We're really trying to understand how location penetrates mobile social networks and microblogging networks. This becomes especially interesting when you deal with an area that has very loose and undefined digital social network settings, like Uganda. Jon Gosier and his team in Uganda already have created inroads into this with the local tech community, and we're really excited to see what happens when we grow that into the greater Kampala and Uganda sphere.
We're seeing the rise (and need) for this type of system when we look at Mumbai, Greece and other hot-flash emergencies.
This is yet another area where we can test and build in Africa, knowing that if it works in Africa, it will work anywhere.
John is a Twitter user in Kampala, Uganda. Anne has setup a local Laconica server with 5000 users in the greater Kampala area. Eddie is not part of any of these networks, just an average guy with a mobile phone. Ushahidi is running in Uganda.
Users from the Laconica group can setup an “alert” for a specific radius from their location using Ushahidi, linked to their Laconica account.
An earthquake happens and Twitter and the Laconica server are ablaze with dialogue about what is happening.
John, our Twitter user is updating Twitter, but it has no local implications due to not being able to be used in Uganda (except via web). Local mobile users aren’t receiving his updates, and he isn’t receiving theirs. This is the limitation of the current popular technology.
Eddie (our normal guy), sends an alert into the Ushahidi number, along with hundreds of other Ugandans who are not part of Laconica or Twitter. Anne, and the other Laconica users are receiving alerts (web and mobile) from within their set alert radius automatically, from completely anonymous people. Alerts on where people are trapped, who is missing, who is found, where not to go, and where help is needed most...
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We're really trying to understand how location penetrates mobile social networks and microblogging networks. This becomes especially interesting when you deal with an area that has very loose and undefined digital social network settings, like Uganda. Jon Gosier and his team in Uganda already have created inroads into this with the local tech community, and we're really excited to see what happens when we grow that into the greater Kampala and Uganda sphere.
We're seeing the rise (and need) for this type of system when we look at Mumbai, Greece and other hot-flash emergencies.
This is yet another area where we can test and build in Africa, knowing that if it works in Africa, it will work anywhere.
John is a Twitter user in Kampala, Uganda. Anne has setup a local Laconica server with 5000 users in the greater Kampala area. Eddie is not part of any of these networks, just an average guy with a mobile phone. Ushahidi is running in Uganda.
Users from the Laconica group can setup an “alert” for a specific radius from their location using Ushahidi, linked to their Laconica account.
An earthquake happens and Twitter and the Laconica server are ablaze with dialogue about what is happening.
John, our Twitter user is updating Twitter, but it has no local implications due to not being able to be used in Uganda (except via web). Local mobile users aren’t receiving his updates, and he isn’t receiving theirs. This is the limitation of the current popular technology.
Eddie (our normal guy), sends an alert into the Ushahidi number, along with hundreds of other Ugandans who are not part of Laconica or Twitter. Anne, and the other Laconica users are receiving alerts (web and mobile) from within their set alert radius automatically, from completely anonymous people. Alerts on where people are trapped, who is missing, who is found, where not to go, and where help is needed most...