I stand at an intersting point of intersection. Web 2.0 technology progresses, providing more and more flexible and impactful ways to collaborate. Social impact approaches are emerging that focus on being collaborative, innovative and taking a systems approach to the definition, strategy and delivery of social change.
Whether by chance or deliberate action, instances of social computing positivley impacting the execution of philanthropic causes continue to surface, shedding light on the potential power of each, and more importantly, the heightened effectivness realized. A recently published report, commissioned by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Foundation, and Vodafone Foundation Technology Partnership, appropriately titled, Disaster Relief 2.0, examines both the current and potential future impact of Web 2.0 technology on humanitarian disaster response. The challenge facing those working for social cuases is not unlike that facing virtually anyone sle, determining how best to leverage social computing. As one of the authors of the aforementioned report, John Crowley, research coordinator for crisis dynamics for the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative stated, “We have the opportunity here to take advantage of the situation [new social computing tools]… If we do it, we can adapt faster, respond faster, and respond more efficiently.”
Read on to learn more about recent advances in the use of technology and social impact.
