Much of the innovative thinking in mHealth is coming from programs that target populations outside the United States, often in developing countries. Now in a twist of fate, the innovations emerging from the developing world could prove to be a significant springboard for innovation in the developed world.

Here’s a short list of some of the applications folks are using. They are not intended to run on smartphones; they are generally developed to run on low-end cell phones. It’s amazing – for patients and public health initiatives…

TRACNet (in Rwanda) a dynamic information technology system designed to collect, store, retrieve, display and disseminate critical program information, as well as to manage drug distribution and patient information related to the care and treatment of HIV/AIDS. This system enables practitioners involved in anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment programs to submit reports electronically and have timely access to vital information. By dialing 3456, a toll free number, or logging onto a bilingual website (English and French), health center staffers can submit or receive program results on HIV/AIDS patients as soon as they are processed. TRACnet uses solar energy chargeable mobile phones, which can be used in the most remote parts of the country.

PatientView is a simple and easy-to-use electronic medical record system (EMR) targeting small clinics or single departments that have little support from professional IT staff. Many of these clinics are currently using paper medical records and would benefit from the improved efficiency and reliability of an EMR, but do not have the technical staff to maintain a large, complex EMR. To address this problem, PatientView was designed to be easy to set up, easy to maintain, and easy to use. Beyond simplicity and usability, PatientView has many mobile features that are useful when working with health workers in the field, like the ability to coordinate SMS to and from the workers, accept forms submitted on mobile phones, and more.

CelloPhone is a revolutionary diagnostic tool that will be able to perform basic diagnostics such as Complete Blood Count, diagnosis of Malaria and TB, and CD4 T Lymphocyte count on the back of a camera phone. The device utilizes a new imaging technique called LUCAS that can take cellular-level images of blood or other liquids without complex lens systems or microscope hardware. An algorithm then analyzes cell morphology to automatically produce a diagnostic result. The diagnostic results will be communicated from the device to a central location using FrontlineSMS, and viewed with our Patient View module and/or sent to OpenMRS with our medical records module. The Ozcan lab at UCLA is developing this device, and we aim to pioneer its use in the developing world.

For a long weekend bonus, I thought I’d include a TED Talk too that take a look at what a difference technology (mobile and other) is making in health and the health care industry…

As part of a larger, ongoing research project, this paper discusses the digital presence of rural businesses in 23 communities. We define digital presence as any locally controlled webpages, social media, or GooglePlace pages devoted to an entity, i.e., a private business, nonprofit, or government office, within a community. Overall, the digital presence of 85 townships and cities were assessed.

Here are the results:

Across the 23 communities, an average of 42.6 percent of businesses had a website. On average, 9.9 percent of businesses in each community used social media. More businesses showed activity on their GooglePlace pages. No major difference was found between the control and intervention communities for website and social media use.

The research seemed to pinpoint a few reasons that communities seemed to have more businesses online that their cohort communities

• MIRC communities saw slightly higher use of GooglePlace pages. UMN MIRC business training sessions focus on GooglePlace.
• Businesses in growing communities have a higher proportion of websites, are more likely to use social media for business, and have a higher proportion of GooglePlaces with owner verification and content.

The report adds that since the study was inclusive, not random, in nature that it doesn’t necessarily reflect all of rural Minnesota – but it does include 23% of rural businesses. So I suspect the rest of the state would follow suit. Check out the actual report if you want to see the list of specific communities and how they fared.

One fun follow up – the researchers used business listing from InfoUSA (a tried a true market research tool) to get lists of businesses. While the raw data from the report if not available to the general public, they have shared it with the individual communities so that efforts can be made to approach businesses to encourage them to learn more about effectively using the Internet to market themselves. As Hans wrote to me, “the important thing is that this is information that can help communities make “informed, intentional, positive choices about their future.”

Here’s a quick look at their trip from the Bemidji Pioneer…

To help with this problem, the United Way of Bemidji Area partnered with PCs for People, a nonprofit organization that collects and refurbishes used computers for seniors and low income individuals. …

PCs for People computer technicians Scott Lumbar and Christian Rugel have been working on the computers since Wednesday night and are scheduled to work until their deadline, preparing the 88 computers. Hill’s Plumbing and Heating donated the work space for the two to work.

