IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 62

What is
IT for
Social
Impact?
A Review of Literature
and Practices
Jason Sargent and Ashir Ahmed

I

nformation and communication technologies (ICTs) have incredible power to improve people's lives [6], [21], [33], [35]
and foster economic growth [22], [24],
[29]. In doing so, ICTs create opportunities for individuals, companies, and nations around the globe [37], [46]. While,
the idea that technology has the potential to positively change a person's life is not new, a catchphrase has emerged in recent years, "technology
for good" [11], [13], [17], [36], [50], whereby leading
technology companies such as Google, Microsoft,
and Ericsson have embraced this concept.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MTS.2017.2763478
Date of publication: 5 December 2017

62

1932-4529/17©2017IEEE

Google: "Tech entrepreneurs are using innovation to
tackle some of the world's biggest challenges. We
invest in teams with bold ideas that create lasting
global impact" [18].
■ Microsoft: "Through Microsoft Philanthropies, we're
investing Microsoft's strongest assets to drive greater inclusion and empowerment of people who do
not have access to technology and the opportunities
it offers and enables" [33].
■ Ericsson: "We are turning intentions into impact.
And this impact is perhaps best exemplified through
our Technology for Good programs" [63].
However, with the advent of assorted technology for
good programs, and more broadly, "humanitarian" technology, there is an increasing demand for mechanisms
to identify the types of approaches that are most
■

IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

∕

DECEMBER 2017



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017

IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - Cover1
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - Cover2
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 1
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 2
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 3
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 4
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 5
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 6
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 7
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 8
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 9
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 10
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 11
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 12
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 13
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 14
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 15
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 16
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 17
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 18
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 19
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 20
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 21
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 22
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 23
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 24
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 25
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 26
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 27
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 28
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 29
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 30
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 31
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 32
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 33
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 34
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 35
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 36
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 37
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 38
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 39
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 40
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 41
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 42
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 43
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 44
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 45
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 46
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 47
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 48
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 49
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 50
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 51
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 52
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 53
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 54
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 55
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 56
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 57
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 58
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 59
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 60
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 61
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 62
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 63
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 64
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 65
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 66
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 67
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 68
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 69
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 70
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 71
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 72
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 73
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 74
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 75
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 76
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 77
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 78
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 79
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 80
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 81
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 82
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 83
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 84
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 85
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 86
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 87
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - 88
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - Cover3
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - December 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_september2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_march2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_winter2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_fall2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_summer2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/technologysociety_spring2013
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com