Aptivate
Title of placement: Software development; web technologies development; research and information dissemination
Location: Cambridge UKStart date: 1st July
Duration: 3 months
No. of volunteers: 2
Based in Cambridge, Aptivate develops ICT services that facilitate communication for unconnected communities. The volunteer will be office based, developing webware and software.
What work will I be doing?
You will be working on one or more of the following roles. These positions are flexible and in practice you are likely to carry out a mixture of these roles.
Software development
Bandwidth monitoring and management tools to help network operators in less developed countries make the most of their limited bandwidth
Web technologies development
Further developing low bandwidth web design guidelines, analysing and optimising websites for low bandwidth accessibility, developing low-bandwidth CSS templates, or developing the Aptivate website
Research and information dissemination
Researching other organisations operating in the sector and making them aware of free materials that Aptivate have developed such as bandwidth design guidelines; also promoting these materials through other channels such as new / standard media, booklet design etc.
Who will I be working for?
Aptivate was created in 2002. AidWorld (Aptivate’s first name) was an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to making the world-wide-web accessible over poor communications networks. Aptivate has always been based in Cambridge, UK and currently has no remote branches.
Aptivate has a number of remote volunteers (US, Japan) who mainly contribute to research and marketing planning but also are included in developing technical implementations
Aptivate believes in the power of knowledge and communication to alleviate poverty, suffering and conflict, and in the right of every individual to inform and be informed. They are dedicated to developing ICT services that facilitate communication for unconnected communities, empowering ordinary people across the developing world to improve their lives.
Aptivate has done 6 successful placement schemes with EWB from the summer of 2004 till now with total of 15 undergraduate students
What skills or experience do I need?
Required:
Software development
- Experience of Java programming or other significant object oriented programming experience
- Experience of programming for websites
Web technologies development
- Experience of web coding: CSS, HTML, Javascript, CMS usage
Research and information dissemination
- Background in ICT and / or development
- Some experience of web technologies
Desired:
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Communication skills and willingness to learn
-
Open minded and positive