Comments on: InSTEDD publishes! http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/ because information can save lives Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:58:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: humanitarian.info » The Innovation Fallacy, Part 3 http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/comment-page-1/#comment-254343 humanitarian.info » The Innovation Fallacy, Part 3 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:44:35 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/#comment-254343 [...] clearly about life cycles in technology. At the start of this year, the news about InSTEDD’s Humanitarian Technology Review started me thinking about innovation again. Janet quoted the following: Lovins had heard him speak [...] [...] clearly about life cycles in technology. At the start of this year, the news about InSTEDD’s Humanitarian Technology Review started me thinking about innovation again. Janet quoted the following: Lovins had heard him speak [...]

]]> By: InSTEDD Edited: Humanitarian Technology Review « iRevolution http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/comment-page-1/#comment-174289 InSTEDD Edited: Humanitarian Technology Review « iRevolution Sun, 06 Apr 2008 03:46:13 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/#comment-174289 [...] a new journal entitled “Humanitarian Technology Review“. While I share some of the same concerns articulated by Paul Curion, the public health and disaster management communities have almost always been ahead in their [...] [...] a new journal entitled “Humanitarian Technology Review“. While I share some of the same concerns articulated by Paul Curion, the public health and disaster management communities have almost always been ahead in their [...]

]]> By: Paul Currion http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/comment-page-1/#comment-172882 Paul Currion Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:51:03 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/#comment-172882 <a href="http://www.salathe.com/docroot/salathe/index.html" rel="nofollow">Marcel Salanthe</a> made a point on <a href="http://www.lunchoverip.com/2008/03/crossing-the-si.html?cid=108687592#comment-108687592" rel="nofollow">LunchoverIP </a>that "if doctors don't have time to read these journals, I'm not sure what would make them read any particular cross-disciplinary journal." I agree with him completely - while there are tremendous opportunities in terms of collaboration in this sector, my experience with ECB brought home one very simple truth to me: people who are busy with their day jobs have neither the time or incentive to pursue collaboration that isn't already built into their work. Marcel Salanthe made a point on LunchoverIP that “if doctors don’t have time to read these journals, I’m not sure what would make them read any particular cross-disciplinary journal.” I agree with him completely – while there are tremendous opportunities in terms of collaboration in this sector, my experience with ECB brought home one very simple truth to me: people who are busy with their day jobs have neither the time or incentive to pursue collaboration that isn’t already built into their work.

]]> By: Sam Smith http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/comment-page-1/#comment-172834 Sam Smith Sat, 29 Mar 2008 03:23:51 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/#comment-172834 Surely the people who are interested in the areas that InSTEDD are looking to cover are relatively self-identifying, at least in the first case? The cases above all seem somewhat simple, but I suspect the real value may come where there are three parts on the left of the equation, rather than two. As projects involve more disparate groups, they get harder. And having a community which all speaks the same language, even if thye don't normally talk to each other, is a good start. Because when they do need to talk to each other, they at least have a chance of talking to each other using the same words meaning the same thing. Surely the people who are interested in the areas that InSTEDD are looking to cover are relatively self-identifying, at least in the first case?

The cases above all seem somewhat simple, but I suspect the real value may come where there are three parts on the left of the equation, rather than two. As projects involve more disparate groups, they get harder. And having a community which all speaks the same language, even if thye don’t normally talk to each other, is a good start. Because when they do need to talk to each other, they at least have a chance of talking to each other using the same words meaning the same thing.

]]> By: InSTEDD Edited: The Humanitarian Technology Review « Fletcher International AV Club http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/comment-page-1/#comment-172829 InSTEDD Edited: The Humanitarian Technology Review « Fletcher International AV Club Sat, 29 Mar 2008 03:07:13 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/#comment-172829 [...] a new journal entitled “Humanitarian Technology Review“. While I share some of the same concerns articulated by Paul Curion, the public health and disaster management communities have almost always been ahead in their [...] [...] a new journal entitled “Humanitarian Technology Review“. While I share some of the same concerns articulated by Paul Curion, the public health and disaster management communities have almost always been ahead in their [...]

]]> By: Janet Ginsburg http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/comment-page-1/#comment-172738 Janet Ginsburg Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:19:52 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2008/03/27/instedd-publishes/#comment-172738 Hello Paul, Thank you for the post! HTR (working title) is very much an "idea-in-progress" -- yes, yes, YES to more than "a bit more" development. Getting the overview out is a first step. But even once HTR is up and running -- still a long way to go on that -- it will take some time for it to find its groove. As for InSTEDD's "deep pockets," InSTEDD is still a very young organization, with a lot of demands on those pockets. Funding for HTR will come from multiple sources, which InSTEDD may help make possible. More critical right now is InSTEDD's support for the development of the idea. As I've written in a couple of posts about HTR on germtales.com: "The need for concrete aid – more anti-malarial bed nets, more vaccines and drugs, clean water, food, shelter, digital networks, money – is both pressing and obvious. But to say, "We need to invest in more information and better ways to connect across disciplines!" addresses a somewhat less tangible, though no less urgent, need. This truly is “innovative support,” designed to link those with needs to those with ideas, products and funding. It is a medium to make it easier to discover and implement much-needed better answers. (see related post: Technology for the Greater Good: HTR & the Roots of an Idea)" My hat is off to InSTEDD not only for seeing the value of HTR, but to support to think it through to see how to make it happen. Your point about identifying all the niche readers and how best to reach them is right on target. There are many answers and more questions. Re your point about what we want people with the information... I am taking a fairly humble approach. Media mediates. I am less concerned about how people connect (on site or off site) than that they connect and that they're provided the tools to make that easier. I am staring at some deadlines this morning, so have to stop here. But that is an important point I would like to discuss further. Which brings me to to my final point: Paul: HTR very much IS for you and yours. And your input is not only welcome, it is sought! I am looking forward to the conversation... cheers, Janet Ginsburg Hello Paul,

Thank you for the post!

HTR (working title) is very much an “idea-in-progress” — yes, yes, YES to more than “a bit more” development. Getting the overview out is a first step. But even once HTR is up and running — still a long way to go on that — it will take some time for it to find its groove.

As for InSTEDD’s “deep pockets,” InSTEDD is still a very young organization, with a lot of demands on those pockets. Funding for HTR will come from multiple sources, which InSTEDD may help make possible. More critical right now is InSTEDD’s support for the development of the idea. As I’ve written in a couple of posts about HTR on germtales.com:

“The need for concrete aid – more anti-malarial bed nets, more vaccines and drugs, clean water, food, shelter, digital networks, money – is both pressing and obvious. But to say, “We need to invest in more information and better ways to connect across disciplines!” addresses a somewhat less tangible, though no less urgent, need. This truly is “innovative support,” designed to link those with needs to those with ideas, products and funding. It is a medium to make it easier to discover and implement much-needed better answers. (see related post: Technology for the Greater Good: HTR & the Roots of an Idea)”

My hat is off to InSTEDD not only for seeing the value of HTR, but to support to think it through to see how to make it happen. Your point about identifying all the niche readers and how best to reach them is right on target. There are many answers and more questions.

Re your point about what we want people with the information… I am taking a fairly humble approach. Media mediates. I am less concerned about how people connect (on site or off site) than that they connect and that they’re provided the tools to make that easier.

I am staring at some deadlines this morning, so have to stop here. But that is an important point I would like to discuss further. Which brings me to to my final point: Paul: HTR very much IS for you and yours. And your input is not only welcome, it is sought! I am looking forward to the conversation…

cheers,

Janet Ginsburg

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