From wheelchair-sharing networks to Aphasia-aiding emoji apps, the May 2017 social good trends reveal an ongoing push to make the world a more accessible place. This is largely the result of new technology, which is being used to help people with disabilities.
One of the ways that technology is improving life for those with disabilities is by helping them better communicate their needs. For example, Samsung Wemogee is a new app by Samsung Italia that gives people with aphasia a simple way to communicate.
Technology is also helping to breakdown barriers -- be they physical or societal -- for others. As featured in the May 2017 social good trends, this includes WHILL's WeDrive service, which connects people with mobility devices and Coding Autism, which teaches programming to adults on the autism spectrum.
Top 30 Social Good Ideas in May
From Wheelchair-Sharing Networks to Aphasia-Aiding Emoji Apps:
Katherine Pendrill — May 28, 2017 — Social Good
30
Pet Adoption Photography Campaigns
The World For All Series Sends a Message with Optical Illusions
29
Lightweight Recycled Plastic Shirts
Last Bottle Clothing Sells Shirts Made from Recycled Bottles
28
Empowering Female Athletic Apparel
The Alana Athletica Women's Yoga Gear is Made by and for Women
27
Rewarding Clothing Recycling Promotions
The 'Refashion the Future' Event Celebrates Earth Day 2017
26
Progressive Female Representation Campaigns
Dove and Mindshare Joined to Redefine Beauty Standards
25
Refugee Camp Production Centers
IKEA Will Soon Be Offering Employment Opportunities for Refugees
24
Poignant Life Vest Igloos
Greek Artist Achilleas Souras Builds Igloos Out of Refugee Life Vests
23
Clever Animal Adoption Campaigns
This Pedigree Campaign Prompts Parents to Get a Shelter Dog
22
Health Assessment Posters
These Cancer Research UK Posters Offer a Free Breathing Test
21
Water-Filtering River Wheels
The 'Waterwheel Filter' Water Filtering System is for Remote Villages
20
Safe Consumption Wine Bottles
The Don't Reach the Bottom Campaign Encourages Responsible Drinking
19
LGBT Self-Defense Classes
This Brazilian Martial Arts School Helps Women and LGBT People
18
Climate Change Coloring Books
Brian Foo's Climate Change Coloring Book Highlights the Environment
17
Earth Day-Honoring Beers
Sly Fox's New SRT ALE Celebrates Earth Day by Supporting a Good Cause
16
Charitable Presidential Lollipops
Proceeds from the 'Trump Sucks' Treats Go to Planned Parenthood
15
Charitable Wedding Dress Platforms
'Brides Do Good' Allows Women to Buy Pre-owned Wedding Gowns
14
Violence-Exposing Photo Booths
Terre Des Femmes Created the Shocking Bruise Automat Campaign
13
Wheelchair-Sharing Networks
WHILL's WeDrive Service Connects People in Need of Personal Mobility
12
Gaelic-Speaking Pop Ups
Informal Irish Language-Encouraging Events are Occurring Internationally
11
Conservation-Promoting Coffee Beans
'Gorilla Conservation Coffee' Supports Conservation in Uganda
10
Refugee-Friendly Digital Banking
Taqanu Banking Lets Refugees Without Documents Open Accounts
9
Lawmaker-Finding Social Media Services
Facebook Town Hall Makes Contacting Elected Officials Easy
8
Child-Mourning Communities
'The Compassionate Friends' Emotionally Supports Families
7
Autistic Adult Coding Classes
'Coding Autism' Teaches Programming to Adults with Autism
6
Rapper-Led Career Workshops
Big Sean's 'Mogul Prep' Initiative Aims to Decrease Unemployment Rates
5
Low-Cost Women's Health Initiatives
Zubaida Bai's Gives an Important Speech On Women's Health
4
Down Syndrome Awareness Ads
'Not Special Needs' Aims to Break Barriers for Those with Disabilities
3
Aphasia-Aiding Emoji Apps
Samsung Wemogee Translates Simple Phrases into Emoji Strings
2
Syringe Vending Machines
Las Vegas Aims to Make Clean Needles Easily Accessible for Drug Users
1
Patience-Encouraging Autism PSAs
This Short Video Shows How Overwhelming Some Interactions Can Be
Related Ideas
Glamorous eCommerce Flagships
Missguided's New Flagship is the eTailer's First Standalone Store
