Designing Future Solutions Listening to the Most Important Stakeholder

Emerging Technology for Emerging Needs

• Two-Year, Global Initiative• American Red Cross & IFRC

• Focused on Emerging Community Needs• Strengthening Urban Resilience

• Explored Emerging Consumer Technologies • Preparing for the Future

3

Emerging Technologies

3D printers Augmented reality software Biometric scanners Smart cars Smart homes Robots Unmanned aerial vehicles Wearable devices

Criteria for Resilience-Strengthening

Technology Solutions

• Multi-purpose• Human-centered• Accessible• Governed by trustworthy

leaders, systems and policies• Scalable or replicable• Sustainable• Resilient • Enhances six characteristics

Human-Centered Design Strategy

• Roadmap to trust and sustainability

• Research & development

• Community town halls• Expert workshops• Summits• Prototyping sessions

• Experiments• Advocacy

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Community Attitudes & Beliefs

Most comfortable or useful• Wearable devices• Unmanned aerial vehicles• 3D printers & biometric

scanners

Least comfortable or useful• Smart cars• Augmented reality software• Unmanned aerial vehicles

Resulting Priorities

• Engage local community members in the design, manufacturing and introduction of new technology solutions

• Support consumer access, management and ownership of emerging technology

• Research the impact of technology on community resilience

• Establish supportive policies, systems and guidance for the development and use of emerging technologies

• Invest first in four use cases that address actual barriers to resilience

Proposed Experiments

UAVs to temporarily restore communications networks and deliver relief items to isolated communities

• Ireland

Networked fire sensors with GPS locators to alert residents and responders

• Kenya & South Africa

Kiosks with biometric scanners to help people replace lost documentation, find loved ones and access assistance

• TBD

Wearable technology to provide early warning, assist with search and rescue, and reconnect loved ones

• Global

Questions for Discussion

Considering the human-centered design approach, what is the most appropriate and advantageous role for humanitarians to play in supporting the development, deployment and adoption of local solutions? Where can they add the most value to affected populations?

How can we improve the human-centered design approach so that it can be utilized rapidly in sudden on-set emergencies, at a cost that humanitarian organizations can afford and with greater coordination/less duplication?