Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

He was also the principal author of a recent report you may have heard of: “ Advancing Global Food Security in the Face of a Changing Climate ,” which was released by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in May 2014, calling on the United States government to integrate climate change adaptation into its global food security strategy.

Open Source 174

Open Source Open Illinois Model 174

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MARCH 13, 2014

We now understand that corporate collection and government interception of sensitive information is the norm, not the exception. The keys to unlock the encrypted data should be kept securely by the user, and not shared with third parties who can be hacked or forced to give up the keys to repressive governments.

Data 176

Data Empowerment United States Government 176

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 4, 2011

A government could suppress a group using "piracy" as a reason, rather than criticism of the government. Patrick Ball and I have often discussed the risks to social justice groups from using unlicensed proprietary software. We've seen this happen in places like Russia.

Russia 133

Russia Group Help Government 133

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

DECEMBER 17, 2010

As the worldwide debate continues about the release of government information by Wikileaks, history has shown that the uncovering of government data can be an important factor in human rights investigations.

Chad 124

Chad Guatemala Data Liberia 124

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

Last night I was able to meet Vivek Kundra, the new Chief Information Officer of the federal government, at an event organized by Full Circle Fund and the Craigslist Foundation hosted by IBM at their offices on Market Street in San Francisco. For me, it's an amazing change. Here's some background on these three key White House staffers.

San Francisco 129

San Francisco Virginia Government DC 129

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

AUGUST 10, 2012

Tech companies supply the tools to help repressive governments suppress human rights and access to information. We want to make sure that security doesn't suffer when it comes to serving those at greatest threat from repressive governments. The tech community has immense power in the global battle for human rights.

Online 171

Online Government Tech Design 171

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 25, 2012

The Guatemalan government human rights ombudsman invited the Benetech Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) to analyze the contents of the estimated 80 million documents in the Guatemalan National Police Historical Archive or the Archivo Histórico de la Policía Nacional (AHPN).

National 206

National Guatemala Texas Online 206

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

DECEMBER 13, 2015

It is full of examples of interesting ed tech from for-profits and nonprofits, as well as local, state and federal government agencies. These kinds of plans can be impenetrable, but I found this one quite readable and understandable. Of course, one thing might be that accessibility is put right up top, front and center!

Education 100

Education National Technology Student 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MAY 13, 2010

Government as usual is changing fast, because it needs to. We need you to get engaged now, in business, government and the social sector, to build the better world we all need, and that our children and grandchildren will need. And, the opportunities to do so have never been better. Business as usual hasn't been working out so well.

Work 162

Work Hunger Amazon Government 162

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 20, 2010

Universities and government labs encouraging their technology transfer offices to make social licenses of new technology. Wealthy country governments (and their corporate constituents) being more open to limitations and exceptions treaties and policies at the World Intellectual Property Organization. *

Proposal 100

Proposal Government University Switzerland 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JUNE 24, 2010

and as far as I know, most of the other exceptions) law, there is no approval or authorization by other entities, whether government, publishing industry or the disability consumer organizations. I'm solely focused on the requirements of a nonprofit organization/government agency needs to meet to be eligible to use the exception/norms.

Authoring 150

Authoring Paraguay Law Copyright 150

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 3, 2008

“Social enterprise is a key part of the Scottish government's social strategy,” says Ruth Parsons, Director of the Public Sector (Scottish government). The introductory speechs highlighted the Scottish national government's commitment to social enterprise, which is a noteworthy aspect of the sector here in Scotland and in the UK.

San Francisco 100

San Francisco Social Government Conference 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JULY 14, 2009

Charity, business, and government, all accomplish great things but have their limitations. And lastly, government. We know that government is rightly tackling many problems for our common good. But innovation is difficult in government because of the constraints that government often operates under. First, charity.

Business 100

Business Government North Carolina Chapter 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

APRIL 29, 2009

The systems for participating in government have been long established and formalized. I'm sure it will be more engaging than the traditional process, while honoring the government's need for transparency. They often make joint discussion hard. For example, the traditional approach is for an agency to issue a Request for Comment.

Comment 100

Comment DC Government Policy 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

And, the same spirit of innovation for a purpose is affecting nonprofits and government as well. We need you to get engaged now, in business, government and the social sector, to build the better world we all need, and that our children and grandchildren will need.

Work 113

Work Social Hunger Government 113

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

AUGUST 28, 2009

The National Federation of the Blind convinced the federal government to have the U.S. They have an image of Louis Braille (this is his bicentennial year) and actual raised dots (for the letters BRL which is the code for Braille) on the back of the coin.

Literacy 124

Literacy Game Government Images 124

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JUNE 13, 2009

Our government's public servants have been released to their jobs better. White House blogs, open government initiatives. A: For me specifically, government and social media (and not just Washington), social media, the Sunlight Foundation ( on government accountability and transparency, data.gov, etc.) A: Nerds can help.

Interview 100

Interview Afghanistan Iraq Government 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 5, 2008

As I noted in the previous post, it's a major part of UK and Scottish government strategy to invest in and expand the social enterprise sector. In the opening session of the conference itself, we heard from representatives of both the UK and Scottish governments. A bit of government here can go a long way.

Social 100

Social United States Government Homeless 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

DECEMBER 8, 2011

CityOptions is an environmental initiative to help local governments—particularly small and mid-sized ones—plan and execute effective sustainability initiatives. Our goal is to revolutionize the effectiveness of local governments in responding to climate change and other environmental impacts. Read2Go Bookshare goes mobile!