The Recruitment Revolution
Gustav Borgefalk's Recruitment Speech is on Equal Access to Opportunity
Interactive Furniture Fairs
This Fair Allows Visitors to Test Out and Interact with Its Items
Political Americana Streetwear
The Public School Ready-to-Wear Styles Make Statements with Fashion
Collaborative Athleisure Brands
This Brand's Clothing Was Designed by Emerging Bloggers
Modular Flat-Pack Sofa Beds
The Delaktig is a Collaboration Between Designer Tom Dixon and IKEA
Strong Eco Coffee Packaging
The La Colombe Wholesale Coffee Packaging is Sustainable
Millennial-Targeting Furniture Collections
IKEA's SPRIDD Was Creared for Nomadic Lifestyles
Custom Wedding Dress Deliveries
Floravere Offers Luxury Tailored Wedding Gowns On Demand
Recycled Kitchen Cabinets
The IKEA Kungsbacka Cabinet is Made from Recycled Materials
VR Language-Learning Apps
Mondly Uses Immersion to Teach Users New Languages
Serene Toy Store Environments
Toys R Us Stores' 'Quiet Hour' is for Children Affected by Autism
Energy-Saving Concept Stores
IKEA's New London Store Will Be Dedicated to Sustainability
Bag-In-Box Water Packages
The AquaViBox Packages Water in a Box for Easy Dispensing
Securely Balanced Wheelchairs
The 'Scewo' Accessible Wheelchair Climbs Stairs and Elevates
Arm-Powered Wheelchair Tricycles
The 'H.A.N.D.I.' Wheelchair Bike Enhances Mobility Capabilities
Athletic No-Tie Shoelaces
The 'CoolKnot' Shoelaces are Great for Wearers of All Kinds
Internet Culture Coloring Books
The 'Holy Meme Bible' is a Web-Inspired Illustrated Coloring Book
Stylish Recycled Swimwear
The Reformation Swimwear Collection is Made from 85% Recycled Materials
Language-Teaching Robots
The EMYS Interactive Robots Help Your Child Learn a Foreign Language
Contactless Donation Benches
These 'Smart Benches' Offer a Unique Way to Donate to Cancer Research
Eco-Friendly Cardboard Caskets
AB Crémation Makes Eco Caskets Out of Recycled Paper
Eco-Friendly Coffee Pods
The New Percol Coffee Capsules are Capable of Being Composted
Era-Specific Coloring Books
The Card Architect's 90s Coloring Book Pays Tribute to Famous TV
Anti-Trump Chocolate Bars
The Not My President Candy Bars Support Social Organizations
Refugee Camp Production Centers
IKEA Will Soon Be Offering Employment Opportunities for Refugees
Smoothie-Making Vending Machines
The TropiFruit Smoothie Machine Dispenses Freshly Made Smoothies
Emoji-Decoding Bots
On Twitter, 'Botmoji' Helps Users Decipher Emoji Meanings
Charitable Political Ales
Northern Maverick Brewing's 'Fake News Ale' Uses a Donald Trump Cartoon
Craft Coffee Vending Machines
Second Cup's Barista-to-Go Concept Allows for Self-Serve Orders
Mascot Rapper T-Shirts
BAPE Joined with Kid Cudi, Big Sean and Travis Scott for a New Line
Emoji-Based Supermarket Apps
The New Rewe App Allows Customers to Search for Items by Emoji
Paraplegic Fitness Systems
The 'OLYMPIA' Upper Body Workout System is for Wheelchair Athletes
Rehabilitative Adult E-Tricycles
The CERO E-Tricycle is for Adults with Various Medical Conditions
Handmade Teepee Pet Houses
The Wild and Loyal 'Pet Teepee' Pet House Bed Comes in Two Sizes
Poignant Life Vest Igloos
Greek Artist Achilleas Souras Builds Igloos Out of Refugee Life Vests
Home Furnishing Gift Registries
IKEA is Introducing a Gift Registry Service for Special Occasions
Clever Animal Adoption Campaigns
This Pedigree Campaign Prompts Parents to Get a Shelter Dog
Forty-Ounce Wine Bottles
Forty Ounce Wine Only Offers Large Wine Bottles
Resurrected 90s Virtual Pets
The Bandai Tamagotchi Toy Pet is Being Re-Released
Recycled Refugee-Made Bags
Refugees Make the BAG2WORK Bags from Recycled Life Vests and Boats
Actor-Honoring Activity Books
'Do I Hate Being Right All the Time' is Jeff Goldblum-Themed
Breathable Recycled Plastic Shirts
Phunkshun Wear's Shirts Are Made from Recycled Bottles
Culturally Specific Sportswear
This Active Wear Was Designed for Women Who Dress Modestly
Clog-Deterring Drain Filters
The 'ShowerShroom' Drain Hair Catcher Makes Cleaning a Cinch
