Tech for Good Ten: The refugee community of makers, electricity from tomatoes and integrating women’s voices into the tech industry

29th March 2016 Posted by: Cat Cochrane

Welcome to the Tech For Good Ten, where we share the best 10 links in the Tech For Good world from the past seven days.

We’re aiming to share a wide range of links, meeting the people behind the latest digital innovations, showcasing the greatest tech for good products, looking at the future of social change technology, and exploring the themes and social issues that technology is tackling locally and globally.

Most importantly, we’ll be meeting the people and institutions who are actually using this technology, showing the positive difference it makes in their lives, their communities and the world around them.

We’re also encouraging debate around “What exactly is Tech For Good?” Join the debate in the comments below. We’re here to discuss all things Tech For Good.

Got a link to share with the Tech For Good Team? Tweet us at @techfotgoodtv or leave a comment on our Facebook page.

Tech For Good Ten | 29.03.2016

1// Zaatari refugee camp near the Syrian border in Jordan houses a vibrant community of makers

Despite the incredible hardships many have faced, there is an entrepreneurial spirit among the residents

2// Will smart energy meters be worth the money?

Millions of energy users in Britain are about to receive a new metering system—yet the technology has been rejected by Germany

3// Why it’s crucial that tech integrates women’s voices into the industry

How the male-dominated industry is failing to consider their female counterparts

4// The non-profit donates phones to wi-fi dependent refugees

Digital Reliance is aiming to supply mobile phones and SIM cards to newly arrived migrants to Sweden

5// How wearable technology is making parenting simpler

Parents can record what medications they are giving their children with the Pacif-i app, which they can refer back to with the child’s pediatrician

6// The smartphone that just got smarter – by testing water and treating food

Mitra reveals impurities in food—from glass and sand to potentially dangerous microorganisms like listeria and cholera

7// Compact prefab hub transforms derelict spaces into offices and homes

Installations of prefabricated hub units, with all the basic amenities including a bathroom, kitchen and internet connection, in one compact 161 sq ft package

8// Rotten tomatoes? Could they be a new source of electricity?

Demonstrating that the damaged vegetable need not go to directly into waste refuse—especially if they can generate electricity

9// The 360° cameras giving young cancer patients an adventure of a lifetime

With the help of live-streaming technology and adventurous volunteers, a way was found to bring the world to youngsters at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis

10// Solar-powered "sterile box" targets hospital infections in developing countries

This project is the culmination of a long-standing search for a method to sterilise surgical instruments with sunlight as the source of power