Comments on: Ushahidi Deploys In The DRC http://conflicthealth.com/ushahidi-deploys-in-the-drc/ Armed Conflict, Public Health, Human Security, Health Diplomacy, and Medical Intelligence Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:01:16 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Patrick Meier http://conflicthealth.com/ushahidi-deploys-in-the-drc/comment-page-1/#comment-397 Patrick Meier Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:51:02 +0000 http://warandhealth.com/ushahidi-deploys-in-the-drc/#comment-397 You are absolutely right, Christopher, Ushahidi still has a ways to go and measuring the impact of the platform will continue to be a challenge. Here are some initial results, which I thought might be of interest: http://irevolution.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/mapping-kenyas-election-violence/ The questions you pose are also important ones. I am reassured that the Ushahidi team is thinking seriously about these questions (conversation I had with Juliana) and they're planning to "shift gears" somewhat and start focusing on the response part, i.e., what happens once the information is generated and mapped? Here are some initial thoughts: http://earlywarning.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/crowdsourcing-warning-and-response/ My own professional background is in conflict early warning and response. I plan to work closely with the Ushahidi team to make sure we don't repeat the same mistakes that have been made over the past 10 years. You are absolutely right, Christopher, Ushahidi still has a ways to go and measuring the impact of the platform will continue to be a challenge. Here are some initial results, which I thought might be of interest:

http://irevolution.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/mapping-kenyas-election-violence/

The questions you pose are also important ones. I am reassured that the Ushahidi team is thinking seriously about these questions (conversation I had with Juliana) and they’re planning to “shift gears” somewhat and start focusing on the response part, i.e., what happens once the information is generated and mapped? Here are some initial thoughts:

http://earlywarning.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/crowdsourcing-warning-and-response/

My own professional background is in conflict early warning and response. I plan to work closely with the Ushahidi team to make sure we don’t repeat the same mistakes that have been made over the past 10 years.

]]> By: Chris Blow http://conflicthealth.com/ushahidi-deploys-in-the-drc/comment-page-1/#comment-396 Chris Blow Sat, 08 Nov 2008 06:00:53 +0000 http://warandhealth.com/ushahidi-deploys-in-the-drc/#comment-396 Great questions. I have worked a teensy tiny bit on the project and feel strongly that Ushahidi is an incredible platform. Part of the joy of being involved for me is that the completely open source approach of the project will, I believe, resolve most of the policy issues <em>in the best possible way</em>. Which is to say that as long as Ushahidi focuses on A) creating new data about crises and B) keeping the data and the platform open, it will provide serious additive value to any NGO that has the technical acumen to embrace the open web. It's a wonderful thing. The question of how many NGOs are in a position to even understand the value of Ushahidi, much less actually want to share their data, is another (rather depressing) subject. Great questions. I have worked a teensy tiny bit on the project and feel strongly that Ushahidi is an incredible platform. Part of the joy of being involved for me is that the completely open source approach of the project will, I believe, resolve most of the policy issues in the best possible way. Which is to say that as long as Ushahidi focuses on A) creating new data about crises and B) keeping the data and the platform open, it will provide serious additive value to any NGO that has the technical acumen to embrace the open web. It’s a wonderful thing.

The question of how many NGOs are in a position to even understand the value of Ushahidi, much less actually want to share their data, is another (rather depressing) subject.

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