Handheld Tech Used in Community Service?

jcravens42 asks: "The essay 'Forget the Palm - Give Me The Finger' prompts me to ask if anyone out in slashdot land knows of volunteers/citizens/grass roots advocates using hand held computer or phone devices as part of their community service/volunteering/advocacy. I've found lots of examples where a particular city has given out hand helds to volunteers to report infrastructure and crime problems (abandoned cars, pot holes, etc), but I'm looking for others. I'll share the final list of examples with anyone who wants such."

Where do i sign?

[Tigris666]

You say they are giving out free palm pilots to people so that they can send in info about knocked out streetlights?

I'm up for that... when is this coming to melbourne? I'll knock out some streetlights myself so the council thinks they need something like this in place...

Seriously though, sounds like a great idea. I don't know where the funding would come from, but in answer to your question, it's not here in OZ yet, and to be honest, our government sounds too skimpy to do something like this!

And i can't think of any type of deal where they have given away technology in order to help the community either. Seems like america just has money to burn huh?