Short description
Barna Mink of SFVegan.org did Animal Kill Counter, a very simple and clever app that shows how many animals of different kinds that are killed around the world from the time the app is opened.
The app is a great example of how relatively unknown information, or information many chose to ignore, can be turned into a smart app that does not require a lot of programming skills.
There are other apps with similar "simple", but thought-provoking, information that usually is not visible or well-known. The app GridCarbon, developed by Drs. Alex Rogers and Perukrishnen Vytelingum, and Prof. Nick Jennings at the university’s School of Electronics and Computer Science is another example, but it is not as thought-provoking as Animal Kill Counter. However the team seems to have more things in the pipeline so the next app or update will hopefully fit on Transformative Applications.
More information about the Animal Kill Counter app and the information it is based on can be found here: http://iphoneakc.tumblr.com/
The best with the app/supporting initiative
+ Very simple but with a strong message that can be used as a conversation starter or opening of a presentation. e.g. "During the time we have been sitting here has happened".
+ Highlighting an important issue that is often forgotten.
+ Can inspire others to get out important information.
The weak parts of the app/supporting initiative
- Only available for iPhone.
- Not much information about the relation between the user and the data.
What could accelerate this app/supporting initiative into a world changer?
> The consequences of different lifestyle/food choices could be linked to the numbers so that people understand what would happen if everyone on the planet had the same food habits as they.
> For each animal the current "use" could be described together with alternatives so that people that want to wear and eat less animals could start taking steps.
Delivery
How direct is the delivery of the result the app tries to achieve
- Direct
- Indirect
- Inspirational
- Long shot
Comments
It helps people to see the world from a perspective they might not be used to, but it does not give any direction beyond that.
Transformative approach
How transformative is it
- A new world
- A major shift
- A bit of a shake-up
- A gentle rocking
Comments
Hopefully people react and don't close their eyes when they see the consequences of our habits. Might not be right to call it a soft nudge as the app quite clearly challenges the accepted norm in society that humans have the right to slaughter other animals and do it on an industrial scale and horrible conditions.
How much does it encourage collaborations
How much are new networks supported
- Strong support for global networks?
- Currently encourages new forms of collaboration
- Provides interesting opportunities in the future
- Restricted to a small (expert) group
Comments
Some might start to engage in organizations that work with these issues.
What synergies can be delivered
How well does it also solve other problems/generate solutions
- It solves everything
- Several important challenges
- Some important challenges
- Only one challenge
Comments
Looking at the values that our current society is built on, and how far rhetoric often is from reality is interesting.
Nine billion contribution
How global is it? Is it helping/will it help everyone on the planet
- Instant global equality
- Almost global
- Getting (incrementally) global
- Not applicable
Comments
Caring for those without a voice often goes hand in hand with a strong sense of justice and willingness to look beyond the narrow ego.
Building on current trends
How well does it use current trends
- The app is setting new trends by itself
- Building on multiple trends
- Effectively building on one trend
- Not really building on any major trend
Comments
We are in a time with the ethical sphere is expanding and the relations between humans and other animals are being discussed.
Timeframe
How fast can it deliver
- It's already happening
- In the coming weeks
- In a year or so
- In a distant future (hopefully)
Comments
The facts presented might inspire sparks.
Transparency
Does it support transformative transparency
- Brave new transparency
- Transparency that is innovative (never seen before)
- Increased transparency, but nothing innovative
- No increase in transparency
Comments
It is a great example of presenting available data in a very simple format. Others could take this further and use their skills to illustrate what is happening further.