Tech at Its Best When It Comes to Helping Haiti
Dennis McCafferty | Date: 02-01-10 | Comments: 0
- Mobile communications solutions, social media and other tech resources have made impact on relief, rescue and donations.
The earthquake that struck Haiti
on Jan. 12 could be the most devastating of our times, with a death toll of
more than 170,000 and still counting. But, fortunately, technology solutions
and industry leaders have risen to the occasion, escalating relief efforts more
rapidly and effectively than ever. Here are just a few highlights that present
technology at its very best:
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mGive immediately emerged as a leading catalyst for help,
launching the 90999 text message system for the Red Cross, which has raised
more than $27 million. Produced by Denver-based Mobile Accord, the mGive
platform is capable of processing more than $10,000 in text donations per
minute. Mobile Accord’s CEO, James Eberhard,
was contacted by the U.S. State Department promptly after the disaster and,
within hours, the mGive team set up the text system. Wireless carriers and
mGive are waiving all normal fees, so 100 percent of donations go toward relief
efforts. Leading ad networks such as AdMob, Eyeblaster,
Jumptap, Microsoft Advertising, Millennial Media and Ringleader Digital worked
with Mobile Accord to swiftly develop an advertising campaign that got the word
out.
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TwitCause, the largest social cause portal on Twitter, has
boosted efforts of the Red Cross and OxFam America,
a global relief and development organization that is currently
providing clean water, shelter and sanitation to Haiti. TwitCause followers are retweeting, donating funds and elevating
the online viral presence of these two organizations. Also: 10Beyond.com has
come up with a donation widget stamp that is embedded into e-mail signatures.
The stamp indicates that the sender has made a donation and can direct
recipients to sites where they can donate as well.
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Calgary-based Immersive Media has captured the
devastation using 360-degree video technology that’s been featured on CNN and
other major outlets, providing a dramatic perspective on the extent of the
devastation. The footage also includes integrated mapping and high-res imagery
to serve as a highly functional tool/resource for news and relief agencies.
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The Mission Aviation Fellowship set up a Port-au-Prince airport communications center linked to a satellite system from
Huntsville, Ala.-based GATR Technologies, supplying much needed high-bandwidth
communications to at least 16 international aid groups that have arrived since
Jan. 12. Dedicated phone lines are providing telephone service for the relief
agencies, and the center also allows for wireless communications, Skype,
voice-over-Internet protocol and e-mail.
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Palo Alto, Calif.-based Etón is providing solar-powered, multifunctioned radios to
victims so they can receive needed rescue/relief information from Commando
Solo, an Air Force C-130 that has been broadcasting from overhead.
