Technology4Good Awards: humbling and inspirational

Last week I attended the inaugural Technology4Good Awards organised by AbilityNet. Let me tell you, they were brilliant. Better than brilliant…  

The room was jam packed with people who use technology to help others. The sheer breadth of the finalists – from individual volunteers right through to large government departments – showed that in all walks of life, people are using technology to do great things.

For me, as someone who works to make technology more inclusive, being in a room with so many like-minded people was a real thrill. Hearing their stories and what they’d achieved was invigorating. The winner of the Accessibility Award and Best in Show went to LifeLites. 

This children’s technology charity provides computers, camera, games consoles and other digital devices to every children’s hospice in the UK. It’s an amazing service that means these children have the chance to be just that – children – and simply enjoy themselves away from the constant reality of their illness.

Then there was the modest Colin Crook, who picked up the IT Volunteer of the Year award for helping to get so many ‘silver surfers’ online. We Are What We Do/Internet Buttons scooped the Innovation award for their simple-to-use web browser. I can’t finish on this without mentioning the BT Sponsored Contact Us award, which recognises those organisations that have made it easier for people to contact them. It was won by the Transforming Customer Contact Team, at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Worthy winners

This team from the DWP delivered real improvements to help make it easier for people to contact the DWP and speak to the right person with their inquiry. They created something called TexBox, to improve the way the DWP handles telephone calls from deaf and hearing/speech-impaired customers who use textphones. It uses an instant messenger-style technology allowing staff to answer textphone calls quickly and efficiently from their desktop computers.

There are more winners who I feel I should name-check – but you can see a full list at the T4G Awards web site.

For me, the awards weren’t just about the winners. It was also the stories of those who didn’t walk away with a prize – other than our profound deep respect and admiration. For instance, Leonard Cheshire and Discover IT Network teamed up to get disabled people online to enhance their lives.

Then there was the  ‘Just Messaging’ project
 that uses technology to help connect Saharawi women who live as exiles in a remote part of the Algerian desert with people in the rest of the world. All the stories were just so heartening.

 The whole event was hosted by journalist and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup. I managed to have a quick word with Mariella after the awards to see what she made of it all.

“I was really delighted to present these visionary awards,” she told me. “It was great celebrating the way that new technology is making a difference to people’s lives.  Listening to the stories of the winners was as humbling as it was inspirational.”

Mariella, I couldn’t agree more.

What do you think of the Technology4Good award winners? Let us know below.

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