I’m in San Francisco this week on a surprise trip to collect an award for a product I designed and built over a decade ago. The fact the early work of FrontlineSMS is still being recognised twelve years on speaks volumes to the approach, and the impact it had – not only in the hands … Continue reading In celebration of an approach less travelled
Tag: FrontlineSMS
Turning point.
I remember that morning well. A week or so earlier I’d been informed via a random phone call that a group of Nigerians would be monitoring their forthcoming Presidential elections using FrontlineSMS. There had been frantic activity ever since, culminating in press releases and text messages with Bill Thompson, emails with Jon Fildes, and a Skype call with Gareth … Continue reading Turning point.
1995. 2005. 2015. Two decades of code
Precisely ten years ago this morning I sat down at a kitchen table in Finland and started coding. Armed with a Visual Basic.net manual, a laptop and GSM modem, a couple of SIMs and a Nokia 6100 and cable – and plenty of coffee – I delved into the world of Windows programming for the … Continue reading 1995. 2005. 2015. Two decades of code
How “Designing with the end user” undermines ICT4D best practice
After years of near-invisible end users, it’s promising to see the beginnings of ‘end-user recognition’ in much of ICT4D‘s emerging best practice. It looks like we’ve made a big stride forward, but we’re not where we need to be yet, despite making all the right noises. To a great extent, we’re still saying one thing … Continue reading How “Designing with the end user” undermines ICT4D best practice
Back to the Future: Seventeen things you might not know about FrontlineSMS
This post was first published on the FrontlineSMS website last October to celebrate six years since the software’s launch. This week the FrontlineSMS team – which now spans three continents – are preparing for the release of the latest version. Launch events are being held in the US, UK and Kenya. Further details are available … Continue reading Back to the Future: Seventeen things you might not know about FrontlineSMS
Innovation: Beyond technology.
Last week we made one of the most important announcements in the near-seven year history of FrontlineSMS. As I hinted in my “Rolling Stones School of Management Innovation” post last December, I only felt able to take the project to a certain level and that it required different people with a different set of skills … Continue reading Innovation: Beyond technology.
Cometh the hour. Cometh the technology.
For NGOs and developers alike, the ICT4D space can be a tough nut to crack. While NGOs generally struggle to find the tools they need to meet their particular needs, developers face the opposite problem – getting their tools into the hands of those who need them the most. Attempts to connect the NGO and … Continue reading Cometh the hour. Cometh the technology.
Building mobile applications for social good
“If you were thinking of designing or building a website, you’d be in luck. If you were thinking of writing a suite of financial management tools, you’d be in luck. If you were even thinking of creating the next big video game, you’d be in luck. Visit any good bookstore and the selection of self-help … Continue reading Building mobile applications for social good
Delivering on your values
I’m just back from my first visit to Harvard University where FrontlineSMS was presented with the 2011 Curry Stone Design Prize. The award ceremony on Monday was followed by a seminar on Tuesday, co-hosted by Nicco Mele and Ethan Zuckerman. Our beliefs, values and approach come out strongly in this five minute video, put together by … Continue reading Delivering on your values
Invite: Curry Stone Design Prize Ceremony
In just over a weeks time I’ll be heading back to the US to collect the Curry Stone Design Prize on behalf of FrontlineSMS. This is an exciting (and interesting) award for us for a number of reasons. You can read more of my thoughts on that here, and check out our official prize page here. … Continue reading Invite: Curry Stone Design Prize Ceremony
Rethinking socially responsible design in a mobile world
“The Curry Stone Design Prize was created to champion designers as a force for social change. Now in its fourth year, the Prize recognizes innovators who address critical issues involving clean air, food and water, shelter, health care, energy, education, social justice or peace”. Yesterday was an exciting day for us as we announced FrontlineSMS … Continue reading Rethinking socially responsible design in a mobile world
Rewarding open source for social good
Do you know a software developer building open source tools with the potential to positively impact communities around the world? If you do – or you are one – then read on. The Tides Foundation is now accepting nominations for this year’s Pizzigati Prize. The Antonio Pizzigati Prize for Software in the Public Interest annually awards … Continue reading Rewarding open source for social good
Football. Beer. Innovation?
Ever wondered where the original idea for FrontlineSMS came from? Find out in this fun 50 second video put together by National Geographic as part of their 2010 Explorers Symposium. For more information on our work with National Geographic, check out our profile page.
Anthropologists in a Global Village
Social anthropology was a discipline I was fortunate to stumble into when I headed to university way back in 1996. My main motive for going was to read Development Studies, but at Sussex you couldn’t study it as a single subject. Choices for a second ranged from English Literature to Spanish to Geography. I rather … Continue reading Anthropologists in a Global Village
Putting data integrity on the map
We were excited to join colleagues and friends in Washington, DC, on Tuesday 9th August to release the first edition of our “User Guide on Data Integrity”, a tool that will help FrontlineSMS users around the world better understand the flow of information into and out of the platform, the risks and vulnerabilities to that … Continue reading Putting data integrity on the map