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Benetech

Benetech is a nonprofit social enterprise organization that empowers communities with software for social good. Previous projects include the Route 66 Literacy Project, the Miradi environmental project management software, Martus (human rights abuse reporting), and the Human Rights Data Analysis Group.[1] Current program areas include global education, human rights, and poverty alleviation.

Benetech
Founded1989, 2001 under Benetech name
FounderJim Fruchterman
TypeNon-profit
Focus
Location
Area served
Worldwide
ProductSoftware for social good
Key people
WebsiteBenetech.org
Formerly called
Arkenstone, Inc.

About edit

One of Benetech's key education program initiatives is Bookshare, an e-book library for people with print disabilities such as dyslexia, blindness, low vision, and physical disabilities.[2]

Another project is Benetech Service Net, an open standards data exchange platform that makes it easier to share and maintain information on local social and human services. Organizations providing referrals or referral technology (such as 2-1-1s, Healthify, or Health Leads) and agencies providing information about their services (such as community-based shelters, food pantries, or government agencies) can work together to make better data available for everyone.

History edit

Benetech was founded by technology entrepreneur Jim Fruchterman in Palo Alto, California, under the name of Arkenstone in 1989.[3] It was initially created to provide reading machines for blind people. During the period 1989–2000, over 35,000 reading machines were sold in sixty countries, reading twelve different languages. In 2000, the Arkenstone reading machine product line was sold to Freedom Scientific, and the nonprofit's name was changed to Benetech. The funding from the asset sale was used to start the Bookshare initiative and Martus project in 2001.[4][5]

Benetech and its Martus software were featured on the PBS NewsHour.[6]

In 2019, Benetech announced the expansion of its inclusive education initiatives, creating new partnerships with organisations such as Vision Australia, the Royal National Institute of Blind People in the UK, National Council for the Blind of Ireland, Canada's Center for Equitable Library Access and the Dubai government.[7]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Perrini, Francesco. (2006). The new social entrepreneurship : what awaits social entrepreneurial ventures?. Edward Elgar. ISBN 1-84542-781-5. OCLC 63472522.
  2. ^ Langhorne, Emily. "Bookshare: How One Nonprofit Is Improving The Lives Of Students With 'Reading Barriers'". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  3. ^ "Palo Alto nonprofit Benetech wins a $42.5M Dept. of Education grant, a nod to founder Jim Fruchterman's quest to help the blind". TechCrunch. November 2017. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  4. ^ Kendrick, D: Interview in AccessWorld magazine "Fruchterman's Fantasy Becomes Reality". American Foundation for the Blind Press, November 2001.
  5. ^ An original outside Martus funder was the Open Society Institute through Aspiration, a non-profit software technology assistance initiative created by then OSI Internet Program Director Jonathan Peizer. Martus was the first tool this initiative supported because of its unique focus on human rights tracking.
  6. ^ Michels, Spencer (2011-03-25). . pbs.org. MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. Archived from the original on 2011-04-20. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  7. ^ Inc, Beneficent Technology (2019-05-16). "Benetech Announces Major International Expansion to Help End the Global Book Famine". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved 2019-08-06. {{cite press release}}: |last= has generic name (help)

External links edit

  • Benetech
  • Bookshare: accessible online library for people with reading barriers
  • Benetech Service Net
  • Martus Human Rights Database Software
  • Human Rights Data Analysis Group
  • Miradi Environmental Project Management Software

benetech, nonprofit, social, enterprise, organization, that, empowers, communities, with, software, social, good, previous, projects, include, route, literacy, project, miradi, environmental, project, management, software, martus, human, rights, abuse, reporti. Benetech is a nonprofit social enterprise organization that empowers communities with software for social good Previous projects include the Route 66 Literacy Project the Miradi environmental project management software Martus human rights abuse reporting and the Human Rights Data Analysis Group 1 Current program areas include global education human rights and poverty alleviation BenetechFounded1989 2001 under Benetech nameFounderJim FruchtermanTypeNon profitFocusEducation Human Rights Environment PovertyLocationPalo Alto California United StatesArea servedWorldwideProductSoftware for social goodKey peopleJim Fruchterman Founder Ayan Kishore CEO Kevin Lo Chair WebsiteBenetech orgFormerly calledArkenstone Inc Contents 1 About 2 History 3 See also 4 Notes 5 External linksAbout editOne of Benetech s key education program initiatives is Bookshare an e book library for people with print disabilities such as dyslexia blindness low vision and physical disabilities 2 Another project is Benetech Service Net an open standards data exchange platform that makes it easier to share and maintain information on local social and human services Organizations providing referrals or referral technology such as 2 1 1s Healthify or Health Leads and agencies providing information about their services such as community based shelters food pantries or government agencies can work together to make better data available for everyone History editBenetech was founded by technology entrepreneur Jim Fruchterman in Palo Alto California under the name of Arkenstone in 1989 3 It was initially created to provide reading machines for blind people During the period 1989 2000 over 35 000 reading machines were sold in sixty countries reading twelve different languages In 2000 the Arkenstone reading machine product line was sold to Freedom Scientific and the nonprofit s name was changed to Benetech The funding from the asset sale was used to start the Bookshare initiative and Martus project in 2001 4 5 Benetech and its Martus software were featured on the PBS NewsHour 6 In 2019 Benetech announced the expansion of its inclusive education initiatives creating new partnerships with organisations such as Vision Australia the Royal National Institute of Blind People in the UK National Council for the Blind of Ireland Canada s Center for Equitable Library Access and the Dubai government 7 See also editGuatemala National Police ArchivesNotes edit Perrini Francesco 2006 The new social entrepreneurship what awaits social entrepreneurial ventures Edward Elgar ISBN 1 84542 781 5 OCLC 63472522 Langhorne Emily Bookshare How One Nonprofit Is Improving The Lives Of Students With Reading Barriers Forbes Retrieved 2019 12 09 Palo Alto nonprofit Benetech wins a 42 5M Dept of Education grant a nod to founder Jim Fruchterman s quest to help the blind TechCrunch November 2017 Retrieved 2019 12 09 Kendrick D Interview in AccessWorld magazine Fruchterman s Fantasy Becomes Reality American Foundation for the Blind Press November 2001 An original outside Martus funder was the Open Society Institute through Aspiration a non profit software technology assistance initiative created by then OSI Internet Program Director Jonathan Peizer Martus was the first tool this initiative supported because of its unique focus on human rights tracking Michels Spencer 2011 03 25 To Combat Human Rights Abuses California Company Looks to Computer Code pbs org MacNeil Lehrer Productions Archived from the original on 2011 04 20 Retrieved 2011 03 27 Inc Beneficent Technology 2019 05 16 Benetech Announces Major International Expansion to Help End the Global Book Famine GlobeNewswire News Room Press release Retrieved 2019 08 06 a href Template Cite press release html title Template Cite press release cite press release a last has generic name help External links editBenetech Bookshare accessible online library for people with reading barriers Benetech Service Net Martus Human Rights Database Software Human Rights Data Analysis Group Miradi Environmental Project Management Software Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benetech amp oldid 1195015246, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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