GeoChat

Posted by AnneryanHeatwole on Aug 24, 2009
Organization that developed the Tool: 
Main Contact: 
Robert Kirkpatrick
Problem or Need: 

GeoChat is intended to ensure that no one is excluded from critical information flow before, during, and after a crisis. It allows groups of mobile users and Internet-based users to set up chat groups, monitor news feeds, and keep track of who is doing what where. When a major humanitarian crisis occurs, every second matters for the affected community – the longer it takes responders to reach them, the worse the outcome is likely to be. What is needed is a response that is agile, efficient, and effective, where diverse groups can self-organize into a coherent, coordinated whole to provide assistance.

Main Contact Email : 
Brief Description: 

InSTEDD GeoChat is a group communications system that lets teams coordinate around events as they unfold, linking mobile responders in the field, decision makers at headquarters, and the affected local community in a unified effective response. The systems allows online and mobile users to share information, report from the field, broadcast alerts, post their locations, and chat with each other on the surface of a map using SMS text messages.

Tool Category: 
App resides and runs on a server
Key Features : 

 

  • Translates location names sent by users to a position on a map
  • Supports a variety of explicit location formats, as well as other user-defined tags.
  • Enables shared awareness/coordination on a map
  • Enables creation of and participation in SMS chats 
  • Enables field reporting, alerts, and interactions 
  • Dedicated international SMS gateway supported by 96% of the world’s mobile carriers.

 

Main Services: 
Other
Tool Maturity: 
Currently deployed
Platforms: 
Android
Blackberry/RIM
Flash Mobile
Java ME
Linux/UNIX
Symbian/3rd
S60 Web Runtime
Widsets
Windows Mobile
All phones -- SMS
Current Version: 
1
Program/Code Language: 
BREW
Flash Lite
Java/Android
Java
Lazarus
MESymbian
.NET Compact Framework
Objective C/iPhone
Pocket PC and Microsoft Smartphone
Python
Organizations Using the Tool: 

 

  • Ministry of Health, Cambodia 
  • Ministry of Health, Ghana

 

Number of Current End Users: 
100-1,000
Number of current beneficiaries: 
100-1,000
Support Forums: 
http://geochat.instedd.org
Languages supported: 
English, Thai (soon)
Handsets/devices supported: 
Any SMS-capable device.
Is the Tool's Code Available?: 
Yes
Is an API available to interface with your tool?: 
Yes
Global Regions: 
Countries: 

GeoChat Locations

You need to upgrade your Flash Player
Featured?: 
Yes
GeoChat data sheet 1784 Views
Organization that developed the Tool: 
Main Contact: 
Robert Kirkpatrick
Problem or Need: 

GeoChat is intended to ensure that no one is excluded from critical information flow before, during, and after a crisis. It allows groups of mobile users and Internet-based users to set up chat groups, monitor news feeds, and keep track of who is doing what where. When a major humanitarian crisis occurs, every second matters for the affected community – the longer it takes responders to reach them, the worse the outcome is likely to be. What is needed is a response that is agile, efficient, and effective, where diverse groups can self-organize into a coherent, coordinated whole to provide assistance.

Main Contact Email : 
Brief Description: 

InSTEDD GeoChat is a group communications system that lets teams coordinate around events as they unfold, linking mobile responders in the field, decision makers at headquarters, and the affected local community in a unified effective response. The systems allows online and mobile users to share information, report from the field, broadcast alerts, post their locations, and chat with each other on the surface of a map using SMS text messages.

Tool Category: 
App resides and runs on a server
Key Features : 

 

  • Translates location names sent by users to a position on a map
  • Supports a variety of explicit location formats, as well as other user-defined tags.
  • Enables shared awareness/coordination on a map
  • Enables creation of and participation in SMS chats 
  • Enables field reporting, alerts, and interactions 
  • Dedicated international SMS gateway supported by 96% of the world’s mobile carriers.

 

Main Services: 
Other
Tool Maturity: 
Currently deployed
Platforms: 
Android
Blackberry/RIM
Flash Mobile
Java ME
Linux/UNIX
Symbian/3rd
S60 Web Runtime
Widsets
Windows Mobile
All phones -- SMS
Current Version: 
1
Program/Code Language: 
BREW
Flash Lite
Java/Android
Java
Lazarus
MESymbian
.NET Compact Framework
Objective C/iPhone
Pocket PC and Microsoft Smartphone
Python
Organizations Using the Tool: 

 

  • Ministry of Health, Cambodia 
  • Ministry of Health, Ghana

 

Number of Current End Users: 
100-1,000
Number of current beneficiaries: 
100-1,000
Support Forums: 
http://geochat.instedd.org
Languages supported: 
English, Thai (soon)
Handsets/devices supported: 
Any SMS-capable device.
Is the Tool's Code Available?: 
Yes
Is an API available to interface with your tool?: 
Yes
Global Regions: 
Countries: 

GeoChat Locations

You need to upgrade your Flash Player
Featured?: 
Yes

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