In disaster situations it always takes some time before authorities are able to react and send help to the area. In the meantime, people affected can start to help themselves and people around them. Helptohelp.me service enables communication, coordination and distribution of the skills and knowledge of the local people capable of helping to where it is most beneficial.
The service consists of a toolkit of communication templates tailored for the needs of different catastrophes. The templates can be easily adapted and implemented to local situations and requirements. In a disaster situation this toolkit can be initiated for communication and information sharing by the authorities. The service is low tech and operates on any mobile device using text messages (SMS).
When a disaster hits and is acknowledged by an authority the system is initiated by an SMS being pushed to all cellphones in the area. The service then functions automatically and interactively. All information is registered to a database that enables governments, international organizations, the general public and relatives to follow the development of the crisis.
The concept is inspired by real life civilian action in the 2004 Thailand tsunami crisis.
2009
Concept design, interaction design, scenarios
Team work with Mads Crone Köser and Philip Kongsgaard Døssing. Developed during New Media Concepts for WHO course (spring 2009) at Media Lab, organized by Teemu Leinonen, Mari Tikkanen and Andrea Botero.
Concept website www.helptohelp.me
Inspiration poster (PDF)
Presentation (PDF) of the concept
