applied technologies: the promise of new tools to help nonprofits meet their missions

Applied Technologies: The Promise of New Tools to Help Nonprofits Meet Their Missions

www.npower.org

Course Objectives

Introduce a variety of technologies 

Consider the possible role of new technologies in your organization’s work  

Learn and be inspired by success stories of other nonprofits using technologies in creative, powerful ways

Presentation Overview

1. Wireless Local Area Networks2. PDAs3. Geographic Information Systems4. Open Source Software

For each, discuss: What IS it? “Common sightings” or AKAs of the tool Benefits/Drawbacks Things to Consider Nonprofit applications of the tool

Emerging vs. Applied

• These tools are ready use• There are nonprofits using them today• They may require new skills among your staff• They may require the acquisition of new

hardware or software• They all have the potential to save money and

enhance the impact of your mission

The “So-What” behind each technology is what’s important!

Wireless Local Area Networks

Wi-Fi Network: What Is It?

Local Area Networking, minus the Ethernet cables!

Uses radio signals instead of copper wires to connect computers to each other in a LAN

AKA: Wireless LAN, WLAN, Wi-Fi, 802.11x

Wi-Fi Network: What is it?

Internet

Wireless Access Point($100-$300)

PCs with Wireless Cards($30-$60)

Wi-Fi enabled

PDA

Wireless LAN Ethernet LAN(Optional)

Modem

Laptop with wireless interface

card

Devices That Use Wi-Fi

Laptops With PCMCIA Wireless Cards

With Integrated Wireless

PDAs & Communicators

Desktop Computers With PCI Wireless Card Added

Where do we see Wireless Local Networking being used?

Wi-Fi Networks: Common Sightings

Hotspots: Airports, Hotels, Coffee shops, metropolitan areas

Corporate/college campusesOffice environments

Benefits of Setting Up Wireless LANs

Potential cost-savings May help avoid retrofitting costs Can be made as secure as you need Convenience & portability Easy to add new machines

• Easy to reconfigure existing machines• You own the whole network, and can configure it

however you like.

Benefits to Public Wi-Fi Access

Remote connectivity to the web Ability to get real-time data or information

anywhere you find a hotspot Convenience & mobility Increase productivity of workers that travel or

spend a lot of time off-site

Drawbacks of Wi-Fi

Limited distance range; signal not always available

Costly if current networks exist

Interference

Must pay good attention to security!

Wi-Fi Nonprofit Applications

NPower Summit team’s portable WLAN

Museum in historical building able to network!

Internet Access for residents/clients (Hot Spots)

Personal Digital Assistants

PDA’s

PDA = Personal Digital Assistant

AKA: Palms, Handheld, Palmtop

Do you have a handheld/PDA with you today?

What do you use it for?

PDA: What Is It?

• Small mobile device that provides computing and info storage/retrieval

• Runs on replaceable or built in & rechargeable batteries

• Designed for touch-screen input

• Started as electronic rolodex – evolved into multi-functional tool…a mini computer!

PDA: What Is It?

Low End:More computing power than original handhelds & costs under $100

• 8MB memory: Holds years of appointments, hundreds of contacts

• Infrared & USB ports for beaming, syncing

High end: Do-it-all device for $400-$600

• Wi-fi capable; Bluetooth• High-res color screen• 64MB+ memory; fast

processor• Hardware expansion slots• Built-in camera, MP3

player, phone

PDA: Common Sightings

Devices (hardware) Hewlett Packard, Toshiba, Blackberry, Palm One*,

Sony, Sharp, etc.

Operating Systems (software) Palm, Windows CE/Mobile, Blackberry, Symbian,

Linux

*Recent merger of Palm and Handspring

PDA: Benefits

• Great data entry & survey tools• Easy to use, training easier than laptop use• Flexible, adaptable • Easily portable!• Work with existing database or processes• Less invasive for client intake or field work

PDAs: Drawbacks

• Like a laptop or a TV, your PDA breaks when you drop it.

• More easily lost or stolen

• Battery life can be limited

• “Syncing” can cause headaches sometimes

PDA: Nonprofit Applications

City Scan Pathways

Youth Places

Geographic Information Systems

GIS: What is it?

Geographic Information systems are tools used for mapping and analyzing things that exist and

events that happen.

• GIS can enhance how you deliver services• Report on your efforts• Raise awareness and funds • Adjust the way you do your valuable work by providing new perspectives

What can GIS do?

•Combines information about places & people

•Analyize multiple data sets•Produces Sophisticated Maps•Provides New Data that Reveal Geographic Relationships

GIS can help you tell a powerful story! (A picture really is worth 1,000 words)

GIS: Common Sightings

• New Yahoo!Maps overlays• MS MapPoint• County or State efforts• At colleges or universities

GIS: Benefits

• Define where you work and who you serve (i.e. turf Maps)

• Evaluate who lives or works in your target area

• Enhance analytical credibility of reports, media efforts or publications

• Analyze disparate data to understand hidden relationships or discover correlations

• Report accomplishments to constituents & funders

GIS: Drawbacks

• More sophisticated systems are complex and expensive

• Assumes you have access to accurate data• Requires staff training to use and report using

GIS

Nonprofit examples of GIS Use

www.Scorecard.org

Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Audience member map 1

Office locations withunderlying• Roads• City/county margins• Basic geology

Audience member map 2

Office locations withunderlying• Roads• City/county margins• Basic geology• Average income

GIS and Oklahoma

http://data.geocomm.com

Search on OK to find free maps and/or data sets

Some National Links

www.geographynetwork.com

http://socds.huduser.org/index.html

Some National Links

http://stats.bls.gov/data/home.htm

Open Source Software

Open Source: What is it?

“The basic idea behind open source is very simple: When programmers can read, redistribute, and modify the source code for a piece of software, the software evolves. People improve it, people adapt it, people fix bugs. And this can happen at a speed that, if one is used to the slow pace of conventional software development, seems astonishing.”

From OpenSource.org

Open Source: Common Sightings

Many types available:

• Operating systems LINUX server & desktop, RedHat, Lindows

• Applications OpenOffice, MySQL

• Specific Tools Apache, Mozilla’s Firefox

Open Source: Benefits & Drawbacks

Benefits: Licensing is less of a burden Typically Freely Distributed Usually requires less horsepower Can be customized (with enough expertise)

Drawbacks: Usually requires greater technical expertise to manage,

and sometimes to use

Open Source Resources

http://www.google.com – Search and Learn

http://www.linux.org

http://www.opensource.org – OSI (the Open Source Initiative)

http://sourceforge.net – great Open Source forum for developers, and a good place to find tools, etc…

Other emerging/applied technologies

What other cool technologies, gadgets or gizmos have you been hearing about?

How can they help nonprofits?

What can you apply?

Where do you see opportunities for new technologies to transform the way you meet your mission?

Which technology do you want to learn more about?

Which nonprofit example was most exciting?