- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday October 1 2008 00.01 BST
- The Guardian, Wednesday October 1 2008
What is the Social Innovation Camp?
SIC is about building solutions to big social challenges, using the power of the web and new technology.
How does it work in practice?
Through weekend-long events, we bring together people who have the skills and knowledge to build software with those at the sharp end of social problems and to help build effective web-based solutions to address social need. In less than 48 hours, participants develop six ideas from initial concept to early stage prototype.
What happens at the end of the weekend?
We run a "pitching" competition for the products developed and award a prize to the one we think has the most potential.
Where did the original idea come from?
People have been writing and blogging about the impact of web-based technology on society. The team behind SIC decided it wanted to do something more practical.
Who won last year's award?
Our last SIC in April 2008 was won by Enabled By Design, an idea developed by Denise Stephens, who realised that the living aids she was provided with as an MS sufferer didn't provide adequately for her needs, and made her home look like a hospital. EBD is a platform for people with physical disabilities to share what their needs are with the professional design community.
Is Web 2.0 being used to its full potential by public services?
Not at the moment. The web becomes really interesting when it's used as an organisational tool - changing who organises what and how. As the web enables more people to organise things for themselves, this will have a profound impact on how we provide things such as education and healthcare.
Nominate a president for Britain?
I'm not sure that a presidential system would solve the problems of our current political framework.
· Up to November 7, people can enter an idea to be developed at SIC's December event. Details from Anna Maybank at the Young Foundation on 020 8980 6263 or email: ideas@sicamp.org
