For those of you who don’t know, Tactical Tech is an international NGO specialising in helping human rights advocates use information, communications and digital technologies to maximise the impact of their advocacy work. They empower by providing advocates with guides, tools, training and consultancy which help them develop the skills and tactics they need to … Continue reading When help comes in a box
Month: April 2009
Interview at Africa Gathering
Filmed at the Africa Gathering event in London last Saturday, this short interview with Jonathan Marks covers the history, thinking and use of FrontlineSMS, and contains some priceless footage of over 100 Africa Gathering attendees doing an impression of the FrontlineSMS logo. (Tip: Turn HD off if the video is slow to play). Thanks to … Continue reading Interview at Africa Gathering
A mobile database that brings it all together
Two years or so ago during my time at Stanford University, I was carrying out research on the impact of mobile phones around the world for a conference. I was after specific articles, reports and projects – but it was spread all over the place. I spent so much time I wondered why a ‘one-stop’, … Continue reading A mobile database that brings it all together
Caught on film: Mobiles in Africa
One of the highlights of yesterday’s Africa Gathering in London, this must-see video on mobile phones in Africa was put together by good friend Martin Konzett of ict4d.at during a recent trip to the continent. Great editing, combined with priceless on-the-ground footage and perspective, gives a wonderful flavour of some of the entrepreneurial activity spurred … Continue reading Caught on film: Mobiles in Africa
Bones for mobile phones
What on earth are anthropologists doing playing with mobile phones? The answer may be a little more obvious than you think Anthropology is an age-old, at times complex discipline, and like many others it suffers from its fair share of in-fighting and disagreement. It’s also a discipline shrouded in a certain mystery. Few people seem … Continue reading Bones for mobile phones
Build it, and they will come (if it’s useful)
It’s incredible to think that exactly four years ago I was gearing up to write the early FrontlineSMS prototype. Although a lot was undecided, a central pillar of my early thinking was that a “platform approach” would be the most flexible and appropriate, and that it would be wrong and restrictive of me to try … Continue reading Build it, and they will come (if it’s useful)
Is It Africa’s Turn?
Described by Publishers Weekly as “a refreshing take on the fortunes of Africa in the current century, and a fascinating compendium of some of the leading theorists of African development” – Africa’s Turn is a new publication by the Boston Review which emerged from an earlier magazine discussion on the progress of development in Africa. … Continue reading Is It Africa’s Turn?