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68 Technological Social Innovations

From Energy-Producing Playgrounds to Crowdsourcing SMS Water

— July 16, 2013 — Social Good
From energy-producing playgrounds to crowdsourcing SMS water, these technological social innovations meld the digital and the social. One of the most recent examples, similar to the text messaging system that helps to create clean water systems, also uses the crowd but this time to fund it. Flip Our Class is a project created in part through Andrew Jackson High School in Florida by a teacher.

Other technological social innovations include international scalable water systems and cashless microfinance institutions that also use cellphones. While technology seems to be the answer—or perhaps the savior—these days to any and all social problems (and sometimes social problems that are merely created), the answer isn’t always technological and sometimes it serves to ask a new question.
6.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
68
Bond-Creating Community Networks
Bond-Creating Community Networks
Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership is Holistic
<
67
Community-Building Software
Community-Building Software
Azavea Mobile Applications Work to Build Utopian Societies
<
66
Communication-Aiding Equipment
Communication-Aiding Equipment
Action Deafness Tech Provides Tools That Better Lives Across the UK
<
65
Sustainability Consulting Services
Sustainability Consulting Services
Anderson Brown Helps Companies Embrace Benevolent Business
<
64
Tech-Focused Continent Narratives
Tech-Focused Continent Narratives
The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative Promotes Entrepreneurship
<
63
Social Production Initiatives
Social Production Initiatives
The Middle Class Financial Empowerment Project Focuses on Wealth
<
62
Campus Innovation Sites
Campus Innovation Sites
Innovacracy.org Partners with Universities Creating Positive Social Change
<
61
Ambitious Altruistic Energy Ventures
Ambitious Altruistic Energy Ventures
Barefoot Power Provides Affordable Renewable Light Sources
<
60
Aqua-Sharing Initiatives
Aqua-Sharing Initiatives
Group EOZ Creates UVtap to Filter Drinking Water in Rural Areas
<
59
Mobile-Enhanced Giving
Mobile-Enhanced Giving
'mGood' Allows Non-Profits to Create Text Message Campaigns
<
58
Crowdsourced For-Purpose Conferences
Crowdsourced For-Purpose Conferences
The 2012 Social Good Summit Covers A Range of World Issues
<
57
Majority World Software
Majority World Software
Dimagi Uses Open Source Technology to Solve Global Problems
<
56
Cause Mentorship
Cause Mentorship
The Canadian Social Entrepreneurship Foundation Invests in Innovation
<
55
Purpose-Driven DNA Tests
Purpose-Driven DNA Tests
The GameChangers 500 Ranks Heart-Centered Social Businesses
<
54
Globally Involved Enterprises
Globally Involved Enterprises
HP Global Social Innovation Benefits the World Through Community
<
53
Youth Innovation Platforms
Youth Innovation Platforms
Impact Generation Offers Training and Entrepreneurial Skill-Building
<
52
Health Care Smart Cards
Health Care Smart Cards
Changamka Microhealth Ltd is an Outpatient Company in Kenya
<
51
Dairy Farming e-Businesses
Dairy Farming e-Businesses
Akashganga Creates Technologies for Cooperatives in India
<
50
Social Enterprise Software
Social Enterprise Software
Benetech is a U.S.-Based Nonprofit Technology Company
<
49
Good Karma Web Dev
Good Karma Web Dev
PICnet Offers Tech Services for Non-Profits and Social Businesses
<
48
Digital Rural Medicine
Digital Rural Medicine
mDiagnostica Leverages Mobile Tech for More Efficient Healthcare
<
47
Green Phone Companies
Green Phone Companies
Credo Mobile Is Gentle on The Planet and Donates 1% of Fees to Causes
<
46
Cancer-Killing Citizen Science
Cancer-Killing Citizen Science
Cell Slider Brings Together People to Help Identify Cancer Cells
<
45
Women-Focused Health Technologies
Women-Focused Health Technologies
Zubaida Bai's AYZH is an India-Based Social Venture
<
44
Altruistic Organic Fertilizer Technology
Altruistic Organic Fertilizer Technology
Byoearth is a Social Venture Preserving the Planet
<
43
Green Java Distributors
Green Java Distributors
Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers Helps Farmers Succeed
<
42
Online Education Charities
Online Education Charities
Brightside Offers Mentoring and Tutoring on the Web
<
41
Illuminating Lifesavers
Illuminating Lifesavers
The Solar-Powered BoGo Light Promotes World Growth and Sustainment
<
40
Women-Owned Web Design
Women-Owned Web Design
YIKES, Inc. is a Competitive and Sustainable Business
<
39
Cashless Microfinance
Cashless Microfinance
