What is public interest technology and how does it help people in need? A policy expert explains

Every year, millions of people who qualify for food assistance never get it. The money exists and they meet the eligibility rules, but they don’t know that the program exists, or if they qualify. For others, the application is too long and complicated. Public interest technology can fill these gaps between what a policy promises and what a person experiences. Public interest technology is a combination of technology, data, design, policy, social science, ethics and law brought together to improve people’s lives and serve the common good. Public interest technology has prevented children from being poisoned by lead paint, helped families stay in their homes instead of being evicted, and supported disaster recovery efforts after the Los Angeles fires. The work is carried out by government agencies, nonprofit organizations, universities, community groups and experts like me who study how to use technology to help solve societal issues. How a solution arises Public interest technology starts with identifying the problem and asking two questions: What system is not working for the people it is supposed to serve? And how can it be improved? The next step involves building a cross-discip…