- Published Date: 17/02/2019
- by: UNDP
Introducing social innovations that better the world
To prepare for many challenges that will come in 2019, designers, innovators, activists, social entrepreneurs, and everyone can become part of change making and inventing new solutions that concern more about diversity.
Thailand Social Innovation Platform is introducing examples of innovations that are interesting and inspiring social changes nowadays.
1. Starbucks has opened a new branch in Washington: “Signing Store”, which concerns customer that has hearing impairment. It is located next to Gallaudet University which is the only university in the world that was found for deaf students and students with hearing impairment. This Starbucks branch has employees that can fluently communicate with sign language. All the decorating pictures and coffee mugs are painted by deaf artists. An interesting point is a “Deafspace” which is particularly constructed for deaf customers or customers with hearing problems.The drink order can be communicated by writing and there is a big screen that tracks our orders by name. Besides, employees with hearing impairment wear green aprons that are written with a word “Starbucks” with sign language, but other employees without hearing impairment wear standard apron of Starbucks with brooches that are written with “I sign”.
2. Gaming console from Xbox that is designed for disabled gamers or gamers that cannot move their body: Xbox Adaptive Controller. The basic round console is built in horizontal shape to be laid on lap (in case the gamers sit on wheelchairs) to facilitate the gaming. Other devices such as switches or joysticks can be added according to preference. Microsoft has worked with organisations and charities such as The Able Gamers Charity or The Cerebral Palsy Foundation to co-develop the device that respond to every gamer’s need without limitation.
3. Various Emojis that concern hearts of the disabled: it is a good news when Apple has proposed a project to Unicode Consortium, an organisation that inspects Emojis before they are put to use. 13 Emojis such as picture of a person with a wheelchair, guide dog, an ear with a listening device, were added to show that Apple concerns diversity of everyone in the society. These new Emojis will be introduced in the second half of 2019.
4. Joint Data Center, an organization that was found to collect note and data, and analyze data of immigrants or refugees that has become crisis around the world, was established by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or UNHCR with World Bank. It has a purpose to analyze population and socio-economic data including key information about sex, age, income, skill, and health. The result from analysis will be used to develop innovations and technologies to help refugees, displaced people, the stateless, the repatriated, and residents in the area, and to specify policies and programs that can give help according to their needs.
These stories are examples that TSIP pick to be inspiration. Anyone can act to impact positive changes in the society. We are ready to be a central platform that realizes every idea, supports them with knowledges, and makes possible ideas become reality.