Wireless technology for social change: Trends in NGO mobile use
Author(s)/Editor(s): Sheila K, Katrin V
Publisher/Organizer: United Nations Foundation
Publication date: 2009
Language: English
Overview
“This report, published by the UN Foundation, examines real life examples of and trends in wireless technology solutions being used to drive change in the areas of health, humanitarian assistance, and environmental conservation. Largely using case studies, the authors find that NGOs’ use of mobile technology is very widespread and indispensable.
While voice and text messaging are still the most common applications of mobile technology among NGO workers, the authors find widespread use of wireless technology in a number of other ways, including photo and video, data collection or transfer, and multi-media messaging, as well as for more sophisticated purposes such as data analysis, inventory management, and mapping.
The authors find that key benefits of mobile technology for all NGOs include time savings; the ability to quickly mobilise or organise individuals; reaching audiences that were previously difficult or impossible to reach; the ability to transmit data more quickly and accurately; and the ability to gather data more quickly and accurately."