Lines of communication

Hello Outriders!

In our weekly round up of internet related happenings, we have a selection of ways that open lines of communication as well as a great example of a passion to share and learning. You can hear these people in their own words on the podcast.

 

First up, Diady Mohamed has been working on creating a way for people in need in Ivory Coast to get medical aid. As a part of the events in the region, many people are unable to contact emergency services as ATM machines are down and credits cannot be purchased for mobile phones. Running a call center out of Accra, Ghana that connects with a network of medics in Abidjan a network of people manage to support CivSocial. Diady explained how it works and how the idea grew out of a system of transparency linked to last year's elections. 

 

It is possible that communications might be easier if you owned your own satellite of course. A Human Right is asking citizens of the web to band together to buy a satellite. The main aim is to position it over African countries in order to enable access to information and increased business activity. Kosta Grammatis told me all about the plan that sounds crazy, but makes sense.

 

Another way in which we can help communications is learning how to make things - in code. In an email last week, Outriders listener Nicholas Butler told me that he had been following conversations online about how and whether very young people can be taught to code. He pointed out that he had been amazed by the work of Ben Tattersley, a seventeen year old running classes for all ages at his school. I chatted with Ben about why he dedicates his time to others in this way and what his students can learn.

Keep lines of communication open to us each week and let me know what you are up to online. You can email me at Outriders at bbc dot co dot uk, search for the Outriders Facebook page for updates or indeed tweet at me on Twitter.

 

Until next week!
~ Jamillah