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Humanitarian Technology Challenge

This seminar discusses the challenges faced in applying technology to solve basic human needs, such as healthcare and access to electricity. It highlights the efforts of the Humanitarian Technology Challenge to bring a more systematic approach to solving world problems through collaboration between humanitarians and technologists.

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Humanitarian Technology Challenge

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  1. Humanitarian Technology Challenge Telcordia AR Midnight Seminar July 21, 2009 Harold Tepper Senior Technical Project Manager IEEE HTC

  2. Do You Wonder Why . . . One African Country Example: • 11% of the world maternal mortality • > 1100 deaths per 100,000 live births • Lifetime risk of dying in childbirth: 1 in 13 • Poverty • Early marriage • High illiteracy • Low contraceptive use • High fertility Why can’t the world better apply technology to basic human needs? • With all our electrical power technology, people in the world still don’t have night-time lighting for work or education? • With all our medical and health care technology, people still get inadequate treatment and suffer from curable diseases?

  3. Emergency Obstetric Care - Challenges Electricity Light Communication Water Medication Equipment Surgical supplies Staff shortages Deficient training Lack of Protocols Facility Supplies Staff

  4. “Solar Suitcase” Photos courtesy of Laura Stachel – Founder, WE CARE Solar (www.wecaresolar.com)

  5. It’s a Complicated Puzzle First Responders Users Governments Funders Humanitarians (NGO) Product Developers Technologists Consultants

  6. Humanitarian Technology Challenge • United Nations Foundation and IEEE partnership • Bring a more systematic approach to applying technology to solve world problems • Identify three challenges and drive solutions that are implementable and sustainable • Involve both humanitarians and technologists in formulating solutions • Use combination of workshops and online collaboration tool • Define repeatable methodologies to address challenge-oriented, large scale efforts

  7. We Are Trying to Help First Responders Users Governments Funders Humanitarians (NGO) Product Developers Technologists Consultants

  8. Need Identification Conducted Four Focus Groups with Humanitarians, Identifying 37 Critical Needs Prioritization Criteria Scope of challenge and number of people impacted Magnitude of anticipated benefits Breadth and complexity of potentially applicable technologies Probability of success Scalability of the solution Needs 1-37 Top 3 Needs for Initial Focus

  9. Initial Challenges to be Addressed

  10. Some Potential Focus Areas

  11. Project Definition and Milestones Communications Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Project Framework Definition Deploy. & Eval. Solution Formulation Challenge Formulation Product Develop. Focus Groups, Web Surveys Solution Workshops Challenge Validation Web Site, Tool Support Product Interoperability Conference Solutions Conference Detailed Challenge Definition Analysis, Challenge Modeling & Selection Challenge Conference 2Q08 4Q08 2009 2010 2011 2012 Samples of activities that will be conducted – options may change with the nature of solutions formulated We are here

  12. June 1-2 Conference Highlights • 153 attendees total • 60 of the 153 from outside the US • Approximately equal mix of humanitarian and technology representatives • Mix of organizations: Academia, Foundations, Government, Consulting Firms, NGO's (Non-Governmental Organizations), R&D Organizations/ Laboratories, Undergraduate and Graduate students, IEEE members, Trade Press and bloggers • Presentations by humanitarians experienced in implementing technology in developing countries • Finalized documentation of the three challenges, ratified by working groups in a pre-conference meeting of 25 volunteers • Initial working groups formed for solutions, with members encouraged to reach out and broaden participation by others unable to attend the conference • Work will continue through the use of an online collaboration tool, Spigit, and periodic conference calls and workshops

  13. What Does It Take to Solve a Challenge? Evereadii Eatius Accelleratii Incredibus Road Runner cartoons created by Chuck Jones for Warner Brothers, Inc.

  14. Solution Technology Road Runner cartoons created by Chuck Jones for Warner Brothers, Inc.

  15. Operational Issues Road Runner cartoons created by Chuck Jones for Warner Brothers, Inc.

  16. Economic Plans Road Runner cartoons created by Chuck Jones for Warner Brothers, Inc.

  17. What Does It Take to Solve a Challenge? Likely one or more “Solutions,” consisting of: • A hardware and/or software product, and/or a well-defined process, • Meeting agreed-upon standards, • With a corresponding Operations, Administration and Maintenance Plan, and • Driven by an Economic Implementation Plan

  18. HTC “Solution” Technology Product Description Enables Production Standards O, A, & M Plan Enables Implementation Economic Implementation Plan

  19. HTC Solution Descriptions - 1 • Technology Product Description • Sufficient information to build or adapt products • Functional descriptions of required and desirable capabilities • Hardware descriptions, if applicable • Software platform descriptions, if applicable • Structured as “Open-source,” available to any and all potential suppliers, who can extend

  20. HTC Solution Descriptions - 2 • Standards • Interoperability requirements for solution elements, to new and existing systems • Physical environmental constraints • Reliability and Availability specifications • Cultural adaption requirements, to meet varied religious and social mores

  21. HTC Solution Descriptions - 3 • Operations, Administration, and Maintenance Plan • How will solution be engineered and installed • How will solution be operated • How will solution be administered/managed • How will solution be maintained, and how will spare parts be made or sourced • Who will perform these functions, what training is required, and how is motivation sustained

  22. HTC Solution Descriptions - 4 • Economic Implementation Plan • Identify target segments and customers • Describe “Pain Points” • Define the compelling value proposition • Explain the distribution system • Validate the value proposition and distribution system

  23. There is Likely to Be More Than One Solution “Solution Set” Technology Product Descriptions . . . Standards O, A, & M Plans Economic Implementation Plans Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3 Solution N

  24. Phase I Solution Definition Effort I. Formulate and document somewhat independent Solutions, with these elements: “Solution Set” Technology Product Description . . . Standards O, A, & M Plan Economic Implementation Plan Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3 Solution N

  25. Phase II Solution Definition Effort “Solution Set” II. Formulate and document integrated cross-solution elements: Technology Product Descriptions . . . Standards O, A, & M Plans Economic Implementation Plans Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3 Solution N

  26. 2009/2010 Target Milestones • June – October, 2009: Solution idea proposals, refinement and selection • October, 2009: Multi-day solution workshop, possibly also webcast • November, 2009: Draft Phase I Solution descriptions • January/February, 2010: Second Solution Workshop • February, 2010: Draft Phase II Solution Set descriptions (Phase I descriptions bundled, and common “horizontal” areas worked) • April, 2010: Completed Phase II Solution Set descriptions • June, 2010: Solutions Conference • 2010+: Product development and implementation

  27. We Must Assimilate Different Operating Models • Off-the-shelf technology usage • No association structure like IEEE • Some on-the-ground, with good experience but limited accessibility • Disfavor proprietary solutions • Maximize productivity of funds • Typical focus on initial, not sustaining, funding • Some altruistic, some commercial, expecting return on investments Funders (NGO) Humanitarians • Requirements oriented • Standards are dual-edged sword Product Developers Technologists • Seek optimal, universal solutions • “If we build it, they will come” • Invention often favored over reuse • Prefer extensions of current products • Want “edge” over competitors

  28. ieee.spigit.com Email htc@ieee.org for Spigit ID

  29. We Invite You to: • Learn more about the project at www.ieee.org/go/htc • Obtain a Spigit ID and participate in the project – email: htc@ieee.org • Actively contribute to Solution Formulation • Identify and motivate others to contribute Contact: Harold Tepper h.tepper@ieee.org with any questions

  30. Humanitarian Technology Challenge Telcordia AR Midnight Seminar July 21, 2009 Harold Tepper IEEE HTC Project Manager

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