Lisa's Talking About Evdo

Lisa Canter clued me into EVDO (Evolution Data Only,Evolution Data Optimized):

EVDO is a technical advance about getting major internet connection anywhere you cell works. So it means you can blog on the road without trying to pretend you are happy using a phone to type. For those online junkies like me - this is great. Europe has had this availability for awhile so it was only a matter of time that it showed up here. We don’t have it yet but I suspect Marc will be buying it soon.

Okay, so the geeky folks go nuts, but imagine the possibilities for nonprofits ....

Part of my nonprofit technology work is in the area of evaluation.  One of the projects I'm working on is the Portable Electronic Enrollment Project or  (Peep).   PEEP is a federally funded program led by Community Partners that
explores the innovative use of wireless and Internet technology to help
people enroll in publicly funded health coverage in rural western
Massachusetts.  PEEP health access workers are using laptops, wireless
connections and web-based enrollment program to increase the speed and accuracy of the process.


(BTW, Michael DeChairo, the ED of Community Partners will be presenting at NTC in Seattle, WA.  Should be an interesting session.)

This makes me wonder ... this is a great advance for those who live the land of strong cell phone coverage, but what about in those places where the coverage isn't so great?  One wonders whether EVDO can climb over mountains in rural areas ...

Comments

[Johanna Bates]

Hi Beth, Michael DeChiara and I will be presenting at the breakout session called Community Wireless: The Potential to Transform Nonprofit Service Delivery. I think it could be a really valuable discussion. Thanks!