4 ms·

I've been toying with the idea of an organization along the lines of Engineers without Borders ("Hackers without Borders"?) or something to that effect where de

I've been toying with the idea of an organization along the lines of Engineers without Borders ("Hackers without Borders"?) or something to that effect where developers lend their talents to causes all over the world. Not saying that an iPhone app can solve everything, but I'm sure there's quite a few ways where simple apps here or there could make a big difference. Does anyone know of something like this out in the wild already? Seems like an obvious idea.

masterj 15y ago
There is http://codeforamerica.org/ http://codeforamerica.org/ although that doesn't exactly fit your description. I would be very interested if someone knows of something more along the OP's lines.
gillygize 15y ago
I don't know of anything in particular, but this is a topic I have been interested in as well. I've recently been thinking that the training new developers around the world might be the best approach. Don't try to make the apps or programs yourself; train the locals in developing software and then let them apply those skills to solve their own problems. I would really be interested in something like this.
skyshaper 15y ago
There's Random Hacks of Kindness (http://www.rhok.org/ http://www.rhok.org/): "Random Hacks of Kindness is a community of innovation focused on developing practical open source solutions to disaster risk management and climate change adaptation challenges. Random Hacks of Kindness was founded in 2009 in partnership between Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, NASA and the World Bank." Johnny Long founded Hackers for Charity in 2008: http://www.hackersforcharity.org/ http://www.hackersforcharity.org/ - see announcement talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CWrzVJYLWw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CWrzVJYLWw Hack for Change (http://hackforchange.com/ http://hackforchange.com/) might be interesting as well.
aantix 15y ago
Geek Corps. https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Geekcorps https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Geekcorps Not sure if the group is still active though.

masterj 15y ago

There is http://codeforamerica.org/ http://codeforamerica.org/ although that doesn't exactly fit your description. I would be very interested if someone knows of something more along the OP's lines.

gillygize 15y ago

I don't know of anything in particular, but this is a topic I have been interested in as well. I've recently been thinking that the training new developers around the world might be the best approach. Don't try to make the apps or programs yourself; train the locals in developing software and then let them apply those skills to solve their own problems. I would really be interested in something like this.

skyshaper 15y ago

There's Random Hacks of Kindness (http://www.rhok.org/ http://www.rhok.org/): "Random Hacks of Kindness is a community of innovation focused on developing practical open source solutions to disaster risk management and climate change adaptation challenges. Random Hacks of Kindness was founded in 2009 in partnership between Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, NASA and the World Bank." Johnny Long founded Hackers for Charity in 2008: http://www.hackersforcharity.org/ http://www.hackersforcharity.org/ - see announcement talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CWrzVJYLWw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CWrzVJYLWw Hack for Change (http://hackforchange.com/ http://hackforchange.com/) might be interesting as well.

aantix 15y ago

Geek Corps. https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Geekcorps https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Geekcorps Not sure if the group is still active though.