Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

OCTOBER 14, 2005

Benetech helps drive indictment of a former dictator. Our team has contributed critical information that has helped Human Rights Watch with its campaign to bring the former dictator of Chad to justice. Be sure to check it out if you're interested in seeing how IT can help with the pursuit of justice for human rights victims.

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Chad Help International Team 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 14, 2017

What if every person in need had access to the help they needed? Every day in every community, there are people who need help. the social safety net is effectively invisible to the people who urgently need help. Service providers struggle to help clients meet complex needs.

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Help Social Florida California 104

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MARCH 28, 2014

Cooking a meal shouldn’t be fatal: clean-burning stoves, as well as clean fuels and energy all help combat this problem. Since I’m a software guy, I asked about what software could do to help with these two real-world problems. We, of course, ended up talking about helping people who are blind around the world. Well worth a try!

Ideas 223

Ideas Kenya Brain Software 223

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MARCH 6, 2013

And yet there are also amazing and fulfilling benefits—bringing the truth to light, making human rights defenders more powerful and helping victims find peace through acknowledgment, reconciliation and even, sometimes, justice. Why You Do Want this Job: All the above.

Job 238

Job Open Source Global Government 238

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

OCTOBER 29, 2018

Helped environmental leaders design, manage, monitor, and evaluate global conservation projects and campaigns with the first open source conservation project management tool. Ensured that thousands of human rights activists could securely document human rights abuses.

News 189

News Syria Conservancy eBook 189

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

APRIL 18, 2014

Are you motivated by the power of technology as a force for good that can directly help the world’s poorest communities thrive? Other perks we offer include: Excellent employee benefits; Work-life balance; The ability to directly improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals around the world (and, with your help, millions).

Challenge 180

Challenge Open Source Work Time 180

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

DECEMBER 1, 2014

We first understand those we aspire to help and the real-world conditions in which they live and operate. For instance, Benetech’s Human Rights Program is focused on helping human rights practitioners, activists, and journalists uphold their commitments to protect and do no harm to the communities they serve. Let me explain further.

Technology 192

Technology Open Source Data Exercise 192

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

AUGUST 4, 2014

Being transparent leads to the best possible outcomes from our work and helps us further our mission goals. The open source methodology also helps stimulate innovation. Ultimately, we believe that open source is more about transparency and innovation than about releasing software. You can read the complete interview on Opensource.com.

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Open Source Open Social Interview 165

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

APRIL 24, 2018

I needed help with business negotiations and software licensing and Gerry jumped in teaching me everything I know about doing business. He taught me that 95% of the time I didn’t need help from him or another attorney. Just last month, he helped me solve a knotty trademark and web domain challenge.

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Mentoring Copyright Law Photography 167

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 7, 2013

Bookshare International Library We’re always thinking about new ways in which Benetech could go deeper and help many more people. The first is developing strong local partners , such as disability NGOs, libraries or educational institutions that help us customize our services to the specific needs of their communities.

India 225

India Literacy United Kingdom United States 225

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JULY 28, 2014

Gerardo helped Benetech dramatically increase our capacity to benefit larger populations by scaling our services, revamping our innovation process, and establishing a thriving network of industry partners and volunteers. Additionally, Gerardo helped conceive our major new effort to ignite new tech social enterprise through Benetech Labs.

Open Source 184

Open Source Literacy eBook Empowerment 184

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

APRIL 3, 2014

We learn from each other, and try to help each other when we can. It''s not the vision of an American or European trying to help Morocco, hers is the vision of a Moroccan who sees what needs to be done and how to do it! One of the joys of my role is meeting other social sector leaders: people with a powerful passion for good.

Morocco 199

Morocco Literacy Europe History 199

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

APRIL 20, 2013

Migel, whose experiences with blindness caused during World War I, led to him helping start the Foundation. I especially want to acknowledge two people who helped make this award possible. We were following in his footsteps, on a path he helped create! Thank you, George and Donna, for helping us make real our dreams of service!

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eBook Award Copyright Syria 221

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Phab is on a mission: she believes strongly that she is building her country by helping her students acquire the skills they will use to help advance Laos in the future. I was able to demonstrate what we do with the files the students help generate, using our Read2Go application on an iPad.

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Laos Data Digital New York City 235

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

DECEMBER 17, 2015

The good news is that there are now unprecedented opportunities to transform the lives of these millions by removing barriers of access to information  —   and this is where you can help. Here’s why the Marrakesh Treaty is so important and why your country can help ensure it benefits the millions who need it. It is politically popular.

Copyright 100

Copyright Law Library eBook 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

DECEMBER 16, 2014

To do so, we definitely need your help. To help now, please use the Donate Form on Benetech''s website and give whatever you can. Human Rights Our Human Rights Program continues to focus on helping activists and journalists securely document the stories of human rights abuses worldwide. billion poor and unbanked.

Open Source 183

Open Source Africa Zimbabwe Malawi 183

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 26, 2013

We also heard from one of the musicians, Manesh Judge, who helped make the powerful soundtrack. And, I couldn't help remember that the famous director Frank Capra was a Caltech grad and Gnome Club member. Virginia had heard of Indus World Music , his San Francisco company that is dedicated to Raaga music, both classical and popular.

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Pakistan Virginia San Francisco India 237

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 25, 2012

Family members of those who disappeared during the years of violence are also using the Archive to help locate their loved ones. Documents about our family members have been found, and it is helping bring the cases to trial,” Aura Elena Farfán of the Guatemalan Association of Families of the Detained and Disappeared (FAMDEGUA), told the IPS.

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National Guatemala Texas Online 206

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JUNE 23, 2014

Can we help stimulate the creation of far more technology-for-good ventures? We want to help lead the charge into a future where the advantages of digital information touch the lives of all people, not just of the richest and most able five percent of humanity. How can our existing successful programs reach ten times more people?

