Technology Helping Developing Countries

One Laptop Per Child and Ubislate

One well-known way technology is helping in developing countries are laptops like the One Laptop Per Child project or the Ubislate.

Rasberry Pi

The Rasberry Pi is also a perfect idea for developing countries, and that’s the company’s goal, so hopefully we’ll see more of those distributed soon.

Soccket

We’ve mentioned the Soccket before. It’s a soccer ball that generates energy while it’s being kicked around!

Water-Collecting Billboard

Engineering students in Lima, Peru designed a billboard that captures moisture from the air. In 3 months, they were able to distribute almost 10,000 liters of water.

Gravity Light

The Gravity Light is an LED bulb that has a bag attached to it. You fill it full of rocks or sand, then pull the light upwards. In the 3 seconds or so it takes to lift, 30 minutes of energy is stored.

Solar-Powered Whiteboard

In Africa, a company called CyberSmart is working with the USAID to give schools an interactive whiteboard using a projection screen. Of course, electricity is an issue, so they created a solar-powered whiteboard.

Child-Driven Education

Sugata Mitra is working on a project he calls child-driven education. He did an experiment where he put a computer in the middle of villages without explaining what it was or any training. Kids who’d never seen a computer were quickly teaching themselves how to accomplish tasks. His goal is to create a School in the Cloud for Indian children and others to learn from each other.

Kiva.org

You can always help in your own way by browsing around Kiva.org and seeing who you can personally help to take the next step in making their lives better.