For the first time in recent history, the Red Cross gathered local community members in Seoul, Republic of Korea to discuss how they felt about emerging technology and innovation when coping with disasters. Here they found a space for conversation in which they could share what tools on the techie horizon most scared and excited them. This meeting, which took place on August 13, is part of a multi-sector effort to evaluate the views of urban communities on the humanitarian application of emerging technologies, using a human-centered design process and other participatory approaches.
From teachers and disaster managers to students and small business owners, the participants opened up about how they use technology and their attitudes and perceptions about living in a connected world. Many expressed that technology had a role in a disaster management context and could be used to better understand hazards and vulnerabilities, improve analysis of risk and planning, and advocate with local and national government authorities. A few, experienced with response operations, wanted to see how specialised trainings in the use of technological tools could be practiced, e.g., using virtual reality in contingency planning exercises for urban disaster preparedness.
True to humanitarian values, attendants insisted on understanding how technology could be used to save lives (e.g., using geo-location features on mobile phones to track and target people in need of critical assistance). What troubled them was whether this use of technology may exclude those without access to it.
The group was also concerned over issues like privacy of information, inundation of services (“too much pressure to be connected”), and misuse or inappropriate uses of technology. What would happen if people’s behaviors adapt to new tools that are suspended or inaccessible in times of disaster (such as when internet and power go offline)? These questions led to a discussion about the “dark side” of technology. With information, data and technology products increasingly held in the hands of non-state actors, who should be regulating emerging technologies and their uses? Is there a common ground or position for humanitarian agencies to take on emerging technologies?
The issues that swirl around technology can take years to fully comprehend and resolve. Take unmanned aerial vehicles or civilian drones for example. A lot of dialogue has been initiated and yet the humanitarian community has not collectively agreed to how practitioners should resolve the matter.
Photo credit: Flickr/ UN Photo
Either way, what is certain is that the wave of technology will continue to rush forward. Whether or not you support it, we live in a modernised and revolutionised world that is dependent on automation, connection and technological development. The ability to continue engaging urban communities in the design of their own solutions will be incredibly relevant as their role and scope in responding to emergencies expands. Increased pressure is placed on local communities to act and serve as first responders in many parts of the world where governments are overwhelmed or simply unable to deliver public services. Communities are also the best source of locally relevant and useful information. Just give them the opportunity to address their own needs creatively, and they will rise to the challenge! At the same time, we as practitioners, should be striving to find a common ground in how we approach technology.
Discussion questions
- How can humanitarian organisations better leverage human-centered design process in their work?
- Which one of the 8 emerging technologies included in the editor’s note do you believe holds the most potential to positively impact disaster resilience in the future?
- How might we measure technology’s impact on urban community resilience?
The American Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is facilitating the humanitarian exploration of eight emerging technologies with the vision that they may help strengthen the resilience of urban communities. The Red Cross will research and test these experimental technologies in collaboration with technologists, business leaders, government agencies, academic and research institutions, humanitarian and development organisations, foundations and other stakeholders to leverage their experience and achieve shared value. The global initiative focuses on finding future applications for the eight technologies—3D printers, augmented reality, biometric scanners, robots, smart cars, smart homes, unmanned aerial vehicles, and wearable technologies—that consumers can access, manage and/or own to reduce their risks, improve their resilience and fully recover from emergencies. The author of this blog participated in one of six regional consultations designed to inform the initiative.
On August 14, the Red Cross also hosted a workshop with business, government and science leaders to innovate against what the community members had shared. To read the summary report of this session, visit the #tech4resilience site.