Literacy 158

Literacy eBook United Kingdom Accessibility 158

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

FEBRUARY 1, 2013

One area I’ve had the pleasure to focus a great deal of time and energy on is helping to improve the lives of people with vision impairments. For more than 20 years I’ve worked to harness the power of technology to do social good. I was quite taken with MagnaFlyer’s smart approach to using a person’s available vision more effectively!

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People Help Tech Colorado 113

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MAY 4, 2015

We've never done a crowdfunding campaign specifically for Bookshare, and tomorrow we'll find out if some of our 350,000 users and their families are able to express their appreciation by helping match these challenge grants. We want to do so much more, and with help from donors who share our dreams, we will!

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Giving United States Student Grant 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MARCH 3, 2016

We know a great deal about this Treaty, which is designed to help people who are blind or have other disabilities that interfere with reading, such as dyslexia. As the operators of the largest library using this exception in the United States, we see these changes as minor and helpful clarifications. law with the Treaty language.

United States 100

United States Language Copyright Library 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

Helping people with disabilities, especially those who are blind, is a social issue of biblical proportions. Read my recent posts that provide guidance and ideas for successful tech philanthropists: You Can Help Us Strengthen the Social Safety Net Tech Entrepreneurs Can Change the World through Philanthropy.

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Global eBook Library United States 109

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MAY 14, 2011

When activists speak truth to power, we help them to ensure that it is truth! We help to protect the testimonies of the victims of violations, as well as the safety of those who take their statements. We are database experts who help to answer the key question in human rights: who did what to whom?

Technology 150

Technology Change Social Literacy 150

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JUNE 13, 2011

Rob has helped Benetech navigate important transitions over the years including providing critical legal advice during the sale of the Arkenstone product line in 2000, including expanding our charter from just working on disability issues to a wider range of social issues (now including human rights and the environment).

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San Francisco Law Lecture Advice 140

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

NOVEMBER 27, 2013

In June, with the help of Stevie Wonder , we got a treaty that did just that: the Treaty of Marrakesh. Through this project and the Treaty, we’re looking forward to realizing the potential of Bookshare International to eventually help millions of other people globally live fuller lives. especially veterans with disabilities.

India 142

India Literacy Global Accessibility 142

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

FEBRUARY 18, 2019

You all might have heard something about Robin’s dedication to helping people with disabilities that affect reading. We thought the publishers might help. How the Bookshare she helped build became the model for the global Treaty of Marrakesh ratified by fifty countries, including the United States in the last few months.

eBook 100

eBook United States Literacy Library 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MARCH 29, 2016

Unfortunately, the economic model that works so well for creating wealth, falls short when it comes to helping the poor. Communities that most need our help are often the least able to afford it. Silicon Valley is an incredible force for change. We just have to find a way to break- even!

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Money Children Problem Model 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

FEBRUARY 4, 2013

At Benetech, where innovation is the engine behind our mission, we did our best to make the most of it and help lead the charge into the future. This gave us the chance to say thank you to many people, and a number of very cool dogs, who have helped make Bookshare what it is today. Thanks again!

Literacy 166

Literacy Program United Arab Emirates Student 166

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

I was happy to offer Jerry some advice on that front and to discover that Benetech may be able to help with his efforts through our SocialCoding4Good initiative, which bridges the open source software, corporate tech, and nonprofit communities for social change.

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Open Source Open Illinois Model 174

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

NOVEMBER 25, 2013

The tough question that ran through my mind was: How can we as technologists in Silicon Valley help prevent this kind of atrocity? To help you understand it better, let me pick it up where I left off, back in 1993. I was aghast that it could take a dozen years for the world to believe the massacre had happened.

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Burma Analysis Guatemala Law 168

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MAY 10, 2013

Senator, helped launch the Peace Corps and led the Corporation for National and Community Service. He volunteered for the Army Air Corps in World War II and was a friend and adviser to Martin Luther King, Jr. He was President of two colleges and Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Labor and Industry. He served as a U.S. Last February, Sen.

Technology 172

Technology India Washington America 172

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JUNE 10, 2011

How do we help decision-makers and the press get a better handle on what we know and don't know, and prevent people from leaping to the wrong conclusions (and by extension, taking the wrong actions)? If the groups we're working with don't succeed, then we don't succeed.

Literacy 150

Literacy Disaster Phone Press 150

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

AUGUST 31, 2011

But, we would so very much like technology innovators in the field of vision loss and blindness to propose exciting articles that will help the field move forward to maximize results for the people we all serve! Help us make this a terrific issue! The deadline for submissions is in January 31, 2012,and the call for papers is here.

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Issue Technology Game Journal 198

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

Julie and Aaron Firestone, our Director of Business Development, will be helping take attendees through key questions about a new tech social enterprise. My goal is to give attendees (in addition to Presidio students and alums, this class is also open to the public) an inside look at how Benetech analyzes new tech social enterprises.

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Classes Tech San Francisco Social 191

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JUNE 16, 2011

helping people with disabilities while not hurting, and almost certainly helping, authors and publishers • This is why we are in strong support of the World Blind Union’s advocacy and many nations’ support for a global treaty to help people with print disabilities. Thank you!

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Qatar Accessibility People Copyright 154

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

NOVEMBER 15, 2013

Here in the United States, we’re especially focusing on expanding our efforts to help more disabled veterans. For those of you who haven’t made a gift yet— the Challenge closes this Friday, November 22nd at 11:59:59am ET and many veterans still need your help. I’d like to thank everyone who has joined us in the Challenge so far.

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Support United States Literacy Brain 179