Rugel said that each computer is a unique project, which causes some computers to take longer than others….

The computers will be done by Saturday, when people who have qualified to receive a computer will come in, receive brief instructions on the computer and be on their way.

This week, the St Cloud Times paints a different picture of Internet in the schools. The Internet/broadband now permeates every aspect of education – from teaching to education administration. Now it’s the classroom, school and student without access that have become the exception – and not in such an exceptional way…

Broadband is being used in Minnesota schools for student testing, reports to the state, portals for parents to track their child’s work, and for students to take online classes, according to a December report from the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. Professional development for teachers is another area where broadband access can reduce costs.

“I think people don’t always realize … how essential Internet access is to the business of doing education. It’s no longer nice to have,” said Mary Mehsikomer, technology integration development and outreach facilitator for TIES, which is an education technology collaborative.

“It’s just as important as having electricity and water. It’s really become a core component of the whole business of delivering instruction and also managing school districts.”

The good news is that as the article points out – most schools and the majority of students have access. The bad news is that they often don’t have sufficient access. There are programs that are out there supporting connectivity, especially for schools. The FCC’s E-Rate program subsidies offset about $20 million to $25 million in Minnesota every year, about half of what it costs schools. On a more local level, Foley Schools recently received funding (via Blandin Foundation’s MIRC program) to install more wireless units in the school for school and community use.

And the Internet isn’t just for K12…

“Internet access has gotten so vitally important for college students,” said Vi Bergquist, chief information officer of St. Cloud Technical and Community College. “It’s almost a must.”

“Some people wouldn’t be able to get an education if we didn’t offer online classes,” she said.

At the college, registration is done only online and some classes are offered online, she said.

The college accommodates students who don’t have access at home with open computer labs, which is good but I think insufficient for many students. The article mentions a college student who was trying to take an online class using only her mobile phone. (That’s some dedication to the effort!)

So while progress is being made on the school front, progress is still lagging for home access in some areas and with some demographics…

“Some (parents) don’t realize what the kids can’t do,” he [Marc Johnson, director of ECMECC] added. “They don’t know they have access that just isn’t robust enough.”

As a community we should be asking what our kids can’t do due to limited technology – and is the cost of that lost opportunity greater than the cost of providing ubiquitous opportunity. (Both in terms of broadband connections and computers – as a parent of three students I can attest that the cost of the equipment can easily trump cost of connectivity.) There are lower-cost options available from Comcast and CenturyLink ($9.95/month and reduced rate computers for qualifying families) but that only helps in Comcast/CenturyLink coverage areas.

One quick high level stat – how important is it to you to have computer and Internet access at home?

Take that question and drill down by neighborhood and you can see how the details shine a light on areas that could possibly benefit from digital inclusion programs and/or public awareness campaign:

Now consider if you were looking to relocate to Minneapolis – and this was the one piece of information you had. Which neighborhood would you choose? Or from a more positive perspective, if you were looking to close the digital divide in Minneapolis, where would you start? If you drill down into the survey, you should be able to dissect interest and experience with technology by neighborhood, which would be of even more help when planning a digital literacy program. You would know what folks were using for computers (smartphones, library computers, tablets, nothing?), you’d know what they were already doing (email, text, web) and could build a program to meet those needs and more. It’s a very thorough report. Here’s the summary of findings…

Survey questions captured Minneapolis residents’ opinions and preferences related to technology, as well as their access to computers and the Internet. Overall, residents thought somewhat favorably of technology in Minneapolis, saw computers and the Internet as important, had a computer and Internet access and accessed the Internet regularly (most commonly via a high‐speed connection). Residents generally found help for any computer or Internet issues through a variety of means and participated frequently and comfortably in many basic digital activities, including emailing and using social media. However, meaningful differences were seen across the 11 communities that comprise Minneapolis as well as among different sociodemographic characteristics.

