Individuals who find themselves in natural disasters, crimes and other types of catastrophes re now just a
click away from safety, thanks to a recently invented software that was used in the devastating earthquake
in Haiti.
The website of the software is “Ushahidi” which, when translated to Swahili, means “testimony”. The
software has already been used during the 2008 Kenya elections, to report violent crimes and other events.
According to an Ushahidi volunteer, the 2008 elections motivated Kenyan civilians to look for a way
through which they can stay connected to share events that they witnessed.
The main function of the software is to allow participants to send text messages to each other so they can
all stay updated about the violent incidents occurring in the country.
The Ushahidi has actually been used in other parts of the world. For instance, in 2008, it was used in South
Africa in order to map attacks. The software has also been used in order to supervise elections in countries
such as India, Sudan and Mexico. During a strong blizzard in Washington, the software was also utilized as
a warning system for drivers who were heading toward snow-covered roads. Perhaps the most recent use of
the software is in the oil spill in Mexico.

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