Natural Burial Boutiques
'Dying to Bloom' Helps Consumers Host Green Burials
Motivational Sportswear Discounts
This Incentive Encourages People to Save Money By Getting Fit
Disney-Themed Adult Coloring Books
Color by Disney is Available Through an App
Bespoke Wedding Gown Deliveries
This Company Delivers Handmade Couture Wedding Dresses
Drag Queen Coloring Books
'Drag Queens of the South' is a Performance-Focused Coloring Book
Vending Machine Beacons
mBeaconVend Introduces a New Way to Accept Vending Machine Money
Completely Compostable Coffee Pods
Muskoka Roastery's Coffee Pods Completely Biodegrade in 84 Days
Commemorative Canadian Tunnels
Hello Wood's Freedom Tunnel is a Memorial Shaped Like a Maple Leaf
Origami Vending Machines
These Japanese Vending Machines Mark Cultural Celebrations
Dog-Friendly Ice Cream Parlors
Don Paletto Makes Frozen Treats for Sharing with One's Pooch
Pet Waste Management Collections
Earth Rated's Collection Conveniences the Lives of Pet Owners
Lowbrow Wine Branding
The Forty Ounce Rosé Wines are Packaged Like Malt Liquor
Urban Eco Burial Initiatives
Colombia University's DeathLab Seeks to Resolve Overcrowding Issues
Refugee-Integrating Accelerators
Lola Lik is an Ideas Hub Bringing Locals and Refugees Together
Arabic Emoji Games
The New Wain Waleed Game Functions as an Extension of the Halla Walla App
LGBT Self-Defense Classes
This Brazilian Martial Arts School Helps Women and LGBT People
Project-Based Coding Programs
'code bigly' Lets Users Learn Computer Programming from Experts
Organic Pizza Topping Promotions
Papa John's is Testing Organic Vegetable Toppings
Charitable Design Auctions
The GlasLove Initiative Raises Money for Cancer Through Glass Artwork
Low-Sugar Sparkling Wines
The Carlo Gancia Leggero Prosecco Wine is a Lighter Libation Option
Juice-Only Vending Machines
The Oranfresh Vending Machines Dispense Freshly Squeezed Juice
Cancer-Fighting Restaurant Campaigns
Arooga's is Donating to the 'Feel Your Boobies Foundation'
Superfood Nail Polish Sets
This NAILS INC. Polish Has the Same Ingredients as an Acai Bowl
Massive Emoji Conventions
'Emojicon' Celebrates the Popular Digital Runes
Presidential Lie Detectors
'Poli-Graph' Tracks Donald Trump's Mendacity in Office
Modern Masculine Ski Wear
Moncler's Winter Collection Includes Heavy-Duty Parkas, Sweaters & More
Dementia-Friendly Airports
Heathrow Airport Marks World Alzheimers Day with New Policies
Water Purification Pods
The 'GoPure Pod' Water Filtration Device Treats Up to 264-Gallons of H2O
Online Language-Learning Platforms
LingQ Lets You Learn Languages Online With Digital Content
Collaborative Influencer Clubs
This Club in the City is a Place for Entrepreneurs to Connect
Single-Serve Wine Pouches
The Mifuwi Wine Products are Conveniently Packaged in a Pouch
Refugee Catering Services
This Catering Company Hires Refugee Chefs to Cook Cultural Dishes
Abstract Plank Wine Racks
The Dakota Leaning 24 Bottle Wine Rack Stores Bottles Obscurely
Educational Condom Vending Machines
These Vending Machines are Designed to Promote Safe Sex
Stress-Relieving Coloring Campaigns
The Art with Edge Campaign Helped Students Relieve Exam Stress
Charitable Reflective Jackets
ADIFF Offers Reversible Jackets for Socially Conscious Consumers
Emoji Language Courses
This App for Learning Language Teased an Emoji Course for April Fool's Day
Entrepreneurial Refugee Campaigns
Little Dragon Media Offers Programs That Help Refugees Find Work
Simplified Funeral-Arranging Apps
Umer is a Funeral Planning App and Niche Business Concept
Recycled Plastics Aquatic Wear
PINKFISH is Targeted at Consumers Who Enjoy Underwater Activities
Charitable Jewelry Sets
The Lokai Pact is a Collection of Bracelets That Supports a Good Cause
Presidential Business Visualizations
The 'Trump Connections' Map Shows the President's Network
Auto-Inspired Robotic Leg Braces
Toyota Designed an Innovative Design to Help Stroke Patients Walk
Unbiased Political Apps
This App Fosters Political Engagement Among Millennial Voters
