Random Winners
Dyslexia is often regarded purely as a reading and writing difficulty. However, the under-lying problems that cause these difficulties also impact on many other life skills. Although internet-based exercises already exist to help train specific skills of dyslexia sufferers, such programmes are generally targeted at children, tending to patronise adults. E-DysGate is an interactive website which provides a highly motivating and stimulating learning environment for a range of skills known to be important for young dyslexic adults. The material has been selected according to research which suggests that it will stimulate parts of the brain that are active in many activities, including reading. Reading and writing abilities are not separate entities, but require a series of brain processes. If these key areas are stimulated, neurological links will develop and the brain will be more receptive to learning, including learning to read. The project targets the following seven areas through direct and indirect stimulation: Auditory Discrimination, Auditory Memory, Auditory Sequence, Visual Discrimination, Visual Memory, Visual Sequence, and Spatial Position. The principles behind the exercises are not specific to any given language - they will work for all individuals across Europe. For more information visit the website http://www.edysgate.org.
ICT for Illiteracy Eradication (ICT4IE) aims to utilize advanced information technology to convert the learning content of literacy classes into simple, interactive computer-based tutorials. Basic reading and writing skills are presented in 3 multi-media CD-ROMs, which are designed for both classroom use and self-study. Content is geared especially towards women, who represent more than 70% of illiterates in Egypt, especially in rural and remote areas where the culture mainly prevents them from leaving home for classes. Lessons are designed in such a way that learning activities are embedded into familiar contexts of every day life and are dramatized using sound and music effects. The e-content emphasises relevant topics such as health, education, political rights, environment, and family care. As a result, trainees' retention and understanding are improved and their motivation and interest are maintained due to more satisfaction being derived from the learning process. For more information visit the website http://www.ictfund.org.eg.
Esoko is an innovative technology that links mobile phones to web-based management systems. It enables agri-business, agri-associations and other agri-projects to systematically build polls, and automatically scouts participants for critical field information. The scout technology can be programmed to send or receive text messages from participants in the field in order to track activities and inventories or evaluate crop behaviour. The project incorporates an SMS-based and Java-based application that connects mobile handsets with a powerful online toolset, enabling large-scale tracking from the field, and dramatically reducing the cost of real-time distribution and recovery of responses from thousands of participants. Already almost 800,000 price records have been entered from 10 countries, making this the largest SMS-based MIS system on the African continent. Over 12,000 registered users are profiled in the system, and almost 500 markets are covered. For more information visit the website www.esoko.com
ngpay is India’s first mass market mobile commerce service. Functioning on every telecom network, consumers all over India are able to bank, pay bills, book tickets, make donations, shop, order food, and more - from a single place on their mobile handsets. Transactions with 80+ businesses across 10 sectors can be completed following a simple download of a free, 64kb application to a mobile handset. ngpay is easy, fast, and secure. Upon selection of a merchant, the user is guided through their m-commerce transaction - step-by-step - via ngpay's interactive, menu-driven interface. In this way, ngpay is able to deliver the true PC-Based e-commerce experience with mobile internet technology. Once the user gets to the payment stage, multiple options are available - all securely stored in ngpay's mobile wallet. All conventional forms of electronic payment are possible, including redeeming ngpay loyalty points. Data and over-the-air transactions are fully encrypted and require multi-level authorization to be accessed. Users receive SMS and, where applicable, email verifications of their transactions, and can view their transaction history on the ngpay main menu. ngpay is one of the few services able to bring low-cost electronic commerce and financial services to the rural and working class. For more information visit the website www.ngpay.com.
Videolectures.Net provides free and open internet access to high quality videos of lectures presented by distinguished scholars and scientists at prominent academic events in the field of Science. The portal aims to promote science, facilitate the exchange of ideas and foster knowledge sharing by providing high quality didactic content, not only for the scientific community, but also for a more general public. All lectures, accompanying documents, information and links are systematically selected and are classified during the editorial process according to user comments. For more information visit the website http://videolectures.net.Videolectures.Net provides free and open internet access to high quality videos of lectures presented by distinguished scholars and scientists at prominent academic events in the field of Science. The portal aims to promote science, facilitate the exchange of ideas and foster knowledge sharing by providing high quality didactic content, not only for the scientific community, but also for a more general public. All lectures, accompanying documents, information and links are systematically selected and are classified during the editorial process according to user comments. For more information visit the website http://videolectures.net.
