Hack for Japan

"I want to put my technical skills to good use." With that thought in mind, a few hundred IT developers gathered and started making web-based and mobile apps, in events called Hack for Japan.

Hack for Japan is a project that allows engineers to collaborate on developing apps or other tools to contribute to the recovery of the area that was struck by the disaster. The first event was just one week after the disaster, from 19 to 21 March. The second set of events were held 21 to 22 May on six different places including Sendai.

Employees from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Rakuten and other companies participated in these events. In total, a few hundred people are said to have participated.

The developed apps include a tool (Japanese only) that distinguishes real news from sensational rumors, an app (English) that shows the geiger values of radiation in mapping tools like Google maps and a photo service that posts images of the recovery in the region called 'Recovery Clock'. Moving stuff.

Image from code.google.com

Also, in collaboration with a radio station called Nippon Housou, a web site that collects Dajare (Japanese word jokes) was developed. The idea was to support the recovery by making Japanese people happy with laughter. For those that can read Japanese, see the site here.

The organisers of Hack for Japan are planning to make this a recurring event for the coming years. In the words of Takuya Oikawa, Engineering Manager at Google and organiser of the event: "the recovery will continue, and so will the activities of Hack for Japan".

The third series of Hack for Japan events are planned on 23 and 30 July, in Tokyo, Sendai and Aizuwakamatsu.

Source: Nikkei Keizai Shinbun, 4 July 2011

Google Helps Japan Remember The Good Times

Do you ever walk around town, see some new buildings and cannot remember what used to be there on that spot? I guess it depends on your city but I often have difficulty recalling what buildings preceded the new ones.

What if your whole city has been changed in an instant? Buildings gone or moved, streets unrecognizably changed. Would you still be able to remember everything? Or would some details be lost in time?

The northeast of Japan experienced such a dramatic change in landscape on March 11. Whole buildings, blocks and towns were wiped from the map. Some people might have pictures online about the situation before the disaster, but wouldn't it be nice if you could share those pictures with your community in an effective way? Enter Google.

On May 16, Google Japan released this page called "Our Memories for The Future". It was revamped recently; my reason to introduce this page now.

It is basically a collection of photo's and videos, grouped in some 150 themes according to location, local festivities etc. Here's a commercial about the service.

Many of these images are of the disaster struck area, before the merciless earthquakes and relentless waves destroyed it all. You can search the images also according to location as you can see in this screenshot depicting Fukushima and Miyagi prefecture. The filter is set to "Before the Disaster".

You don't need to be able to read Japanese. Just take a look at some of the pictures. Some are about local festivals, others are about zoos and nature, and even company tours. It all seems very peaceful.

Just looking at them makes me realize how fragile life is and how we should be happy with what we got at this moment. As history has shown, we might not be able to hold on to it forever.