Congressman gets look at ‘fascinating’ technology
Foster's Daily Democrat, January 11, 2005
By DOUGLAS P. GUARINO
Democrat Staff Writer
PORTSMOUTH – US Rep. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H., described the services offered by Global Relief Technologies as "fascinating," as he left the company’s Congress Street offices Monday afternoon.
Bradley said he would try to advocate for the company, which contracts with the military and nongovernmental organizations to provide software and services used in humanitarian relief efforts, when he returns to Washington.
Bradley said company officials had invited him to tour their facility, located at 40 Congress Street.
"This is a New Hampshire business and I look forward to understanding what it’s about," Bradley said.
At one point during a hour-long visit, Bradley tried out a LeapFrog, LeapPad, an interactive picture book aimed at teaching third world families health and sanitation habits.
Chip Peter, Global Relief Technologies’ chief technical officer, said the International Medical Corps eventually plans to distribute 20,000 of the devices in Afghanistan.
Afterwards, they will use hand-held computers, or PDAs, outfitted with Global Relief Technologies software to analyze whether the devices had a positive impact, Peter said.
The software is also used to compile and analyze data in other crisis situations.
The company recently donated about $26,000 worth of products and services, including PDAs, software, satellite phones and air time, for the Tsunami relief effort in Indonesia.
Michael Gray, the company’s CEO, said the products could be used to track problems with drinking water sanitation in areas affected by the disaster.
Gray, a former officer with the U.S. Navy and State Department, said he realized the potential impact the software could have while working on relief efforts in the Balkans.
He said the technology allows those who provide relief to manage information much more efficiently then they normally would with pencil and paper.