Tapping Potential

Two interesting approaches to leveraging the knowledge, creativity and abilities of people previously un-tapped I came across this week:

“Targeting the more than 2 billion literate mobile phone subscribers in the developing world, txteagle aims to help alleviate high unemployment levels in many rural areas of countries like Kenya with a crowdsourcing approach that offers new ways to earn extra money.”

As this Springwise article explains, the service connects corporations with small tasks to be completed (such as translation into local dialects) and native people who can complete them in minutes by cell phone. “Tasks are sent to multiple phone users by text message—"translate the phrase, 'address book' into Giriama," for example—and answers are accepted as accurate when the majority of users provide the same response.”

And in Manchester, UK, a different approach to tapping creative potential, originated in Boston, will be launched by the end of 2009 in the form of a “FabLab”.

“FabLabs are community workshops where almost anyone can make almost anything. They give everyone- from small children through to inventors and businesses - the capability to turn their ideas into reality.”

Initiated as an outreach project by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), FabLabs are now in 35 locations worldwide.  “Each is connected by a global communications network, enabling the sharing of ideas, designs and knowledge.”  More here.

  

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