TEDxChapelHill: Open Source Technologies, Local Engagement, and Innovation for Global Health

Last week, the second annual TEDxChapelHill filled the Varsity Theatre in Chapel Hill, NC. The seven amazing speakers—from the fields of ICT4D (information, communication, and technology for development), mHealth, engineering and design, and medicine—talked about their projects, trials, and vision for the future. They spoke about the critical importance of local involvement, capacity building, end-user engagement, efficiency, a respect for low-tech solutions and high-tech innovative partnerships to make tools affordable and accessible.

 

I heard a lot that night about the value of polydisciplinary teams and initiatives, strong messaging and measuring, strategic collaboration, clear objectives, scalability, and sustainability. When it comes to global health, the consensus seemed to be that good technology is technology that works whether it is "low" or "high" technology; and this technology should be made for, and sometimes by, the end-user in a way that makes it available and affordable in local, resource-challenged settings.

 

For those of you who missed the phenomenal event, I can say emphatically: it was a motivating and inspiring evening. Here’s a recap, and I hope to see you next year.