New DataCorps Project: Refugees United
From the post:
We are thrilled to announce the kick-off of a new DataKind project with Refugees United! Refugees United is a fantastic organization that uses mobile and web technologies to help refugees find their missing loved ones. Currently, RU’s system allows people to post descriptions of their family and friends as well as to search for them on the site. As you might imagine, lots of data flows through this system – data that could be used to greatly improve the way people find each other. Lead by the ever-brilliant Max Shron, the DataKind team is collaborating with Refugees United to explore what their data can tell them about how people are using the site, how they’re connecting to one another and, ultimately, how it can be used to help people find each other more effectively.
We are incredibly excited to work on this project and will be posting updates for you all as things unfoled. In the meantime, learn a bit more about Max and Refugees United.
I can’t comment on the identity practices because:
Q: 1.08 Why isn’t Refugees United open source yet?
Refugees United was born as an “offline” open source project. When we started, we were two guys (now six guys and a girl in Copenhagen, joined by a much larger team worldwide) with a great idea that had the potential to positively impact thousands, if not millions, of lives. The open source approach came from the fact that we wanted to build the world’s smallest refugee agency with the largest outreach, and to have the highest impact at the lowest cost.
One way to reach our objectives is to work with corporations around that world, including Ericsson, SAP, FedEx and others. The invaluable advice and expertise provided by these successful businesses – both the largest corporations and the smallest companies – have helped us to apply the structure and strategy of business to the passion and vision of an NGO.
Now the time has come for us to apply same structure to our software, and we have begun to collaborate with some of the wonderfully brilliant minds out there who wish to contribute and help us make a difference in the development of our technologies.
I am not sure what ‘”offline” open source’ means? The rest of the quoted prose doesn’t help.
Perhaps the software will become available online. At some point.
Would be a interesting data point to see how they are managing personal subject identity.