Developers Wanted: Non-Profit Video Calling App | Hacker News Reader

Developers Wanted: Non-Profit Video Calling App

5 pointsmiajavs11 comments

Developer Job Posting - Ameelio.org

About the Organization

Ameelio is in the early stages of developing the first-ever free prison communication platform that will challenge the dominance of private prison telecommunications companies. Come join a mission-oriented organization committed to developing technology that helps people! Learn more here: ameelio.org

What We’re Looking For

Experienced back-end and front-end developers to join a small, high-performing group of industry professionals to build Ameelio’s Connect application; a service that allows free-world users to make video calls and send e-messages to their incarcerated loved ones. As a start-up, we’re looking for self-driven professionals who have the ability to take full ownership over workstreams.

If You’re Interested

Please reach out to team@ameelio.org and let us know! Specifically, please provide us with the following:

Statement of interest focusing on your skillset Estimated effort and required hourly rate Link to your linkedin profile or hard copy resume Link to your Github profile or examples of your work

We will confirm receipt of your email within a few hours. If it’s a good fit, we’ll (1) provide the first version Connect requirements, (2) schedule a phone interview and (3) provide access to Ameelio’s github repo.

I thought the major players in prison telecom (including video) were terrible and overpriced because they pay massive legal kickbacks to prisons for allowing them to operate exclusively. What's your plan to enter a "market" like that?

Great question - we believe strongly in decoupling people from profit, which is why we are positioning the company as a nonprofit. Following the policy lead of NYC that has made phone calls for their incarcerated free, we are attempting to move quickly to enter the market in cities and states like San Francisco and Connecticut that are implementing similar policies.

Makes sense, thanks for replying!

The point of prisons is not just to punish but rather to help “fix” people. Should your app play any role in that? At the moment, money is what keeps patients from spending tons of time on the phone (amongst other things). Can call points be a reward for doing well inside? Perhaps you get extra points when you visit the prison library or if you take classes to learn a craft? Not to complicate your plans, but feels like an opportunity that might help get support from policy makers.

Really appreciate the comment. We are committed to making prisons places of rehabilitation. An important and proven aspect of re-entry and decreasing recidivism.

Being a non-profit, will the Connect application both client and back-end software be open-source?

Also how can estimated effort be provided without having (1) first version Connect requirements?

Happy to send first version requirements ahead of the effort estimate to interested parties that reach out. Thanks for the call out!

Why can’t they use any number of the video / chat apps available?

There are a number of reasons but primarily, there are differentiating work stream and security needs that need to be built around the video calling itself.

Is part time available?

Absolutely!

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