The Technology that makes Smallbean run

The success of the Smallbean Citizen Archivist Project depends on our ability to deliver sustainable and cost-effective technology to locations throughout the developing world often lacking consistent access to electricity or other basic infrastructure. As a result, Smallbean relies heavily on corporate donations of used or refurbished technology (to keep costs low) and innovative technological solutions (allowing the Citizen Archivist Project to thrive in locations which would have been impossible just five years ago).

Highlighted to the right and below are the three major technology initiatives that Smallbean is currently pursuing:

• The MobileCAP, which has already been implemented at sites throughout Kenya and Tanzania, is a fully portable, solar-powered computer lab designed for low-cost installation in places like schools and libraries.

• The ESCARGO system, a much larger installation currently under development as part of a collaboration with Newton-Tanzania Collaborative and Design Museum Boston, provides a sustainable source of revenue generation while also powering a Smallbean computer lab.

• And finally, the Smallbean Android Application, also under development, combines the audio, video, and camera capabilities of the standard smartphone into a simple, easy to use, and efficient-to-power data collection device.