Where are the Social Innovation Camp Projects at?
We went back to the different teams from the 8 ideas that came to the 1st Australian Social Innovation Camp and asked them about their progress in the past 2 months.
These are the updates from the first group of ideas:
Tools4Good What developments have happened since the camp? By the end of the SICamp we had a functional website that was searchable and had almost half of our social innovation resources uploaded. We decided to take it down to improve the functionality of the site and to develop the design a little bit more. We have a volunteer, Aimee Maree continuing to develop the Drupal Content Management System and refining the site architecture. We have a full day workshop this weekend when we hope to be near completion of Phase 1. Here is the estimated schedule of the next development phases.
FlavourCrusader (aka What's for Dinner?) What developments have happened since the camp? I've applied for TACSI (The Australian Centre for Social Innovation) funding. Regardless of the outcome it has been beneficial to focus thinking about the service and maintaining momentum. I've bought a few books and read up on advice from camp mentors. I knew there was a piece of the puzzle missing and I've found it. I've plotted a diagram to outline the structure of the service. The service is such a big idea, it helps when talking to people about it to point at something physical. It shows the relationships between the different stages and levels of engagement and knowledge. I've also created a few other cartoons and diagrams to communicate the service at a human experience level. I've started to connect with stakeholders: Sydney Markets, Food Connect and Australian Farmers' Markets Association. They are able to help me liaise with *their* stakeholders: greengrocers, farmers’ markets, farmers and customers. Technical specification is underway for stage one, the spruiks. The idea has been picked up by an old friend who happens to be a cracking CTO. I thought the location aware mobile application was a stage five thing, but it's in stage one. Very exciting! I've connected with a nutritionist who is devoted to helping busy people cook. She also shares a healthy attitude towards eating; I'm excited because I know she is the perfect fit. Oh yes, and two hours before the TACSI application was due I finally came up with a brand name. "What's for Dinner?" is now "FlavourCrusader". That was an "OHMYGOD!" moment. 3 phone calls in 5 minutes to a friend. Rapid email exchanges to another in Amsterdam. Domain names bought. Social web usernames secured. Flash movie url link modified. TACSI application uploaded. Phew! "What's for Dinner?" connotes the problem, "FlavourCrusader" is the solution. We are Knights of the Dinner Table! What are the next steps you are hoping to take? Being disciplined and working on the idea part-time... maybe because the TACSI application was due only a few weeks after camp, I put off client work until the end of last week. NAUGHTY!
Refugee Buddy What developments have happened since the camp? The team has worked on cleaning up the code and functioning of the site, we have met, and have a strategy for attracting some funding and a plan for an action research pilot, which we now need to start working on. What are the main things you are looking support for at this moment? Support in selling the idea to the organisations who will hopefully be our pilot participants, and our stakeholders going forward. What are the next steps you are hoping to take? Getting a small amount of funding to allow a pilot to take place and then running it successfully so that a full scale plan can be worked out.
Car Pooling Database What developments have happened since the camp? I have been gathering intelligence on car pooling developments in Australia including learning about the effectiveness of a new car pooling scheme set up by a number of councils in Northern NSW (www.nrcarpool.com). I am also identifying potential partners for the establishment of the community association, "abetterwaytogo" inc. What are the main things you are looking support for at this moment? I need some pro-bono hours from IT developers to prepare the two websites as demonstrated as wireframes in my Sunday presentation at the camp. A virtual presence for the concept is essential to drive interest. What are the next steps you are hoping to take? Find IT pro-bono support then use the websites to promote the association with a view to incorporation. I am building a community of advocates through a discussion forum on-line.
Tools4Good What developments have happened since the camp? By the end of the SICamp we had a functional website that was searchable and had almost half of our social innovation resources uploaded. We decided to take it down to improve the functionality of the site and to develop the design a little bit more. We have a volunteer, Aimee Maree continuing to develop the Drupal Content Management System and refining the site architecture. We have a full day workshop this weekend when we hope to be near completion of Phase 1. Here is the estimated schedule of the next development phases.
