issue, they have an “internet emergency kit” put together by NetHope. However, wearing my Ushahidi hat it becomes even more important to think of ways of maintaining internet [...]
- Digital Media in Conflict-Prone SocietiesI had the chance to do a talk with Ivan Sigal, Executive Director of Global Voices, at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington DC this week. The talk was primarily about the paper that Ivan wrote, titled Digital Media in Conflict-Prone Societies, which should be out soon. I filled in as a [...]
- Download form fixedFor those who’ve used the download form in the last few days to request a copy of the Ushahidi platform, kindly accept our apologies, we had a small problem with the code that notifies us of your request. This has been fixed and you should have received a link to download the platform. If you [...]
- Nairobi: Mapping PartyOur friends at OpenStreetMap are embarking on a mapping endeavor that will create the first public digital map of Kibera. Mikel Maron of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team will work with volunteers, techies, and other partners to train youth on current mapping techniques. Over a two week period in November, the team will then map out [...]
- ICCM and the Flat OrganizationDavid, Chris and I attended the International Conference on Crisis Mapping (ICCM) this past weekend. It was the first time academics, governmental and nongovernmental agencies, software developers and people from the field have met under one roof to discuss crisis mapping. Everyone, about 70 in all, came together to discuss issues in an open forum [...]
- You can’t replicated DNAOry and I are in Camden, Maine as part of the Pop!Tech Fellows program for 2009. It’s a time with exceptional individuals building companies that are trying to do the right thing, and taught by a faculty of world-class experts in everything from marketing to finance and social media. (more of my thoughts on [...]
- The Ushahidi ForumsThe Ushahidi forums are becoming the place to go for help, insight and information on Ushahidi. Recently, we had a question asking about how to add user authentication. After reading my response I realize that my answer on “user levels” might not be what the questioner is looking for… This is [...]
- Quality and Critical MassI’ve spent the last couple days holed up in a room in scenic Salzburg, Austria with 20 other people from both traditional journalism and new media backgrounds. Our goal: discuss strategies for more effective engagement and investment in “tomorrow’s media“. Having this mixture of “old school” journalism professionals mixed […]
- Open Question: Mixing Analog & Digital
