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How Steep Is That Sidewalk? A Digital Map for People With Disabilities

Megan Wildhood

August 21, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Crowdsourcing data allows developers to help those with limited mobility find accessible routes. The AccessMap Seattle project, in collaboration with the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology at the University of Washington and OpenStreetMap, has tested and is improving a map where users can find and edit information about the elevation of rotes, sidewalks, and crosswalks to serve those who are challenged with their mobility.

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Nonprofit's Free App Flags Suspicious Changes to Voter Rolls

Andrew Westrope

May 29, 2019 |

Government Technology |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Iowa

Non-profit organization Protect Democracy has created a free web application called VoteShield, which uses statistics, machine learning, and data visualization to track and flag any unusual changes in local public voter databases. Already in use in 14 states, the application allows secretaries of state and other election administrators to act on and correct these changes before voters get turned away at the polls.

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During Ramadan, virtual spaces help stave off the loneliness for some Muslims

Aysha Khan

May 23, 2019 |

Religion News Service |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

Digital platforms can provide a space for those living apart from their religious communities to affirm their identity. From hash tags to online academies, Muslims who otherwise would not have regular access to a mosque or religious network are creating their own communities online. During Ramadan, the communities offer support and allow people to break their fasts with others.

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Anyone Who Needs Help Seeing Has 2 Million Pairs of Eyes Available With This App

Monica Humphries

April 17, 2019 |

NationSwell |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Denmark

Using the camera of a smartphone, individuals who are blind or visually impaired can receive quick and easy help from volunteers. The Danish company, Be My Eyes uses a smartphone application to connect those who are blind or visually impaired to an international network of sighted volunteers ready to assist. The on-demand access to assistance provides visually impaired individuals with more independence in their daily lives.

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Appy day: could we fix our mental health on our phone?

Ammar Kalia

March 27, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

Seeking treatment for mental health concerns is often associated with a stigmatized perspective, but thanks to technological advancements, the use of mental health apps has helped reduce this viewpoint. Although the apps come with many limitations and aren't a replacement for professional treatment, they do act as an additional resource for those that aren't yet ready to seek in-person options.

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This professor suffers from a mystery disease, so she developed an app to track its effects

Courtney Biggs

March 01, 2019 |

FastCompany |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Endometriosis impacts millions of women across the world, but many don't know what sort of symptoms to look for or how to treat it. To address this, a team at Columbia University developed an app that focuses on awareness and early diagnosis.

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Shipping industry takes a page from bitcoin to clean up its act

Maria Gallucci

February 21, 2019 |

Grist |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Copenhagen

As part of a larger shift toward transparency, the shipping industry is exploring blockchain technology through a collaboration between Blockchain Labs for Open Collaboration and Frontier Sky. Together, they applied blockchain technology – in this case, apps on their smartphones – at every step of the shipping process, to verify the contents, contracts, and delivery of the process. The industry moves around $4 trillion in cargo annually, and in the global shift to decrease emissions, such technology may be a way forward.

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The weird rise of cyber funerals

Ruby Lott-Lavigna

February 17, 2019 |

Wired |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: South Korea, Seoul

People are accustomed to organizing funerals when they lose a loved one, but technology has given rise to a need for digital funerals as well. In order to expunge a person's digital footprint once, companies in South Korea are offering cyber funerals that aim to get rid of all online data after a person has passed away.

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Singapore made innovation go viral in its public service

Jennifer Guay

January 02, 2019 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Singapore, Singapore

Through its Transformation Office and Innovation Lab, Singapore encourages a culture of innovation and smart design when it comes to making policy among its 145,000 strong civil service. Borrowing aspects of its framework from diverse fields like design thinking and psychology, as well as the tech industry, Singapore's government holds training sessions and policy-focused hackathons. The result is innovative pilot programs like facial recognition ID and free skills training for public servants.

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This tool helps you make sure your 401(k) is supporting gender equality

Adele Peters

November 13, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

Gender Equality Funds is a tool that makes it possible for people to know if the mutual fund companies in their 401(k)’s are gender inclusive. The tools pulls data from 4,000 mutual funds companies and gives them a gender score. The aim is to empower people to invest their money in socially responsible funds. “I believe this is going to be a tsunami of capital shifting away from companies that are not responsive on gender equality.”

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