The karma currency foundation was set-up to revitalize the philanthropic landscape in Australia. Karma currency is Australia's first online gift voucher website for charitable donations, offering non-profit agencies - big and small - the chance to use the site as a new fundraising channel, with 100% of all donations going to their charity. The site explains this new concept in an easy and straightforward manner to users, providing an intuitive user experience for a diverse target audience, in the hope of converting browsers into purchasers. Charities that sign-up for the first time are reviewed and approved by karma and, once accepted, are able to complete their profiles and upload products for customers to purchase. With new charities signing up and content changing daily, the workflow and approval process demands that karma have complete control over all content on the site. A Content Management System platform has therefore been developed to give karma staff complete autonomy in managing the site, with the tools to manage charity partners, content workflow, financial reporting and the generation of reports for the Australia Taxation Office. For more information visit the website www.karmacurrency.com.au.
CELL (Centre for Experiential Learning) has been established to offer training solutions which radically transform conventional CME refresher courses for Medical Practitioners. CELL is a multimedia and interactive learning environment, which delivers effective and engaging learning projects in accordance with the latest andragogy principles. It is the only training centre in Europe to exploit new technologies supporting Natural Interaction and New Media applications within the medical and scientific fields, offering physical settings for clinical simulations, thereby promoting the active participation of physicians in their vocational training. State-of-the-art technologies, skills, content and learning methods converge to make the proposed training solutions extremely effective. An absolutely unique learning environment is created, where the excitement of being involved in a new and meaningful experience favours learning and the intake of information. For more information visit the website http://www.qbgroup.it.
HomelessNation.org is the world’s first website created by and for the homeless community. This participatory new media project allows voices from the street to engage in peer-to-peer dialogues and convey experiences to the broader public. By sharing similar stories with a network of peers, participants can experience the therapeutic power of self-expression, build self-esteem, and feel a greater sense of belonging. Born from documentary filmmaking, this collection of voices is interactive, living, and constantly evolving; it is designed to build confidence, communities and a sense of control and motivation. Online discussions are meant to spur real-world solutions – the public is asked to learn more about their fellow citizens and take on greater social responsibility. Mobile technology and new media are used to help bridge the digital divide for homeless Canadians, allowing them access to the tools and information necessary for their successful transition from the street. For more information visit the website http://www.homelessnation.org.
With its new SanierungsCheck software, Austrian building society ‘Bausparkasse’ is providing its customers with an easy first step to improving energy efficiency in their homes. Users of the website can get a first impression of the necessary improvements to be made to their properties in just a few minutes – all from the comfort of their own homes. This unique software guides users through the many solutions available for exploiting the maximum energy-saving potential of their properties in a simple and straightforward manner. It identifies the necessary improvements, calculates a building cost estimate based on the data entered, evaluates the subsidies available in the respective federal province and calculates potential mortgage options. The software is divided into several modules to achieve optimum results that meet specific user requirements. These modules can be used on their own or in combination, according to individual needs and interests. Sanierungscheck.at features a modern and self-explanatory design to facilitate access and provide all the necessary information at a glance. For more information visit the website http://www.sanierungscheck.at.
‘MyMachine’ is a unique online project which builds bridges between three different levels of education: primary, secondary and higher. Via an attractive interactive web-site, children in primary schools produce ideas to create their own ‘dream machine’, the focus being on creativity and imagination over functional usage. Subsequently, higher education students, such as those studying engineering courses, translate these ideas into workable designs, publishing their endeavours to a virtual online community. Finally, pupils from technical secondary schools use the online material in order to produce real prototypes of the machines. In this way, the ‘MyMachine’ lifecycle (invent, design, make, show, patent) starts with the imagination of children and ends with ‘products’. The project has been adopted by the local and regional government (Flanders) and by various companies which have become corporate partners of ‘MyMachine’. During the entire process, children and students can collaborate online and appeal to the know-how and support of the partners, unifying the world of education and entrepreneurship with a key focus on ‘creativity and innovation’. For more information visit the website http://www.mymachine.be.
