A weekend gathering of hackers belonging to Random Hacks of Kindness (orRHoK, pronounced ‘rock’) in Melbourne has come out with ideas that can transform online emergency information services.

Random Hacks of Kindness – A blossoming movement

Most of the people tend to think that hacking is bad, and hackers immoral. However, nascent movements like Random hacks of kindness present a completely contrary scene. The initiative was taken by a society of hackers in the Silicone Valley who unlike criminals do not intend to upset governments confidential information, but work for a noble cause.Hackers help in revolutionizing disaster warning systems

Imagine an app that can deliver emergency messages even when the mobile network in down or an app that can alert rescue workers when somebody is alive under a collapsed structure. These dreams now seem close to reality, all thanks to the group of professionals belonging to a community of hackers who work for humanity. Such expertise can also be deployed for locating absent people at a critical time such as a natural accident. These hackers aim to change the world for better, using technological solutions to address needs.

The mission is called “hacking for humanity”, said Jeremy Johnstone, co-founder of Random hacks of Kindness, or RHok.

Movement Supporters

The movement which aims to hold to hold two hackathons a year is very well supported by numerous agencies and corporations like Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration and the World Bank. And it has also drawn attention from the highest ranks of the State Division to the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, who graced such a hacking event by his presence earlier.

Using hacking for an entirely new purpose

It’s not about reinventing the wheel, but using the wheel for new purposes, said Chris Messina, a Google employee who participated in the third official RHoK that took place the previous weekend. He also added,” When the internet goes down or when you lose the resources you depend on; we need to create new solutions.”

Uniting technologists and humanitarian experts

Within a small duration of 2 years, hackathons have become a part of valley culture, an event organized for the common good that unites technologists and humanitarian experts in an effort to solve pressing issues. The best part of such an event is that no matter which team wins the competition, all hackers learn, mentor and share in their world.