Celebrations and Nominations: Launch of Tech4Good

When you gaze at your smartphone, tablet or laptop you may behold a gadget of leisure. A product made for fun – playing on games and keeping track of your social networks.

However, thousands of technological devices just like this are essential for the improvement of some people’s everyday lives.

This week we attended the launch of The Tech4Good awards, which honours the work of organisations and individuals who use digital technology to improve the lives of others.

Take Lifelites, a charity which has changed the lives of thousands of children in the UK and thanks the Tech4Good awards for their success.

The organisation provides technology such as laptops and tablets to nearly 50 children and baby hospices.

Kids – who would not normally have access to computers – can use the internet for playing games, doing schoolwork and keeping in touch with their family and friends.

Lifelites CEO Simone Enefer-Doy said that winning the award in 2011 was a ‘pivotal moment’ for the charity as it gave them recognition and a platform to further their activities.

Since winning the award the charity has seen an increase in funds and have completed more projects than ever.

During the launch Robin Christopherson from AbilityNet, the founders of the awards, discussed how technologies improves his life and others who have a disability.

Robin – who is himself blind – spoke of the plethora of different apps which are now available on smartphones.

For instance, they can be used for speech output and recognition on smartphones for activities on the go, such as finding a cash machine.

Google glass and wearable technologies were a particular focus for the future, with Robin highlighting how apps could be used for subtitles for the deaf and emotion recognition for those with Autism.

After the speeches given by some amazing charities, volunteers and businesses we celebrated their achievements with a trip to the top of BT Towers.

BT has partnered with AbilityNet to run Tech4Good and will be presenting their own award this year called the BT Ingenious Award.

We are delighted to once again support Tech4Good and look forward to seeing all of the great achievements and exciting new developments at this year’s ceremony in July.

If you know any enterprises, or you are an organisation or individual who has improved the lives of others through the use of innovative technology, you can enter your nomination for this years Tech4Good awards here.