Musoni Delivers Banking Services by Way of Cellphones
<
38
Nigerian Entrepreneurship Incubators
Nigerian Entrepreneurship Incubators
The Co-Creation Hub Helps Foster Social Innovation in Lagos
<
37
Comprehensive Vision Care Access
Comprehensive Vision Care Access
Aravind Eye Hospital Combats Needless Blindness in Rural India
<
36
Portable Anemia Scanners
Portable Anemia Scanners
The Biosense ToucHb Administers a Blood Test with no Prick
<
35
Crowdsourcing H2O Texts
Crowdsourcing H2O Texts
NextDrop Uses SMS to Make Water Service More Reliable in India
<
34
Urban Housing Banks
Urban Housing Banks
Jamii Bora is a Microfinance Institution Based in Nairobi, Kenya
<
33
POS Social Enterprises
POS Social Enterprises
Frogtek Uses Cellphones to Bring Tools to Small-Scale Retailers
<
32
Technological Literacy Programs
Technological Literacy Programs
‘121 Women and Computers' Teaches Valuable Employment
<
31
Youth Empowering Tech Workshops
Youth Empowering Tech Workshops
Coderise Wants to Teach Kids in Latin America How to Code
<
30
Social Enterprise Irrigation Systems
Social Enterprise Irrigation Systems
Driptech is a International Water Technologies Company
<
29
Multi-Faceted Violence Ads
Multi-Faceted Violence Ads
This ANAR Campaign Shows a Different Message to Kids and Adults
<
28
Scalable Water Systems
Scalable Water Systems
WaterHealth International Attempts to Improve Access to Potable Water
<
27
Environmentally Conscious Heating
Environmentally Conscious Heating
BioLite Provides Clean and Affordable Energy Worldwide
<
26
Teen-Oriented Crisis Text Lines
Teen-Oriented Crisis Text Lines
Do Something is a Social Impact Organization Collaborating Online
<
25
Hunger-Eliminating Social Media
Hunger-Eliminating Social Media
FlashFood Turns Restaurant Leftovers into Meals for the Hungry
<
24
Social Good Entertainment
Social Good Entertainment
Global Good Games Aims to Shift the Video Gaming Paradigm
<
23
Chic Eco Water Bottles
Chic Eco Water Bottles
These Glass Bottles from bkr Provide Water to Developing Countries
<
22
Focus-Changing Glasses
Focus-Changing Glasses
Eyejusters Adjustable Readers Help Vision Needs of Developing World
<
21
Alternative Micro-Investment Platforms
Alternative Micro-Investment Platforms
InVenture Helps Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries
<
20
Gamefied Sustainable Living Apps
Gamefied Sustainable Living Apps
Practically Green Provides Simple and Personalized Green Tips
<
19
Social Advisory Firms
Social Advisory Firms
Intellecap is a ‘Think and Do' Tank With Market-Based Strategies
<
18
Indian Water-Saving Technology
Indian Water-Saving Technology
GEWP Allows Farmers to Yield More Crops and Create More Jobs
<
17
Franchised H2O Solutions
Franchised H2O Solutions
Sarvajal Aims to Solve the Clean Water Problem in India
<
16
Affordable Solar Light Alternatives
Affordable Solar Light Alternatives
WAKAWAKA is an Innovative Lamp for Those Without Electricity
<
15
Organic Shade-Grown Coffee
Organic Shade-Grown Coffee
Ethical Bean Sells Fair Trade and Socially-Responsible Products
<
14
Remote Healthcare Technologies
Remote Healthcare Technologies
iKure is a Kolkata-Based Delivery Platform for India
<
13
Empowering H20 Nonprofits
Empowering H20 Nonprofits
Community Water Solutions Opens Women-Run Businesses in West Africa
<
12
Life-Saving Baby Bags
Life-Saving Baby Bags
The Embrace Infant Warmer Costs Less than 1% of Regular Incubators
<
11
Water Creating Billboards
Water Creating Billboards
This Eco-Friendly Advertising Creates Clean Drinking Water from Humidity
<
10
Digital Therapy Apps
Digital Therapy Apps
Buddy is a Start-Up Supporting Health Services
<
9
Plastic-Ridding Projects
Plastic-Ridding Projects
Hydros is a Social Enterprise Helping to Tackle the Global Water Crisis
<
8
Sustainable Shade Systems
Sustainable Shade Systems
Skyshade is an Indian Social Business Capturing the Sun
<
7
Low-Cost Solar Lanterns
Low-Cost Solar Lanterns
D.Light Design Wins Ashden Award for a Lamp Brighter than Kerosene
<
6
Energy Poverty Entrepreneurs
Energy Poverty Entrepreneurs
Solar Sister Targets Women to Sell Lamps and Improve Livelihoods
<
5
Pay-As-You-Go Renewable Energy
Pay-As-You-Go Renewable Energy
Angaza Design Makes Clean Energy Accessible Off the Grid
<
4
Energy-Producing Playgrounds
Energy-Producing Playgrounds
TGO Green Energy Gym Technology Harnesses People-Power
<
3
Upcycled Wooden Audio Gear
Upcycled Wooden Audio Gear
LSTN Headphones Benefit Deaf Children in Need
<
2
One-for-One Tees
One-for-One Tees
Out of Print Marries Lost Literary Covers with Book Donations
<
1
Majority World Tech Incubators
Majority World Tech Incubators
D-Rev Designs Solution-Driven Products for Low-Income Customers
<