Software: Making the World A Little Bit Better

A guiding light for Dr. Dobb's has always been our belief that computers can indeed make the world a better place--one line of code at a time.

Apparently some folks at Microsoft feel the same way, which is why they've launched the Develop Without Borders Challenge. All you have you have to do is design an application on the 2007 Microsoft Office system between June 26 and August 31, 2006 to help your favorite charity. And if your application is judged to be one of the best, you can your charity win a share of more than $160,000 in awards.

As the Develop Without Borders Challenge web site goes on to say, "as a developer, you have a unique understanding of how technology works. You know how to harness it effectively, to resolve problems and streamline processes. Why not use your talents to help a cause you really care about?"

Application areas that you might want to consider include:

• Fundraising. Charities depend on outside funding, and can spend plenty of time and resources seeking funds. Help them create grant applications faster with an automated process.
• Compliance. The rules and regulations for using donated funds are complex. Use technology to help an organization track data. Create standard forms. Improve workflow approval processes. And keep the charity in good standing with its benefactors.
• Data Management. Many charities monitor an activity as part of their work, be it ecological, educational, or economic. Create a solution that helps them collect, compile and analyze this data.
• Community Outreach. Establishing and maintaining a presence in a community is critical to the success of every charity. Help your organization reach its target audience with wikis, blogs and RSS technology. Streamline the process of creating and distributing newsletters.

Folks, this is a good deal, whether you win a prize or not. Let's all do our part to make the world a better place. Goodness knows it needs all the help it can get.

Posted by Jon Erickson at 11:37 AM  Permalink