WORLD
Watch this video to see how planes and helicopters are searching for the missing plane in Malaysia.
Discussion Ideas
- What is crowdsourcing? Read this blog entry for a great analysis of its future and potential.
- According to the blog, crowdsourcing is “a twist on the idea of outsourcing, [and] describes the practice of posing a question or challenge to the public, and asking for individuals to contribute a small piece to the project goal.”
- DigitalGlobe, an American company, is providing a free platform to help the public search for clues about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Help with the search here.
- How else might crowdsourcing help leaders respond to emergencies around the world? Watch this video of Nat Geo Explorer Patrick Meier for a good introduction to “crisis mapping” for some help. (Skip to about 10:45 and listen for about five minutes to hear Meier talk about getting the public involved.)
- Meier talks about using digital technology to help estimate the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Horn of Africa.
- The CNN article mentions several ways that DigitalGlobe has used crowdsourcing in response to disasters: “The company performed a similar “global crowdsourcing campaign” in November’s Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, allowing volunteers to tag online more than 60,000 objects of interest from satellite photos. The information was forwarded to emergency responders, the firm said. . . . The firm also tracked damage last year in the Moore, Oklahoma, tornado and the Colorado floods. In another case, the satellite imagery also helped locate the remains of two missing hikers in Peru, the affiliate reported.”
- Crowdsourcing can be a great tool for conservation and land management. Check out our blog entries for opportunities to game your way to understanding land cover in Africa and counting Weddell seals in Antarctica—all from the cozy comfort of your monitor or mobile device.
- Crowdsourcing can be an important part of citizen science. Watch our terrific video on some citizen science and community geography projects, some of which use crowdsourcing. Here are some more:
After reading the news I still have hopes that the passengers of this jet are alright. Its great to see that there are so many people who are willing to help, hopefully they will find the jet soon.