Lenovo Launches Work for Humankind Project

Lenovo has announced the next stage of its Work for Humankind project, as part of its historic partnership with NGO Island Conservation and the Robinson Crusoe Island community.

Photo Insert: Volunteers offered their professional skills in design, technology, sustainability, and biodiversity while on the island to help crucial conservation efforts with Island Conservation.

Critical pieces of Lenovo technology have been installed throughout the island and will now become permanent fixtures, in turn leaving a lasting legacy and stronger connectivity on an island home to one of the world's most diverse ecosystems.

Earlier this year, Work for Humankind sent 16 volunteers with a variety of skills to make a lasting difference while working their own jobs remotely from Robinson Crusoe Island.

Volunteers offered their professional skills in design, technology, sustainability, and biodiversity while on the island to help crucial conservation efforts with Island Conservation. Volunteer efforts are aimed at aiding future advances for the island's inhabitants, flora, and animals by leveraging the power of technology and communication.

“Within months of first connecting this remote island community with advanced technology and a group of passionate people, we have already seen the significant impact of technology on Robinson Crusoe Island, accelerating their precious conservation work by a 100%. This is the power of smarter technology for everyone,” said Emily Ketchen, vice president and chief marketing officer, Smart Devices Group, Lenovo.

By bridging the digital divide, a formerly isolated island of 900 inhabitants will now be connected to the rest of the world via Lenovo devices and solutions, including laptops, desktops, mobile workstations and servers. This includes ThinkPad, Yoga, Lenovo Legion, ThinkBook, and IdeaCentre PCs; ThinkSmart devices for virtual meetings; Lenovo tablets, monitors and accessories; ThinkReality A3 augmented reality smart glasses and Lenovo Mirage VR S3 virtual reality headset; ThinkEdge SE450 servers to deliver artificial intelligence (AI) directly where data is produced at the edge; motorola edge smartphones; LanSchool educational software to be used by the local school; smart home devices and more.

“Thanks to the collaboration and technology provided by Lenovo…We have now effectively overcome the barriers we previously faced without sufficient internet connectivity and completely transformed the way our team works as we are now able to significantly reduce valuable time helping us achieve our goals.” David Will, Head of Innovation at Island Conservation commented.

The island will also continue to enjoy high-speed connectivity with internet speeds of up to 200Mbps (upgraded from 1MB previously), a change that marks the difference between simply being able to surf the web and being able to easily connect and collaborate remotely via video conferences.

This project will open up new opportunities for tourism, commerce, employment, and education, as well as enhance the island’s environmental and economic resilience.

“Work for Humankind did exactly what it set out to do. For the first time, a group of talented and motivated volunteers from around the world came together using technology and their range of skills to leave a lasting impact on the island.” Pablo Manríquez Angulo, Mayor of Robinson Crusoe added.

This remote island community now has equitable and autonomous Internet connectivity for the first time in history. This is the company's most significant networking innovation in more than 20 years.

From 1704 to 1709, the island was home to the marooned sailor Alexander Selkirk, who at least partially inspired novelist Daniel Defoe's fictional Robinson Crusoe in his 1719 novel. To reflect the literary lore associated with the island, the Chilean government renamed the place Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966.

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