Youth for Technology Foundation introduces Circuit Crawler

A group of students in California decided that they could harness their experience at a quality, technology focused high school and leverage their privilege to make a global impact. The students developed a game to sell on the Android market called Circuit Crawler, with all the profits going straight to Youth for Technology.  It’s an inspiring parallel to see played out: 2 groups of youth are getting an invaluable education through technology; one as the developer and one as the consumer.  I won’t go as far to say unprecedented (and would love to see other examples of this happening across the world!), but I am thrilled about this collaboration. (In case you are wondering why I am so thrilled, I've been YTF's Communications Lead since last Fall. Such a great organization to work with!)

Youth for Technology Foundation is about people first. Where appropriate, they use technology as a tool to help disadvantaged youth bridge social and economic obstacles.  YTF works across Africa and the United States to “bridge the digital canyon.” This year, not only is YTF providing opportunities for youth around the world to access technology, it is providing a platform for invention and development in high school classrooms. 

So, here comes the plug: If not for anything but the support of education through technology, BUY THE GAME!  Only if you have an Android phone.  And only if you care about children.  And the world.  Don’t care about any of that? Don’t rock the ‘droid operating system?  You have an even better job: spread the word. It takes one minute, and I’ll even make it brainless:

Circuit Crawler Social Toolbox

Tweet:

Support @YouthforTech and check out Circuit Crawler on the Android Market! http://t.co/Fc09ITY

Facebook post:

Help Youth for Technology Foundation reach their goal of positively impacting over 300,000 youth across 10 developing world countries through YTF’s programs :: High school students in California developed a game for the Android Market called Circuit Crawler, giving all the proceeds to Youth for Technology Foundation. Check out Circuit Crawler on the Android Market! http://t.co/Fc09ITY

Technology: the Good, the Bad, and the Prezi

After many tedious hours, resulting eye strain and an intimate bond with my region's blog, I have finally finished the new "Blog Tour" for my project.  You can view it if you visit OBBservations in Central Ohio.  I love that I found this presentation tool, anything beats the technology of Powerpoint at this point.

I deal with technology a lot in my position.  Going further than the fact that I sit all day in front of a computer managing Outlook and juggling massive spreadsheets in Google Docs, the entire software,y program uses to connect Ohioans with public benefits and tax credits is online.  As JFS Director Lumpkin reminded us in his remarks at the OBB Conference,

You can’t effectuate change and policy without IT.  A real player in this environment, the Benefit Bank is a  platform on the IT platform.   

I think to some people technology (in the form of computer, internet, etc) is still a luxury.  There are movements to "go without technology for an entire WEEK!"  (Could you do it?!?)  Well of course I could do it, but why?  I could go without other modernizations like a dishwasher or a car for a week, but all these things are here to help me function more efficiently, to connect faster, and to solve problems.  I don't see it as progress for progress sake, but as progress in the face of inefficiencies. It seems that I am listening too much to the industrial engineer in my life, all this talk of efficiency.   I digress...

I've concluded technology is necessary and helpful for advancement to save time and connect the world, especially in the realm of helping to connect low-income Ohioans with benefits.  But is technology only as good as the people who use it?  I have some trainees that zoom through the software and it clicks for them right away (Get it? Clicks for them? Mouse humor, heh heh). Then I have some trainees who need help figuring out how to close browser tabs and finding the address bar.  Sometimes the less computer-literate counselors are actually the most detailed and thorough counselors in helping clients.  But again, is the program only as good as the counselor who is able to navigate it?

 My new excuse for not calling Mom... (http://americanhell.com/

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Since I was already on food assistance when I moved to Franklin County, I didn't have the luxury of using my program's software to transfer my case and I had to go in myself, wait in line (gasp!), and hand in my documents.  When I got up to the window, the intake worker said their scanner was down, so they couldn't take my verifications officially.  They have been copying everyone's documents, then scanning them later in the day.  So double work for them, and I as the client walk away with no guarantee/receipt that they got my documents.  I asked how often this technology failure happens.  She said almost every morning.  Every morning an increasing amount of people visit JFS because they need assistance, every morning their technology fails, every morning the two intake workers have to take turns walking to the very back of the building to copy documents and then remember to re-scan everything later in the day. 

Technology is fabulous.  Technology can be used as an excuse, a crutch, or for useless things.  All I know is that I can talk to friends teaching Spain and China, or doing the Peace Corps in Macedonia with technology, so I am generally currently satisfied with the way things are going :-)