Mozilla Announces $95K In Grants To Seven Austin Technology Projects

“Each of these well-deserved teams were selected because they leverage new technologies and approaches to solve real problems for real people…”

Seven technology projects in Austin will receive a total of $95,000 from the Mozilla Gigabit Community Fund, Mozilla announced Wednesday, Nov. 1. The projects received the funding because the City of Austin is one of Mozilla’s five gigabit cities.

“I continue to be blown away by the ingenuity, compassion, and drive of developers in Austin to improve the world around them,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “This funding will help seven more Austin technologies make Austin a more inclusive and equitable city.”

The funding is in addition to the two US Ignite GigaTECHs winners announced earlier this year. The awards mark another step toward the City’s Digital Inclusion, Smart City, and Open Data strategies.

“Each of these well-deserved teams were selected because they leverage new technologies and approaches to solve real problems for real people,” said Charles Purma III, manager in the City’s Communications and Technology Management Department. “From ensuring public safety and health professionals are prepared for the next crises to getting the next generation of coders, artists, and educators from all our communities ready for the hyper-competitive workforce, these projects are perfect examples of what Austin means when we say ‘smart.’”

The Mozilla Gigabit Community Fund provides funding to technologists, educators, and entrepreneurs in Austin and four other gigabit cities across the U.S. — Chattanooga, TN; Eugene, OR; Kansas City, MO; and Lafayette, LA. Fund cities are selected based on a range of criteria, including a widely deployed high-speed fiber network; a developing conversation about digital literacy, access, and innovation; a critical mass of community anchor organizations, including arts and educational groups; an evolving entrepreneurial community; and opportunities to engage K-12 school systems.

The Fund provides grants and on-the-ground-staff to support projects that leverage gigabit internet to create more connected, open, and innovative U.S. cities. It has granted more than $800,000 to over 60 projects during its four-year history.

“The gigabit projects we fund are built and piloted by community members to address real challenges in education and workforce development in their cities,” said Lindsey Frost, who directs the Mozilla Community Gigabit Fund. “It’s all part of our mission to build a healthy internet that fuels a more open, equitable, and inclusive society.”

The seven Austin projects receiving grants were selected by an external panel of local educators, technologists, and community leaders in Austin. Learn more about them below.

• PerSim Training Simulation for First Responders | Austin, TX
  PerSim provides affordable, portable, and realistic AR training simulations to paramedics. Led by MedCognition.

• Latinitas VR Cinema Chica | Austin, TX
  Twenty Latina girls ages 10 and older will work with an experienced VR filmmaker to create short documentaries about Austin’s East Side. Films will be featured at the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival in May 2018. Led by Latinitas.

• Dove Springs Coding Academy-GO! Future VR Project | Austin, TX
  This project provides 40 low-income youth with coding lessons through a VR curriculum. Students will present their learnings at a VR College & Career Fair. Led by River City Youth Foundation.

• Cine Joven Breaking Borders Project | Austin, TX
  This project allows students from Austin, Texas and Monterrey, Mexico to co-create a 4K short film over high-bandwidth internet. The final film will be screened in Monterrey before a live audience. Led by Motion Media Arts Center.

• Virtual Storytelling Curriculum | Austin, TX
  This project introduces students to careers in technology, and hones their storytelling skills, by having them catalogue local historic landmarks using 360-degree video and VR. Led by E4 Youth.

• Gigabit Technology and the Arts in Creative Action After School | Austin, TX
  Technology meets art in this project, as educators and artists integrate VR headsets, 360-degree video, and a variety of applications into theater classes, art classes, and mural making. Led by Creative Action.

• VR Field Trip to the USA | Austin, TX, Chattanooga, TN & Kansas City
  This project uses 360-degree 4K video to connect local classrooms with others around the world. Students will act as cultural ambassadors for their city, remotely introducing international students to Austin, Kansas City, and Chattanooga. Led by PenPal Schools.