Ericsson Review is also published onthe Web. Visit us atwww.ericsson.<strong>com</strong>/review.56 Ericsson Review No. 2, 2000
EditorialEric PetersonThe purpose of Ericsson Review is to reporton the research, development and productionachievements made in tele<strong>com</strong>municationstechnology at Ericsson. The purposeof this column, on the other hand varies,but I generally attempt to tie technology toreal-life applications—I often employ"what if" scenarios to describe how I hopewe might benefit from technology. I alsouse this space to give voice to different personalitiesat Ericsson. In this issue, however,I want to use this column to highlighttwo programs initiated and funded byEricsson that promote the use of technologyfor the express purpose of helping peoplein need.ERICANow in its second year, the Ericsson InternetCommunity Awards (ERICA) program seeksto transcend borders by using the Internetand technology as a platform for exchangingideas and information, while building a<strong>com</strong>munity that is based on cooperation, innovationand partnership. The ERICA programgrew out of Ericsson's strong <strong>com</strong>mitmentto use technology to connectpeople and improve lives. Ericsson is bridgingthe digital divide by developing Internet-basedapplications to expand and increasephilanthropic goals and aspirations ofnon-profit organizations. The ERICA 1999winners were:• The National Library for the Blind (NLB),Stockport, UK—Dedicated to ensuringthat visually impaired people get the sameaccess to library services as sighted people,the NLB will improve its websitewith the latest database technology to createa well-stocked bookshop online thatpresents information on new books in anexciting, dynamic and revolutionary way.• Medical Training Worldwide, Novato,CA, USA—In order to teach modernsurgery, anesthesia, and critical care techniquesto physicians and nurses in developingcountries, Medical TrainingWorldwide will create an online databaseto assist in the collection of donated medicalequipment, coordinate physicians/nurse volunteers and search for areas inneed of medical training.• Kids HealthLINK, San Francisco, CA,USA—With the ERICA program, KidsHealthLink will broaden the support andresources available to children from lowin<strong>com</strong>ehouseholds living with severe illnesses,such as cancer and HIV/AIDS.After their release from the hospital, childrenwill be able to <strong>com</strong>municate via personale-mail accounts with their physiciansand school-based peers and other recoveringchildren.Ericsson ResponseThis past April, Ericsson announcedEricsson Response, a global initiative aimed atdeveloping better and faster response tohuman suffering caused by disasters. Thisinitiative formalizes Ericsson's <strong>com</strong>mitmentto the issue based on its previous involvementin and experience of various disasterresponse efforts throughout the world.Throughout our history, Ericsson hasbeen involved in numerous disaster responseefforts. Recent experiences range from providingmobile base stations for refugeecamps during the Kosovo crisis and reinstallingdamaged tele<strong>com</strong> equipment forearthquake victims in Turkey, to providingphones to flood victims in Venezuela.Ericsson Response includes the followinginitiatives:1. Ericsson offices around the world are establishinglocal disaster preparedness programsin partnership with the United NationsDevelopment Program (UNDP),the Office for the Coordination of HumanitarianAffairs (OCHA), and the InternationalFederation of Red Cross andRed Crescent Societies (IFRC).2. Rapid deployment <strong>com</strong>munications solutionswill be developed that en<strong>com</strong>passEricsson technologies to support and respondto the unique <strong>com</strong>municationschallenges of each disaster.3 • The development of an Ericsson Responsevolunteer program will give employeesthe opportunity to be<strong>com</strong>e involved in responseefforts.4. The initiation of a global issue advocacycampaign with the aim of increasingawareness and rallying support for disasterresponse as a means of driving additionalcorporate involvement in the issue.5. Ericsson is hosting a virtual Web-based<strong>com</strong>munity for knowledge managementand expertise on disaster response.6. Ericsson is gathering international expertiseon disaster response to garnerlessons learned and to share new technologiesfor <strong>com</strong>munications during disasters.7. Ericsson is sponsoring an ITU handbook:"Disaster Communications Handbook forDeveloping Countries."Eric PetersonEditorEricsson Review No. 2, 2000 57
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