This is really noble and I'm glad people are doing it. However, from what I know of the "lets solve real problems on the streets" world -- you need to spend more time on the streets than in a lab trying to come up with abstract technological solutions.
Heres likely why:
You don't understand the problem
You don't empathize with the problem
You don't understand potential users from a radically different class or culture
You assume solution toolsets that users don't have access to, aren't familiar with or just are unrealistic
Sometimes I wish this money would go to funding engineers to join EXISTING organizations that have identified or are on their way to solving real problems, but simply aren't 'cool' enough to warrant google.org money.
Heres likely why:
You don't understand the problem
You don't empathize with the problem
You don't understand potential users from a radically different class or culture
You assume solution toolsets that users don't have access to, aren't familiar with or just are unrealistic
Sometimes I wish this money would go to funding engineers to join EXISTING organizations that have identified or are on their way to solving real problems, but simply aren't 'cool' enough to warrant google.org money.