But again I think much of the value (to folks in the city) is in the detail.

I am a long-time E-Democracy volunteer. The traditional way to grow a list is through existing social networks. In other words, I ask two friends to join, they ask two friends and so on. It grows a list – but it also means you get folks who run in the same circles. In the last couple of years, E-Democracy has made concerted effort to encourage greater diversity in forum participation. This report explains what they have done successfully.

I think this work will be valuable for community leaders who are also struggling with how to make their programs more inclusive.

Here’s a quick description from the report itself…

Through this work, E-Democracy hopes to debunk assumptions that people in poverty, of color, new immigrants, and others historically disenfranchised are digitally disconnected or less interested in connecting with their neighbors online than those in homogeneous, wealthy neighborhoods – and instead demonstrate that they in fact bring assets, capacities, information, and agenda-setting value to online civic participation.

And here’s an abbreviated/paraphrased list of what has worked…

In Outreach:

• Face-to-face connections, paper signup sheets, and a personal approach are by far the most successful recruiting methods.
• Building trust is essential. Knowing that “someone like me” is on the forum makes a difference. Personal invitations and direct support help people get started.
• Understanding people’s needs and then helping them find ways for those needs to be addressed through the forum smooths the path for their participation and continued involvement.
• Partnering with respected neighbors and event organizers creates opportunities to participate in community activities and offer people the chance to sign up for our forums

Content Management

• Seeding stories that are of interest to diverse populations
• Maintaining cultural awareness and proficiency in posts and outreach

The report is full of stories and practical advice – and again suggested reading for leaders in any community effort that would benefit from increasing diversity. (I have to think that’s just about any effort.) You can also learn more about the project on a special online event with the authors and others involved with the project will speak.

PCs for People chose Austin as one of 10 greater-Minnesota communities to get 75 to 100 free computers since February 2012. But that isn’t the beginning. PCs for People has donated more than 14,000 computers since it started in 1998. With the help of local businesses such as Hormel, the Mayo Clinic and local electric co-op, PCs for People was able to convert used or damaged computers into, practical, usable gifts for those who need them.

“This is a win-win for businesses need to manage their end-of-lifecycle digital assets in a cost-effective way, and for the community,” said Casey Sorenson, executive director of PCs for People.”

Through projects called Sauk Rapids-Rice Prepares for 2020 and Foley is an Intelligent Rural Community at Home, at Work and at School, Sauk Rapids-Rice Community Education and Foley Community Education have increased opportunities students, the community and business owners have to learn about and access technology and broadband in Benton County.

Through these projects Sauk Rapids-Rice Community Education and Foley Community Education have increased open computer lab times for their communities and students, are provid-ing basic computer skills classes and broadband classes through the U of M Extension.

Foley Community Education has also been providing LEGO Robotics classes for school age students. “LEGO Robotics allows students and teachers to collaborate with others around the world through LEGO Robotics forums and resources,” said Stephanie Amberg of Foley Public Schools. “Students are provided an opportunity to collaborate together and challenge their minds.”

Sauk Rapids-Rice Community Education also purchased 12 iPads to be used by students, Adult Basic Education, Community Education and during on site experiences at local senior communities. “Teachers use them in their classes. Students really like working on them, especially for math concepts and math fluency activities,” said Sandy Grosland, Director of Sauk Rapids – Rice Community Education. “One teacher uses the iPads with the document camera and projects information onto the smart board to use with a large group. They have also used them for short stories in English.” Grosland also indicated that the school board is using the iPads during school board meetings to access all agenda information rather than using paper copies.

1. Online accounting services – potential annual saving $1,833.70
2. Online marketing materials – potential annual saving $378.07
3. VoIP for Phone – potential annual saving $432
4. Website design – potential annual saving $2,098.20
5. Mobile apps – potential annual saving $3,502.72
6. Specialty logo service – potential annual saving $458
7. Home office – potential annual saving $6,180
8. Incorporating online – potential annual saving $296
9. Video Conferencing – potential annual saving $1,023.12
10. Read News Online – potential annual saving $348.71