Written by: Eric Peterson
The purpose of Ericsson Review is to report on the research, development and production achievements made in telecommunications technology at Ericsson. The purpose of this column, on the other hand varies, but I generally attempt to tie technology to real-life applications—I often employ “what if” scenarios to describe how I hope we might benefit from technology. I also use this space to give voice to different personalities at Ericsson. In this issue, however, I want to use this column to highlight two programs initiated and funded by Ericsson that promote the use of technology for the express purpose of helping people in need.
ERICA
Now in its second year, the Ericsson Internet Community Awards (ERICA) program seeks to transcend borders by using the Internet and technology as a platform for exchanging ideas and information, while building a community that is based on cooperation, innovation and partnership. The ERICA program grew out of Ericsson’s strong commitment to use technology to connect people and improve lives. Ericsson is bridging the digital divide by developing Internet-based applications to expand and increase philanthropic goals and aspirations of non-profit organizations. The ERICA 1999 winners were:
• The National Library for the Blind (NLB), Stockport, UK—Dedicated to ensuring that visually impaired people get the same access to library services as sighted people, the NLB will improve its website with the latest database technology to create a well-stocked bookshop online that presents information on new books in an exciting, dynamic and revolutionary way.
• Medical Training Worldwide, Novato, CA, USA—In order to teach modern surgery, anesthesia, and critical care techniques to physicians and nurses in developing countries, Medical Training Worldwide will create an online database to assist in the collection of donated medical equipment, coordinate physicians/nurse volunteers and search for areas in need of medical training.
• Kids HealthLINK, San Francisco, CA, USA—With the ERICA program, Kids HealthLink will broaden the support and resources available to children from low-income households living with severe illnesses, such as cancer and HIV/AIDS. After their release from the hospital, children will be able to communicate via personal e-mail accounts with their physicians and school-based peers and other recovering children.
Ericsson Response
This past April, Ericsson announced Ericsson Response, a global initiative aimed at developing better and faster response to human suffering caused by disasters. This initiative formalizes Ericsson’s commitment to the issue based on its previous involvement in and experience of various disaster response efforts throughout the world.
Throughout our history, Ericsson has been involved in numerous disaster response efforts. Recent experiences range from providing mobile base stations for refugee camps during the Kosovo crisis and reinstalling damaged telecom equipment for earthquake victims in Turkey, to providing phones to flood victims in Venezuela.
Ericsson Response includes the following initiatives:
1. Ericsson offices around the world are establishing local disaster preparedness programs in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
2. Rapid deployment communications solutions will be developed that encompass Ericsson technologies to support and respond to the unique communications challenges of each disaster.
3. The development of an Ericsson Response volunteer program will give employees the opportunity to become involved in response efforts.
4. The initiation of a global issue advocacy campaign with the aim of increasing awareness and rallying support for disaster response as a means of driving additional corporate involvement in the issue.
5. Ericsson is hosting a virtual Web-based community for knowledge management and expertise on disaster response.
6. Ericsson is gathering international expertise on disaster response to garner lessons learned and to share new technologies for communications during disasters.
7. Ericsson is sponsoring an ITU handbook: “Disaster Communications Handbook for Developing Countries.”
[First published in Ericsson Review no. 02, 2000]
