Aid agencies turn to open source in an emergency

A virtual emergency response center dubbed Collabbit could be just what relief agencies need to coordinate their aid efforts in the aftermath of a disaster when speed is crucial. Collabbit is the handiwork of the Humanitarian Free and Open Source Software project (HFOSS). It acts as central repository for information, sending out project updates to workers via RSS or text message. Collabbit recently performed well in a simulated emergency. In June, students from Wesleyan University and Trinity College in Connecticut teamed up with representatives from municipal and volunteer agencies including the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and Catholic Charities USA to design Collabbit.