What is HTC ?

IEEE Humanitarian Technology Challenge is a forum started by IEEE and the United Nations to address the need to bring together humanitarian organizations, first responders, technical experts, corporations and philanthropic groups to address critical issues for the benefit of the vulnerable sections humanity.

Structurally, HTC is a project of IEEE in collaboration with the UN Foundation and the Vodafone Foundation. The IEEE Foundation will also participate in the HTC.

Within IEEE, an HTC steering committee has been formed with eight members headed by J. Roberto de Marca, VP Technical Activities.as its chair. The Technical Societies are represented by Karl Perusich and the MGA by Michel Andrews.

HTC Plans

The project started in late 2007. In 2008, the UN foundation conducted a survey of requirements from the field, through personal interviews, sample surveys and focus group discussions. At the end of this process, 37 challenges were identified.

Of these challenges three were selected for initial implementation.
They are
(a) Reliable Electricity,
(b) Data Connectivity of Rural District Health Offices and
(c) Patient ID and Tie to Health Records.

A group of “Early Stage Participants” are currently working to detail out these challenges to the next level and develop a criteria for success. It is expected that this work will be complete by march 2008.
The next stage is Solution Identification and should be completed by the end of 2009. 2010 and 2011 will be devoted to development of products and services and implementing them in the field.

HTC in Aisa Pacific

The HTC Activities of R-10 began with the inclusion of an Execom Member exclusively for HTC by the Director Dr. YJ Park. Asia Pacific is an area very conducive for the successful implementation of the HTC program. On one hand, it has some of the most technologically advanced countries like Japan, Korea and Australia and on the other hand the region also has some of the most underdeveloped areas of the world.

A lot of Humanitarian Activities are already taking place within IEEE in this Region. These need to be collated and documented to form the starting point of our work in this area.

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