Projects on the Move
Projects on the Move
RapidSMS offers a flexible framework for developing SMS-based applications, and PhoneGap streamlines the art of cross-platform app development.
When you think of UNICEF, you probably don’t think about innovation, which is actually one of the organization’s core values [1]. UNICEF has helped develop everything from birthing kits to solar-powered cold storage units. In fact, in 2009, UNICEF was awarded the Gov 2.0 Summit Award [2] for RapidSMS, a free, open source framework for developing SMS-based applications [3].
RapidSMS isn’t something you download and start using. Instead, RapidSMS is a Django and Python-based framework that can be customized for diverse data collection,
workflow, and group coordination functionality. The software is designed to work on any phone that can send and receive text messages and is intended to be customized for governments and humanitarian organizations working in geographically remote areas with limited infrastructure, such as roads and electricity. In October 2008, RapidSMS played an integral role in UNICEF’s efforts to distribute high-protein food (Plumpy’nut) to 1,800 food centers in drought-crippled Ethiopia [4]. Before using RapidSMS, aid monitors collected data, such as the amount of food received and distributed, but there could be several weeks of delay between when the data was collected and analyzed and any follow-up actions, such as sending additional supplies. RapidSMS helped eliminate the delay, which is no small task when you are dealing with 193,130 cartons of Plumpy'nut from 1,852 distribution centers.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Latest Cinnamon Desktop Releases with a Bold New Look
Just in time for the holidays, the developer of the Cinnamon desktop has shipped a new release to help spice up your eggnog with new features and a new look.
-
Armbian 24.11 Released with Expanded Hardware Support
If you've been waiting for Armbian to support OrangePi 5 Max and Radxa ROCK 5B+, the wait is over.
-
SUSE Renames Several Products for Better Name Recognition
SUSE has been a very powerful player in the European market, but it knows it must branch out to gain serious traction. Will a name change do the trick?
-
ESET Discovers New Linux Malware
WolfsBane is an all-in-one malware that has hit the Linux operating system and includes a dropper, a launcher, and a backdoor.
-
New Linux Kernel Patch Allows Forcing a CPU Mitigation
Even when CPU mitigations can consume precious CPU cycles, it might not be a bad idea to allow users to enable them, even if your machine isn't vulnerable.
-
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.5 Released
Notify your friends, loved ones, and colleagues that the latest version of RHEL is available with plenty of enhancements.
-
Linux Sees Massive Performance Increase from a Single Line of Code
With one line of code, Intel was able to increase the performance of the Linux kernel by 4,000 percent.
-
Fedora KDE Approved as an Official Spin
If you prefer the Plasma desktop environment and the Fedora distribution, you're in luck because there's now an official spin that is listed on the same level as the Fedora Workstation edition.
-
New Steam Client Ups the Ante for Linux
The latest release from Steam has some pretty cool tricks up its sleeve.
-
Gnome OS Transitioning Toward a General-Purpose Distro
If you're looking for the perfectly vanilla take on the Gnome desktop, Gnome OS might be for you.