❤️ The Internet is broken. Let's fix it ❤️

Feel the people power with 6 ways tech can serve us

Back in the nineties it was generally believed that the Internet would grow into an inclusive space for everyone. Although it has changed the landscape of innovation and democracy forever, things turned out rather differently.

When we talk about ‘the Internet’, we are talking about a web of machines with all kinds of interconnections. Despite the fact that the system is broken, we can fix it with an alternative collection of open, fair and safe alternatives.

This month we're celebrating Tech with heart, starting with six innovations that use simple tech to reimagine democracy; from China's queer media hub to a crowdsourcing platform for accessibility to matchmaking apps that swipe right to help livelihoods and resilience. Don't fetishise technology for technology's sake, but laud those who use it wisely to iron out the kinks...

❤️ 1 An alternative Internet

“We are striving for safer technology that doesn’t spy on us or sell our data."

NETHERLANDS – When you look at tech, you see only the outside; the screen of your phone or open tabs. But there’s so much going on, from data mining to behaviour manipulation. With Public Stack, Waag (who also launched Fairphone) show us how we can shape an ethical future of digitalisation together.

Click here to stop clickbait! ► EN / ES / CAT

❤️ 2 China's queer subtitle army

The go-to place for LGBTIQ content in a country where people are still discriminated against.

CHINA – After decades of hiding underground, China’s queer community relies on a small group of volunteers for movies the government doesn’t want them to watch. Queer as Folk is the place to access foreign queer media and a hub of support.

It's not a sin ► EN / ES / CAT

❤️ 3 Open source opens doors

“Wheelmap.org will help more people to face fewer barriers in the future. That's inclusion."

GERMANY – Just one step can be a huge obstacle for wheelchair users. Crowdsourcing platform Wheelmap provides information on the accessibility of one million places around the world – thanks to the fact that smartphones are used so widely.

And it's in 32 languages ► EN / ES / CAT

❤️ 4 Sharing (tractors) is caring

“Nigeria alone needs 750,000 more tractors to be on the global average.”

NIGERIA – In the least mechanised place on earth, tractors and farming machinery are expensive. The Hello Tractor agritech app connects smallholder farmers so they can cultivate their land. This simple disruptive sharing technology holds the potential to increase agricultural productivity and income.

Rent tractors on demand ► EN / ES / CAT

❤️ 5 How to hack politics

"One has a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws." – Martin Luther King Jnr

ARGENTINA – Imagine if voting was more representative of what people really wanted? DemocraciaOS is destroying the barriers between politicians and people around the world to reimagine democracy in the Internet era using digital tools.

Tech for citizen impact ► EN / ES / CAT

❤️ 6 Matchmaking for good

“We use technology to raise awareness. Waste generators and waste collectors are just human beings working for the common good."

BRAZIL – Cataki’s main strength lies in its human aspect. The app is transforming the lives of Brazil’s dedicated waste collectors as people with recyclable waste in São Paulo use the app to swipe right to improve lives and help the environment.

It's just like Tinder ► EN / ES / CAT

Atlas loves ❤️ Explore more projects

💧 Top 16 water solutions

"We must imagine a future that works very differently. Everyone is part of this world and we are all responsible for improving it."

THE MED – Over the last few weeks, we've been unearthing exciting projects in the Mediterranean that are solving problems around water, for our MedFutures content channel with Aigües de Barcelona. So flow with us from the experimental farms in the Middle East to North Africa’s largest fog harvester via the drones reforesting Europe.

Take a deep dive into the Med ► EN / ES / CAT

📸 No sweatshop or Photoshop

People have always found ways to use clothes to make a statement. What do yours say?

UK – Birdsong began life shouting their message from the rooftops with slogan tees making bold statements about feminism and inclusion. Now they turn clothes into more than a billboard for change – to offer a blueprint for how an ethical, sustainable fashion brand can operate.

A call to dress in protest ► EN / ES / CAT

🚀 The future today

Take a journey through today's home page

MOROCCO – Capturing the clouds

ISRAEL – Natural born pollution killers

PALESTINE – Hydroponics grow resilience

CATALONIA – Minecraft's water museum

PLANET EARTH – Around the world from A-Z

⚡ This month on Atlas of the Future

🔴 Be part of Tech with heart

This February we're mapping over 20 mind-blowing projects that show tech can serve us: from simple software solving hard problems to VR and robots for good to our favourite open source platforms.

Do you know of an inspiring technological innovation that cares for people and planet?

Tell us here! ► Add a project to the Atlas

👉 Help support the Atlas

🌎 This year, we need you

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Please support the Atlas here ► Thank you!

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