Can new data collection tools and even location-based games help endangered people's map and keep their lands?
Part of the Extreme Citizen Science (ExCiteS) programme, launched on Friday at University College London, UK, the work builds on research from anthropologist Jerome Lewis into data collection in extreme environments. Lewis has been working with indigenous people in the Republic of Congo and Cameroon since 2005 to develop tools for use by non-literate people.
Working with hardware manufacturers he's helped develop icon-based data collection devices where local geotag trees with key foods or resources. Once the maps are made, the next step is teaching the locals to read those maps. How? Using "find me" type mobile games built on the maps.