Enshrined Emoji Art
MoMA Has Added Shigetaka Kurita's Original Emojis to Its Permanent Collection
Inclusive Emoji Apps
The Love-Moji App Embraces Same-Sex, Mixed-Race Couples
Intelligent Emoji Suggestion Apps
Smart Smiley for Google Allo Analyzes Chats and Suggests Emojis
Refugee Child Animated Stories
'Unfairy Tales' Reveal the Lives of Refugee and Migrant Children
Vending Machine Apps
'Acure Pass' Allows One to Pre-Purchase Drinks from a Smartphone
Buggy Ballpark Snacks
Safeco Field's Toasted Grasshoppers are the Strangest Snack in MLB
Calendar-Syncing Rideshares
The Lyft App Will Now Offer Calendar Integration to Save Time
Emotional Real Beauty Ads
This Dove Campaign Commercial Shows Men React to Models & Loved Ones
Sustainable Organic Cold Coffees
The Hatch Cold Brew Coffee is 100% Fair Trade
Convenience Marriage Apps
iHomo Helps Chinese LGBT Users Appease Their Families and Employers
Refugee-Made Meal Services
'Newcomer Kitchen' Provides Syrian Refugees with a Business Oportunity
Death Planning Apps
The Cake App Helps People Get Their Affairs in Order Before Death
Romantic Funeral Wreaths
Saint Jo Flowers Offers Witty Valentine's Day Flowers with Funereal Text
Pet Console Pranks
For April Fool's Day, Amazon Introduced 'Petlexa' for the Echo
Charitable Clothing Collaborations
This Brand Partners with New Designers Each Month
Luminous Pink Towers
Dubai's Burj Khalifa is Turning Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2016
Smart Pet Doors
SureFlap's Door for Pets Can Be Controlled by a Smartphone
Thanksgiving Friendship Kits
IKEA and Uber Helped People Celebrate Thanksgiving with Friends
Death Discussion Groups
Death Cafe Initiates Accessible, Confidential Discussions About Mortality
Organic Fur Fresheners
LoyalCanineCo's 'Wild One' Pet Mist Boasts Essential Oil Ingredients
Celebrity Homemaker Wine Services
Martha Stewart Wine Co. is an Online Shop Curated by Stewart
Luxurious Jacquard Loafers
These Jacquard Shoes from Zara Add Instant Sophistication to Outfits
Self-Tanning Face Wipes
Tarte Cosmetics' Tanning Towelettes Nourish and Add a Glow to the Skin
Empathic Refugee VR Experiences
The United Nations' UNVR App Aims to Increase Volunteer Numbers
Experience and Innovation
Sally Burrell, Innovation Consultant at Burrell Fox
Swedish Smart Lights
The Trådfri Connected Smart Light System is IKEA's First Smart Home Product
Connective Politics Apps
The Fireside App Connects Americans With Their Political Leaders
Death Acceptance Communities
The Order of the Good Death Aims to Decrease Anxiety Over Dying
Sustainable Airplane Blankets
Emirates' ecoTHREAD Blankets are Made of Recycled Plastic Bottles
Business-Focused Ridesharing Features
Uber Central is Designed for Businesses' Clients
Cancer-Fighting Sweatpants
Veritas and Lazypants Teamed Up on a Campaign for Cancer Research
Battle-Inspired Bedtime Commercials
IKEA's Newest Advert Shares How to "Win at Sleeping"
Syrian Family-Reuniting Ads
The Air Canada Commercial Brings a Syrian Refugee Family Peace
Breast Cancer-Fighting Biscuits
Bojangles' Bo-Berry Biscuits are Going Pink for a Good Cause
Autistic Jobseeker PSAs
This Video Shows What It's Like for Autistic Adults Looking for Employment
Christmas Assassination Missions
Hitman's Holiday Hoarders Mission is a Special Christmas Release
Emoji Domain Search Tools
This Website Searches for Domain Names with Just Emoji Codes
LGBT Latin Festivals
This Miami Festival is Aimed at Creating a Fun, Inclusive Space for Visitors
Ergonomic Wheelchair Wheels
The Rowheels REV-LX Wheels Engage Bigger Muscles For Reduced Fatigue
Pink Pasta Promotions
This School is Serving Up Pink Pasta for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Mortality Discussion Events
Death Over Dinner Initiates Discussions About This Inevitable Event
Refugee-Aiding Hotlines
This 24 Hour Hotline Helps Syrian Refugees Crossing the Mediterranean
Patience-Encouraging Autism PSAs
This Short Video Shows How Overwhelming Some Interactions Can Be