This Tuesday, the 19th, HumaniNet is organizing an exposition in silicon valley called Simulation Day, which will showcase communications technology for assisting in earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters where there is limited or no communications infrastructure. It will feature the nonprofits Inveneo.org, Green-WiFi.org, and TechReach International, as well as HumaniNet's own work.

If you go, you'll see bicycle-powered and solar-powered computers, satellite wifi and solar mesh wifi networks, and PDA mapping devices among other serious toys on display. (For details, see the event site, or the full press release reposted on TCMnet.) If you can't be there in person, you can get a bit of info on these things on HumaniNet's ICT Information Service page, but those in the San Francisco bay area should definitely try to drop by.

HumaniNet is a network of nonprofits, and an information source to help provide communications technology to the developing world and disaster areas whose normal communications infrastructure has been shattered. They don't install things in the field themselves, but can connect you to those who do; they primarily research such systems, help form partnerships between aid organizations and those that can provide the technology, and show the value of communications technology in underserved areas.