Do you know what collaborative apps are? Meet 4 of them and see how they work
- Igor Almenara
- 27 de jan. de 2022
- 4 min de leitura
Atualizado: 2 de fev. de 2022
The internet is a universal way to meet new people, understand new subjects, or dive headfirst into endless memes. One of the benefits of having several different people within the same network is allowing them to help each other and thus meet each other's needs.
It is very likely that you have already taken advantage of this concept in some way. If you've seen restaurant reviews on delivery apps or checked out observations and comments about an establishment or tourist spot on Google Maps, for example, know that they follow principles present in collaborative apps.
Even so, spaces for collaboration are popping up on the internet all the time — today, so-called collaborative applications form an entire category. There are several examples of applications in which "unity is strength" and, therefore, Canaltech now lists some of these platforms and how they are willing to help people even in hard times.
Guiaderodas is an initiative that works on several fronts. The first of these is the Guiaderodas Certification, a program aimed at improving accessibility for people with physical disabilities within corporations. The organization is willing to carry out evaluations on the structure, indicate what needs to improve, and even train workers so that they can better deal with colleagues with reduced mobility.
On the other hand, there is the “Where to Go” function, which in practice is like evaluating establishments using Google Maps, but with a focus on accessibility. “Does the place offer tactile flooring?”, “Are there alternatives for locomotion besides stairs?”, and “Do people in wheelchairs have space to walk inside the environment?” are some of the questions that the user must be answered to feed the application's database and help other people when deciding where to go or what place to visit.
The map's intelligence depends on a small team, responsible for evaluating the information, and, of course, on the collaboration of users. “We are a small team and all our success depends on raising awareness of digital volunteers. They are responsible for the success of the initiative”, says Guiaderodas founder Bruno Mahfuz in conversation with CT.
During the pandemic, uptake of the app has declined, according to Mahfuz, but this has encouraged the group to devise new functions. In addition to the mobile versions, Guiaderodas also works on the web.
Trampolim (Android)
Also with an equally important initiative is the Trampoline. It is a platform focused on advertising job vacancies that do not appear on larger networks, such as LinkedIn or Catho Online. The idea is to allow users to share opportunities they find in the neighborhood, in vacancies advertised by flyers, stickers, or cards. At the same time, other users take advantage of this information to go directly to the vacancy offered, already with address and position in hand.
Creating ways to advertise work opportunities is extremely important, even more so in a time as critical as the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially in São Paulo, the reopening of trade boosted the app's numbers by around 500%, revealed Trampolim Product Director Bruno Rizzato.
“There are more than 5,000 active vacancies at Trampolim, which were published by the community and by companies”, reveals the executive to Canaltech. “We have approximately 9,000 registered users and more than 2,000 applications made for job opportunities”, he adds.
The Trampoline is currently under development and is in a testing period, according to the official website. The app is available exclusively for Android.
At Cataki, the proposal is to correctly dispose of recyclable materials. The initiative aims to be a platform to help waste pickers, citizens who roam the streets in search of waste that can be recycled to sell to treatment centers.
According to Pimp my Carroça, responsible for Cataki, 90% of everything recycled in Brazil is collected by waste pickers. However, despite being an important part of the recycling chain, these people are the ones who receive the least for their effort — and that's where Cataki comes in again.
The application allows anyone to register as a waste picker. Then, the app works like this: do you have recyclable waste in your home or business? Just use Cataki to get in touch with a worker who will go to the agreed place to remove the material. In practice, the app works as a kind of "LinkedIn for the collector". It ends up allowing an increase in the income of these people. Today Cataki is available for Android and iOS.
To end the list here is perhaps the least pleasant initiative of all: Fogo Cruzado is a non-governmental organization that operates as an information center to report shootings. The platform is available for checking from the web, but also in a mobile application.
The concept is to keep the population informed about risky places and violence in a specific region, with data generated by the users themselves — also with a fact-checking by the Fogo Cruzado team. User complaints are not identifiable and the data obtained by the platform can be consulted free of charge and can serve as a source for the press and researchers.
Currently, Fogo Cruzado is active in recording shootings in the cities of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Recife (PE) and in their respective metropolitan regions. The service is available on the web, Android, and iOS.
It is a fact that there are other very modern initiatives out there — do you know any others? Leave your indication below in the comments.
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