Why so few humanitarian iPhone apps?

It may not be obvious, but I’m an iPhone designer and developer. Although I got started late last year, you could say that I’ve been pretty successful at it, for the most part.

Recently I decided to do something I considered to be an act of selfless design: concept and build an iPhone application for a non-profit group that may benefit from exposure through 40,000,000+ iPhones and iPod touches. In June 2009, Apple stated there were 50,000+ iphone applications, so I figured “why not build one or more that might benefit humanity?”.

After contacting several groups, I found that several did not think that it was worth the time or effort to build an iPhone app for their cause...even if it was done free of charge!! Primary reason: “We don’t think an app might help us”.

Is awareness not enough? Can socializing ideals that a group promotes hurt them in some way? If so, why do so many have websites? Is it because there is a lack of understanding of how Apple's or Google's success could benefit non-profit organizations? Could it be because there is no incentive for designers or developers to volunteer to build humanitarian apps when the contract market rate is between $100-$200 an hour? Is it because no one believes that consumers are willing to be a part of a philanthropic effort when accounting for the cost of ownership of an iPhone or Google Android device?

Or is it something else altogether??

Please comment and let me know your thoughts on why there are so few humanitarian apps. Comment if you managed to find a humanitarian app in the iTunes App store or in the Google marketplace. If you even have a cause that you think is worthy of an iPhone app, let us know. Maybe the iPhone development community can get something built for them...

What can we / you do about it?

1 billion visits? R or I Challenge

I’m not sure if the world knew about this but this past week, the global internet audience surpassed 1 billion visitors in December 2008, according to comScore. That’s quite a bit of traffic on the web, and I want to say personally that I’m proud of each and every person who made those 1 billion visits possible. Where would the salaries of so many web designers, web developers, information architects, and the gross revenue of Google be without all of you?

What I am not proud of is the fact that over the last five years, global internet interest in philanthropy has declined every year and is down almost 50% overall since 2004. (See: Google Global Insights for Search: Philanthropy)

Question: If the Internet has more people on the web than ever before and the most talented people building sites every day, how does the interest in philanthropy decline so much? We have open source technology, lots of engaging websites, and more rich internet applications than ever before...What is (not) happening?

One possible answer: Some are interested more in money and / or recognition and may think that not much of either will come from using their skills and time for humanitarian or philanthropic purposes.

Another possible answer: Perhaps some are willing, but unaware of how to get started or connected with meaningful groups and organizations.

Challenge: I would like to challenge each and every UI designer, user experience and information architect, web developer and web / graphic designer to use your technical or artistic skills to help at least one philanthropic project in the next 30 days. Why not take a break from list of clients that always seems to have a million 'tweaks' to your design in favor of a new client that is ecstatic to have someone actively contributing? Try visiting Designism Connects, which is a website that connects causes to creatives and vice versa.
If you have a success story, let me know via comment. We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
I have already made contact with a group and I intend to design / program to help their cause. I also have a very big philanthropic plan in the works to expand this effort.

Real: Your ability, your creativity, your knowledge, your awareness, your accountability

Imagined: Diffusion of Responsibility