- Phase 1: Full static site, involving simple search functionality and navigation and no sign-in to access information (June, 2010)
- Phase 2: Hosting of an online community and associated user-generated content and evaluation (June, 2010)
- Phase 3: Launch of an Application Programming Interface (API) and/or widget (September, 2010)
- Phase 4: Upgrade to a global toolbox with national (e.g. Australian) sub-directories (2011 – possibly in conjunction with the Social Innovation Exchange, Idealist.org, Ideaencore and Wiserearth)
FlavourCrusader (aka What's for Dinner?) What developments have happened since the camp? I've applied for TACSI (The Australian Centre for Social Innovation) funding. Regardless of the outcome it has been beneficial to focus thinking about the service and maintaining momentum. I've bought a few books and read up on advice from camp mentors. I knew there was a piece of the puzzle missing and I've found it. I've plotted a diagram to outline the structure of the service. The service is such a big idea, it helps when talking to people about it to point at something physical. It shows the relationships between the different stages and levels of engagement and knowledge. I've also created a few other cartoons and diagrams to communicate the service at a human experience level. I've started to connect with stakeholders: Sydney Markets, Food Connect and Australian Farmers' Markets Association. They are able to help me liaise with *their* stakeholders: greengrocers, farmers’ markets, farmers and customers. Technical specification is underway for stage one, the spruiks. The idea has been picked up by an old friend who happens to be a cracking CTO. I thought the location aware mobile application was a stage five thing, but it's in stage one. Very exciting! I've connected with a nutritionist who is devoted to helping busy people cook. She also shares a healthy attitude towards eating; I'm excited because I know she is the perfect fit. Oh yes, and two hours before the TACSI application was due I finally came up with a brand name. "What's for Dinner?" is now "FlavourCrusader". That was an "OHMYGOD!" moment. 3 phone calls in 5 minutes to a friend. Rapid email exchanges to another in Amsterdam. Domain names bought. Social web usernames secured. Flash movie url link modified. TACSI application uploaded. Phew! "What's for Dinner?" connotes the problem, "FlavourCrusader" is the solution. We are Knights of the Dinner Table! What are the next steps you are hoping to take? Being disciplined and working on the idea part-time... maybe because the TACSI application was due only a few weeks after camp, I put off client work until the end of last week. NAUGHTY!
- User experience activities The camp and then TACSI callout occurred rapidly; UX activities were left by the wayside. It's priority now.
- Business modelling Beyond startup, the service must be able to pay for its overheads and help fund the subsequent stages. This needs to be plotted.
- Project communication toolkit Developing communication tools so people can see its value in relation to themselves or their industry.
- Attain funding
FlavourCrusader is a large project and won't get off the ground by kind developers moonlighting. It's much more involved than just technology. We're dealing with people's health, livelihoods and overcoming barriers to change behaviour. There are audience research workshops, rollout and community engagement stages to plot.
For funding, I'm looking at organisations with a stake in
- improving peoples' health
- improving the consumer experience of fresh food, in particular fruit, vegetables and fish
- improving the competitiveness of small business
- supporting innovation and technology
- becoming responsible corporate citizens
- Identification, preparation and submission of private enterprise proposals
- Identification, preparation and submission of Government grant applications
- Project plan, budgeting and logistics
Refugee Buddy What developments have happened since the camp? The team has worked on cleaning up the code and functioning of the site, we have met, and have a strategy for attracting some funding and a plan for an action research pilot, which we now need to start working on. What are the main things you are looking support for at this moment? Support in selling the idea to the organisations who will hopefully be our pilot participants, and our stakeholders going forward. What are the next steps you are hoping to take? Getting a small amount of funding to allow a pilot to take place and then running it successfully so that a full scale plan can be worked out.
Car Pooling Database What developments have happened since the camp? I have been gathering intelligence on car pooling developments in Australia including learning about the effectiveness of a new car pooling scheme set up by a number of councils in Northern NSW (www.nrcarpool.com). I am also identifying potential partners for the establishment of the community association, "abetterwaytogo" inc. What are the main things you are looking support for at this moment? I need some pro-bono hours from IT developers to prepare the two websites as demonstrated as wireframes in my Sunday presentation at the camp. A virtual presence for the concept is essential to drive interest. What are the next steps you are hoping to take? Find IT pro-bono support then use the websites to promote the association with a view to incorporation. I am building a community of advocates through a discussion forum on-line.
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