Guatemala 159

Guatemala Literacy Qatar Open Source 159

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

DECEMBER 16, 2013

Like many philanthropists and social entrepreneurs who are eager to make large-scale change, we found that redirecting government policy and funding to more effective approaches offers tremendous leverage for realizing national (and international) impact. Fast-forward six years.

Advocacy 176

Advocacy Change Literacy DC 176

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

NOVEMBER 25, 2013

Although reports of the massacre appeared in the United States, Salvadoran army and government leaders denied them and, all too soon, El Mozote was forgotten. But, we still have to protect our users from attacks from many repressive governments around the world.

Burma 168

Burma Analysis Guatemala Law 168

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JUNE 13, 2011

We are fortunate to have his experience, intellect and deep dedication to innovative social change on Benetech's governing body! We will look to Rob for advice and guidance as Benetech continues to explore new technologies that help empower underserved communities.

San Francisco 140

San Francisco Law Lecture Advice 140

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

A copyright exception allows specialist organizations (generally a government agency or disability NGO or library) to make an accessible version of a published book without having to get permission from the author or publisher. It includes pressuring national governments to enforce existing accessibility laws.

Accessibility 155

Accessibility Global eBook Copyright 155

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

DECEMBER 17, 2015

The Marrakesh Treaty makes it easier for nonprofits, schools, government agencies, and individuals with disabilities to convert inaccessible print books into accessible equivalents. It does so by making it legal under copyright to create accessible books without needing to seek permission or (in most countries) paying a royalty.

Copyright 100

Copyright Law Library eBook 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

AUGUST 7, 2013

It’s a nonprofit or government agency that makes accessible copies of Works, and limits distribution of those copies to people with bona fide disabilities, the “Beneficiary Persons,” defined in the next article. It doesn’t cover movies. Article 2(c). Defines Authorized Entity. Countries need to sign, ratify and implement its provisions.

Copyright 158

Copyright Law United States Library 158

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

The conditions for launching Bookaccess are on our side: technology convergence is making the production of accessible digital content simply a click of a button away; the federal government is pushing states to find methods to meet the special needs of all their students; and we already get tremendous support from publishers.

Student 173

Student Accessibility Copyright Library 173

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JUNE 8, 2010

Counterproposals have been made, governments have been engaging with rights holders, consumers and NGOs (or not!) Government delegation, as a next step possibility. I think that over the last six months, the US Government has come out in favor of accessibility, splitting with some of its typical EU/rich country partners.

Accessibility 133

Accessibility Global Copyright Law 133

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 27, 2010

We have recommendations to government, companies, universities and the media around how to bring more of the benefits of humanity’s knowledge to the bulk of the planet, while balancing that with the needs of businesses to make money in bona fide profitable enterprises. We know social entrepreneurs are at the leading edge of that effort!

Bangladesh 100

Bangladesh Proposal Switzerland Adopt 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JUNE 16, 2011

Bookshare now has hundreds of titles in Hindi, Tamil, and Spanish, and we recently announced a partnership with the government of Qatar to develop an Arabic language service. Bookshare has successfully piloted an international library for the blind, but we’ve barely begun to remedy the global book famine.

Qatar 154

Qatar Accessibility People Copyright 154

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MAY 27, 2015

While the meeting was going on, we heard that Spain’s government had forwarded the treaty to their parliament for ratification. Let’s hope the USA does ratify this year (I'm certainly part of that effort)!

Germany 100

Germany Mexico North America India 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MAY 14, 2011

Technology has revolutionized business, but bringing those breakthrough developments to government, education and the nonprofit sectors can take 5, 10, even 15 years. The world has big problems. We need fresh, original solutions that are better than the status quo. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Technology 150

Technology Change Social Literacy 150

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

APRIL 30, 2012

This landscape, named by scholars as the “new social economy,” is being dramatically reshaped by recent trends in the social sector that have led to a blurring of the distinctions between business, nonprofit, and government organizations.

Award 154

Award Lecture Social Student 154

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MAY 17, 2013

And there’s more: Martín is the author of books on economics, development, municipal government, education and even poetry! You can learn more about him by watching the short film I mentioned above, one of the Sundance Institute and the Skoll Foundation’s “Stories of Change.”

Paraguay 142

Paraguay Award Africa Conservancy 142

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

DECEMBER 29, 2007

There was a chapter in the report entitled Social Entrepreneurship and Government, and Benetech was one of the case studies used (see pages 36-37). Benetech was recently featured in a report to the President (of the U.S.) on small business.

Business 100

Business Social Lecture Case Study 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

OCTOBER 19, 2013

She calls it the “ triple bottom line ” of sustainable development, meaning that sustainable development has the potential to create positive returns for all concerned: companies, government and communities.

Local 129

Local New York Culture Open Source 129

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 7, 2013

We therefore have a large selection of computer science titles as well as books that prepare readers to take civil service and bank exams or to apply for government jobs, which are often available to people with disabilities. For example, in developing countries, we aim to help our members pursue educational and employment opportunities.

India 225

India Literacy United Kingdom United States 225

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JULY 5, 2013

To everyone involved—so many names it is impossible to list everyone—a sincere “Thank You” for helping to get us here.

Morocco 127

Morocco United States Copyright Library 127