Tech for the Disadvantaged is about donating old computers to disadvantaged people and other technology based charities. If you have an old computer sitting in your garage, or know someone who does, then this site is for you. You can find out where to donate them, how they benefit the people they go to and also how you can help with other technology based charities.
I first came across this idea when I was in high school, I didn’t have my own computer and I came across a website that allowed people to donate their old computers. It seemed like a great idea so I asked my parents if I could donate our old computer and they said yes. This was back in 1993 and it gave me the opportunity to do my homework on a computer at home (something that was not always possible before this time). This experience has stayed with me ever since and when I see people getting rid of their old computers it makes me sad because I know there are many people out there who would love to have one but cannot afford it.
I also wanted to create a site where people could learn about other technology based charities and get involved in helping others using their skills.
Welcome to Tech for the Disadvantaged!
I founded Tech for the Disadvantaged when I was 22 in order to collect unwanted computers, refurbish them and donate them to charities such as Share Community and The Passage Day Centre. My goal is to help people who aren’t as privileged as the rest of us.
Do you have an old computer sitting at home, gathering dust? Why not donate it to Tech for the Disadvantaged? I will make sure that it gets into the hands of someone who needs it! If you would like more information please contact me via email at techforthedisadvantaged@gmail.com or by phone on 07870 547 644.
In this blog I will be documenting my experiences with technology based charities, mainly in re-purposing old computers and donating them to disadvantaged people. I will also post about other interesting technology based charities and non-profits.
I started this blog after having an interesting conversation with a friend of mine who works for a high end tech company. I had been telling him about some of the work I have done in finding homes for old computers and he mentioned that his company was planning on throwing out several hundred old servers. He asked if I knew any charities that could use them. I didn’t at the time but it got me thinking that there must be a lot of unwanted tech equipment sitting around waiting to be thrown away.
This is where my idea for Tech In was born.
Tech In aims to be an online resource for people to donate their unwanted tech equipment and to assist them in finding the appropriate charity or non-profit to send it to. All types of equipment are welcome, from computers and monitors to phones, printers, scanners and even cables and accessories.
If you would like to find out more about Tech In or wish to donate equipment please email me at techin@techin.org
This year for the first time, I will be participating in Extra Life. This is a fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Unlike most fundraisers, the money raised goes directly to the local hospital that you choose. It also provides an opportunity to get together with other gamers and raise money by playing games.
I have been corresponding with a local charity called Tech For The Disadvantaged. They do just what the name implies – they collect old technology and repair it if necessary to give away to disadvantaged people. In order to make this possible, they need volunteers to help out.
What I hope to do is set up a live stream on twitch during my 25 hours of gaming and have some people from TFTD join me during that time while we play games together like Dungeons and Dragons Online or Minecraft. We would talk about what they are doing as well as our experiences with technology in education and how it has changed over the years.**
One of the most important aspects of technology is that it can be a force for good and bad.
I have been involved in a number of projects over time to donate used computers to disadvantaged people, to help teach people about technologies, and other charitable efforts. I created this blog so that I could share my experiences with others.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Jailbreak for iPod Mini
An iPod Mini is a great piece of technology that has all the functionality of the standard iPods but in a much smaller package. However, it has one major drawback: it is only available in 5 GB. But what if you need more space? Well, there are ways around this limitation.
The first thing to note is that the files on the iPod are stored in an ordinary Windows file system: FAT32. This means that you can access the files directly with Windows Explorer. To do this, you need to open up your iPod Mini and remove the hard drive (a small module about the size of a stick of gum). Then plug it into a PC or laptop and retrieve your files.
The problem is that the technology is not given any priority in these countries. The fact that the country may be underdeveloped does not necessarily mean that there is no technology in the country. It therefore means that there is a need to integrate the technology which is in existence into the society and make it serve the purpose of improving people’s lives.
It has been found out that most of these programs fail because of lack of a system to manage them. This means that there should be a system which will allow for effective implementation and management of the programs. Many people with technological skills are willing to volunteer. What is needed are systems which will allow them to serve efficiently.