Comments on: Ushahidi website relaunched and other big news

By: Piervincenzo

Piervincenzo — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:37:21 +0000

Hello Ory
I just watched the video. It’s not at all easy to say how inspiring it it. Congratulations. I just wonder how the Africans who saw you on that video think. I say this because I live in southern Italy and there are lots of similar talks too. I mean talks about the fact that people should be responsible for the well-being of their region, their nation, etc
I’d like to download your video and add it to http://www.africanews.it with translation in Italian. Is this possible?

Cheers
Piervincenzo

By: Peter Njenga

Peter Njenga — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:53:22 +0000

I have just checked out Ushahidi.com.
The design is good, much more predicated on the user – which is what it should always be.
The language however needs to be toned down. Keep it simple. Straight from the heart and straight to the point.

Something less related to Ushahidi now. TED talks.
I have decided to be sharing the TED videos I have watched every week beginning this weekend. See my introduction of the TED Talks at http://peternjenga.blogspot.com/2008/09/ted-talks-ideas-worth-sharing.html

I shall embed and highlight your talk on becoming an activist tomorrow.
Cheers Ory!

By: Keguro

Keguro — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:57:09 +0000

Eh, you probably don’t need the help, but I have some time during the fall, and multiple degrees that certify I can translate most prose into readable English (well, depends on who you talk to). Send email if I can help.

By: haribika crew

haribika crew — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:54:21 +0000

Good job man, can’t wait for the whole thing to get working….

By: Vince

Vince — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:48:48 +0000

@ Woz – you are right, some people might run into problems understanding this. In a nutshell, what they saying is that Ushahidi plans to develop a platform (software or product) that will enable anybody to collect information freely and easily. This software or product will be easy to change or manipulate to fit everybody’s needs. The product or software will be available for all to add input and make changes as they deem fit (open source). This product or software will also be easily available for downloads. This software or product is intended to be user friendly and hence will help bring awareness.
I hope this helps.

I am positive Ory and her team will tweak the wording to make it simpler for people to understand.

By: hash

hash — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:08:36 +0000

Good point Woz, I tend to write like a tech blogger, even for normal websites…

I’ve updated the about page’s language to (hopefully) be a little more clear to all the non-techies out there.

By: Ory Okolloh

Ory Okolloh — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:06:00 +0000

It’s not harsh Woz…it’s a valid point – will work on simplifying the language a bit. Cheers.

By: Woz

Woz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:26:47 +0000

have just looked at the ‘About Us’ section on the Ushahidi site and this is what it says:

‘The new Ushahidi Engine is being created to …… to create a platform that allows anyone around the world to set up their own way to collect and visualize information. The core platform will allow for plug-in and extensions so that it can be customized for different locales and needs. This tool will be tested and made available as an open source application that others can download, implement and use to bring awareness to crises in their own region’

Forgive me if I am being very thick, bu what exactly does this mean in plain, simple English please? My gut feeling is that you/Ushaida are doing something worthwhile and worth supporting, but unles you are able to get your message across in simple, techie free language that the average Boniface or Wanjku (like me) can comprehend, Ushaida’s message will not get through.

Sorry if this sounds harsh…