A new digital experience, called “Deedit”, that encourages members of the public to do good deeds throughout the Edinburgh Festival has been launched today with the aim of tackling social issues such as plastic pollution, litter and homelessness.

Deedit encourages locals and visitors to carry out small acts of kindness, such as picking up litter, buying a sandwich for a stranger or giving directions.

Once these good deeds are completed, users are encouraged to record their activity via ‘Deedit’, sharing a photo of their deed or a selfie. They are then shown how their single deed or collection of deeds, have helped to impact on bigger, positive social change.

Collaborating with Data for Social Enterprise

It is part of Data Pipe Dreams: Glimpse of a Near Future, an annual initiative at the Centre for Design Informatics at the University of Edinburgh, which showcases prototypes that explore designing with data. The pavilion, which is located on Edinburgh’s George Street, is open to visitors throughout August and is free to attend. Deedit has been developed as part of Project Mercury, a unique collaboration between the Centre and Tesco Bank designed to explore Fintech, develop talent and foster innovation and creative thinking.

Although the pilot has been launched in Edinburgh, the developers are encouraging people from across Scotland to use the platform to do good deeds.

Following the pilot, the team will use data captured throughout the festival to explore potential future uses and will also benefit Social Bite, an Edinburgh-based social enterprise which helps homeless people across Scotland. A number of deeds directly support their work, such as buying a meal or coffee from their cafes for a person who is homeless.

Chris Speed, Director of the Centre for Design Informatics – University of Edinburgh said “One of the challenges we face is helping people understand the impact new data technologies will have on their lives.

“The partnership with Tesco Bank has been a fantastic help. Co-designing imaginative, human-centred experiences with the financial sector here in Edinburgh demonstrates that the city is becoming a world leader in FinTech design.”

The Design Informatics Pavilion features two other projects from the Project Mercury collaboration.

‘Lens’ allows visitors to take part in a game that highlights how their personal data – such as Facebook profile or Amazon purchases – might influence their success during a fictional job application.

‘Tess’ gives visitors the opportunity to see what could happen if financial service organisations used Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to help improve customers’ financial well-being.

“Working with the University has provided a range of exciting development opportunities for our colleagues,” added Grant Bourbousson, Digital Director – Tesco Bank

“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to talent development, innovation and the exploration of new and emerging technologies.”