“You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” These words were once said by legendary salesman and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar. Coding is not sales, but there is one thing that the two share in common… the idea that you can be successful while also uplifting those around you, maybe even changing the world in the process. There are many movements and lines of work that lie at the intersection coding and philanthropy.
Here are a few of the ways that you can help change the world with your coding skills.
Life-Changing Robotics
It was only a couple of years ago that bionic limbs were just the stuff of films and video games. Fast forward to our present day and we’ve come further than we ever thought possible. The implementation of 3D printing has done wonders when driven by smart software. Coding provides the basis for fluid movement and creates a prosthetic more familiar to the user than what has traditionally been available to them.
Conserving the Environment
Renewable energy continues to be a hot topic and will no doubt remain on everyone’s minds. Luckily, equipment systems and emission tracking software is making big strides toward a cleaner planet. Coding is also helping promote the survival of the earth’s diverse and fragile wildlife. Artificial intelligence and complex databases tracking animals real-time can accurately document their growth, falling numbers due to deforestation or poaching, and even the onset of life-threatening natural disasters like wildfires and red tide outbreak.
Charity Coding
Imagine coming together with a group of coders for 48 hours of researching and developing prototypes in a quest for coding greatness! Sounds a little over-the-top, but hackathons are responsible for some serious real-world solutions implemented today. Starting in the late 1990s, hackathons are aimed at developing new products or solutions to existing problems. It wasn’t long until people realized these events could do more than just drive sales. Many non-profits don’t have the money or manpower to fix their tech problems. Hackathons and other charity coding initiatives give back to these organizations that are too busy focusing on helping others.
How Else Can You Help?
Someone taught you to code, either a school, a mentor, or an instructor developed program online. You now have a gift, and you can share it with the world. Help those around you, maybe a friend who has a struggling business online, or an artist trying to create the optimal website to showcase their work. A piece of advice, or some suggestions from an expert like yourself (don’t be so modest), can bring them success. If your knowledge can improve the life of the person one screen over from you, then you’re already doing your small part to change the world.
