One of the challenges for non-profit organizations in developing countries, specially those working for conservation and rural development, is being able to disseminate information to those that need it in a timely fashion. In many areas the relatively low cost of SMS makes it one of the preferred ways of communication. This is specially true in places where wired communications is hampered by geographical isolation, cost, or political upheaval.
kiwanja.net, an organization devoted to using mobile messaging and other information and communications technologies in helping non-profit organizations, has been helping non-profit organizations effectively use the available technology. One of their main software tools for non-profits is FrontlineSMS.
Read More »
Tagged: cooperatives, healthcare, messaging, mobile, non-profit, open source, sms
- Published:
- September 24, 2009 – 12:06 pm
- Author:
- By brian
- Categories:
-
- Comments:
Imagine you had these really cool sunglasses. Except that instead of just protecting you from the sun, the lenses also told you what you were looking at. You could walk through the city and it would show you not just what street you’re on and the direction you’re headed, just like a GPS, but the names of the buildings you pass by. You might look at someone you recognize, but whose name you don’t remember, and the sunglasses will recognize the face, search your personal contacts and display who that person is and where you know them from.
The idea of being able to look through a lens and see additional layers of information on top of what’s visible to the eye has always been the stuff of cyberpunk novels. It’s called augmented reality. In contrast to virtual reality, where you’re immersed in a world that doesn’t really exist, augmented reality takes the real world — what you would normally see and hear — and superimposes its own. Read More »
Tagged: android, augmented reality, cool, layar, location based services, mobile, samsung, social network, virtual reality
- Published:
- September 16, 2009 – 11:15 am
- Author:
- By brian
- Categories:
-
- Comments:
If, like me, you hate most Facebook apps, you might like the new Facebook Lite site.
According to Facebook, the simpler, lighter version of their site was created in order to allow users with slower connections to use Facebook. “We decided to roll out Facebook Lite in the U.S. to give users a simple, expedient alternative to facebook.com, and hope that it will fill this need.”
The site is currently in beta, and is supposed to be available to users in the U.S. and India. It seems to work fine from the Philippines as well.
Whatever the reason behind their launch, what I like most about the new Facebook Lite is the absence of those annoying third-party applications such as games and quizzes.
Tagged: facebook
- Published:
- September 14, 2009 – 6:29 pm
- Author:
- By brian
- Categories:
-
- Comments:
Hi, welcome to my blog.
I’m a software architect and engineer in the Philippines on a mission to make Linux, Open Source Software, social networking and mobile technology accessible and useful for individuals and businesses.
I’ve been working in the software and Internet industry for the past twelve years. In this relatively short span of time, we’ve seen how the Internet has evolved from an academic tool, to an essential part of the business landscape, and now to something that connects individuals of all walks of life.
Yet, many companies still do not understand how to use the available technologies to improve their business. They may have a website with information about their company, but it may be poorly designed or difficult to find. They may be keeping in touch with customers and clients with email newsletters, but are they actively soliciting feedback from these customers? Their employees send dozens of emails to each other throughout the day. Is this the best way for them to collaborate? What happens to the knowledge when an employee leaves? How should companies deal with negative publicity from blogs and public forums?
I do not consider myself an expert in any of these technologies, but I will try to understand them and how they can be used effectively, and explain this to others as best I can.
I hope my readers will find my random musings interesting and will, if they feel generous, contribute their own. Blogs are only as effective as the comments they generate.
Again, welcome!
- Published:
- September 13, 2009 – 2:14 pm
- Author:
- By brian
- Categories:
-
- Comments:
