I hope the information about the competition is something you are able to pass on to your relevant contacts or publications on our behalf. We are keen to reach out to as many community groups, NGO's and small business to apply. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to ask. BRIDGES.ORG LAUNCHES COMPETITION TO SUPPORT INNOVATIVE USES OF HANDHELD DEVICES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL 3 September 2004 Bridges.org has launched a competition to support innovative ground level initiatives in South Africa that want to use handheld devices (handhelds) to improve people's lives. A total of 120 Hewlett Packard H4150 iPAQs will be given to up to ten winning organisations that demonstrate a clear strategy to harness the power of handhelds for social or economic development. The devices were donated by Hewlett Packard (HP) after being used by delegates at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos earlier this year. Bridges.org is looking for projects that use handhelds to fulfil local needs in local ways. Winners will be used as case study examples to illustrate how these devices can open the door for Africans to gain the benefits offered by ICT. Bridges.org executive director Teresa Peters said, "HP and their partners have provided us with a unique opportunity to demonstrate how handheld devices can be used for socio-economic development. The competition will enable promising projects to try out technology that might otherwise be out of reach to them. Handhelds have many advantages when compared to traditional desktop computers -- yet they are largely being ignored in initiatives aiming to bridge the digital divide. We want to change that." To enter the competition, organisations are invited to outline a project idea that would make use of up to 35 iPAQs. Small businesses, public sector organisations (schools, hospitals, clinics, etc.), NGOs, and community organisations are encouraged to enter. The deadline for entries is 8 October 2004. For full guidelines and more background information please see www.bridges.org/ipaq_competition. The competition is made possible by the generosity of HP, the World Economic Forum and DHL, who facilitated the donation and were responsible for the safe delivery of the handhelds to bridges.org in Cape Town. ENDS ### About handhelds A handheld computer is a small computer that can conveniently be stored in a pocket and used while being held. Traditionally handheld devices accept handwriting input (the user writes on the sensitive screen with a special plastic "pen"), but some devices also feature small keyboards for typing and some devices allow both. Handheld devices can be broadly described based on the operating system installed; Microsoft Pocket PC and Palm OS are two of the most widely used. The latest developments show a trend to "smart phones" with the convergence of personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, and wireless technology. About bridges.org Bridges.org is an international non-profit organisation based in South Africa with a mission to promote the effective use of ICT in developing countries to improve people's lives. One area of focus is informing policy decisions that affect people's access to and use of ICT. Bridges.org also conducts technology research and provides social consulting services to ground level projects using ICT, helping with project planning and evaluation and relaying lessons learned. It brings an entrepreneurial attitude to its social mission, and is committed to working with, instead of against, government agencies and the business community. For more information please see www.bridges.org. About Hewlett Packard HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. HP's mission is to invent technologies and services that drive business value, create social benefit and improve the lives of customers - with a focus on affecting the greatest number of people possible. www.hp.com About DHL DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source. DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport and logistics solutions, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. www.dhl.com About WEF The World Economic Forum is the foremost global community of business, political, intellectual and other leaders of society committed to improving the state of the world. Incorporated as a foundation, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. The Forum has NGO consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. http://www.weforum.org For more information on the competition: Contact: Philipp Schmidt, Technology Programme Manager Email: ipaq_competition@bridges.org Tel: +27 21 465 9313 Fax: +27 21 465 5917 South Africa: PO Box 715, Cape Town 8000 South Africa United States: 1887 Newton Street NW, Washington DC 20010 http://www.bridges.org -- Rachel Engel International Media and Relations Manager South Africa: PO Box 715, Cape Town 8000 Tel: +27 21 465 9313 -- Fax +27 21 465 5917 United States: 1887 Newton Street NW, Washington DC 20010 US Contact: Ed Cavazos, +1 512 320-9279 -- Fax +1 202 318 7792 ========== HURIDOCS-Tech listserv ========== Send mail intended for the list to <huridocs-tech@hrea.org>. 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