VocalPress Overview

VocalPress voices of the billion

VocalPress.org

VocalPressVocalPress.org

Inform, engage and empower communities

VocalPress aims to serve information needs of the bottom

billion via interactive voice interface.

Photo: poiphotography @ flickr


Voice is the lowest common denominator for communication

If it is a phone, it can VocalPress!

Photo: juju2nantes @ flickr


Why is interactive voice the ONE for the bottom billion?• As ubiquitous as sms• As cheap as sms• Rich information• 1 sms < 1 min. of voice

• Low language barrier• Low literacy• Works with any phone

Photo: kiwanja @ flickr


VocalPress is a mash-up of two proven solutions for social good

• #1 blogging tool• Huge developer and

user communities• Various ways of

using WordPress

• 20 months of development

• Numbers of successful deployment

Refer to http://VocalPress.org for details of implementation


VocalPress enables easy voice-based network setup• 1 step deployment; out of the

box• Just get a SIM card for local

number • (GSM SIP)

• Or get a VoIP with local number

• Then connect to the cloud• Managed VocalPress on the

cloud• VoIP stack & WordPress


Fostering participatory informed communities• VocalPress information networks are

initiated and championed by community-based organizations and community leaders

• Community best understands its own needs

Photo: nygus @ flickr


Community-driven distribution model

Community Initiation and ParticipationCommunity members, leaders, volunteers, -based organizations

(CBOs)

Voice-based Information NetworksInforming, Engaging and Empowering Communities

VocalPressManaged or Self-hosted Cloud

Stack

Funding and RevenueSubscriptions, Ads, Contributions,

Grants


What can VocalPress do?

Literally, anything WordPress can do• VocalPress is a voice interface for

WordPress

Specifically, 3 use cases are focused1. Twitter-like voice network2. Quora-like Q&A network3. Voice-based citizen reporting platform


VocalPress & the long tail of information needs• #hashtags – topical networks of

information• i.e: network for entrepreneurial women or

workersRadio One-way

Synchronous

National level, large scale

Community Radio

Semi one-way

Synchronous

Community level

Geographical constraint

VocalPress Many-to-many

Synchronous & asynchronous

Topical level – ranges from community level to national level

No geographical constraint


Use case #1: voices of a successful woman entrepreneur• A successful woman entrepreneur selling

drinks at a local market can call in to share about her business, ideas and children’s education (she may be sponsored)

• Her followers will be then sent sms to inform about a new update – then they call in to listen new updates

Photo: tsirol @ flickr


Use case #2: Q&A network for migrant workers• Migrant workers can post questions about fair

salary, worker rights, job opportunities by calling in

• The questions will then be saved in the web database for volunteers and social workers to process

• Once an answered has been recorded, the asker will be informed via sms to call in to listen the answer



Use case #3: citizens reporting about their communities• News publishers or radio stations could make

a hotline for people to call into report about their communities

• Moderators then can process and transcribe recorded voice messages to be posted or broadcasted

• Reporting could cover progress of government projects



When & Where?

Pilot Deployment: Mae Sot, Chiang Mai, ThailandTarget Communities: Migrant Workers

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),

RefugeesPotential Partners: Mae Tao Clinic,

Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association

Prototype, Alpha

Design and

CodingBeta

Pilot Deployme

ntVersion 1

June ‘11 Aug ‘11 Nov ‘11 July ‘12 June ‘12

VocalPress Overview

Technology

Transcript of VocalPress Overview