Microsoft and Infosys present Tech4Society

Tech 4 Society is an Ashoka-Lemelson celebration that explores the cutting edge of global technological and social change. It is an event where rural meets urban, low-tech meets high-tech, and where the lines between business and social, education and creation, begin to blur.

In Hyderabad, India, February 11-13, 2010, this landmark event will showcase tech solutions and inventions that are revolutionizing social change around the world. Participants will share best practices and experiences, foster new innovations, forecast trends, and develop partnerships that provide technological solutions to economic, environmental, and societal challenges. Over 250 leading social entrepreneurs, businesses and thought leaders from around the globe will come together at Tech 4 Society. Several of these inspiring leaders will additionally share vital insights, perspectives, and experiences through a keynote address, plenary sessions, and panel discussions.

The first-of-its kind Initiative with support from Microsoft® strives to bring greater attention to the importance of technological innovation in driving global development and highlight effective strategies for cultivating the next generation of inventor-entrepreneurs and scaling their world-changing ideas

Hilmi Quraishi and Pradip Sarmah have been chosen for their unique and cutting edge uses of technology, education, capital and support as tools for community development, policy setting and poverty alleviation.

Hilmi Quraishi demonstrated the mobile technology which can bring important public messages to the masses. It is the technology for the future-to combat various health and other critical social problems by delivering useful knowledge products in the form of games. He envisages the widest and deepest reach through the mobile phone, the computer, and the internet-the technology tools of the future.

Pradip Sarmah presented his innovation on safer rickshaws with improved ergonomic design and also talked about his program designed to provide a means of self-employment for members of the poor and marginalized rickshaw community who live in urban slums. The Rickshaw Bank" issues an asset-based loan to a rickshaw puller, who can repay the debt in daily installments over 18 months. Now, the rickshaw puller not only gains the economic advantage from owning the rickshaw for a lifetime, but also has the ability to access accident & life insurance.

Visit http://tech.ashoka.org/hyderabad_info