What Problems will The Next Billion Users of The Internet Have?
A reflection from the projects we done in Q3 2023
A refresher on who we are
I am Akil Benjamin, Strategy Principal at COMUZI.
COMUZI is a creative tech company utilising emerging technologies to build early-stage prototypes & interactive web experiences to support the next billion users of the internet to play and experience joy.
That is what we’ve been working on this quarter.
Our Principles
Experimentation
At COMUZI, we constantly experiment with innovation approaches to deliver more impactful outcomes.
Adventure
We love to explore a variety of perspectives to gain insight on what can shift the needle for our clients and communities.
Rigour
We uphold the principles of rigour, privacy, and communication. Our meticulous attention to detail ensures that we are thorough and precise in every endeavour.
Now, meet people
We strive to bring experiences closer to communities that have historically been sidelined or excluded.
What does the next Billionth user of the internet look like?
The next billion users will be mobile-first, multi-lingual individuals who lean towards video and voice interactions, prioritise accessibility, champion digital tools, and encompass an aging global population.
The top 5 countries with the highest numbers of people not connected to the web are given below.
The next billion users are primarily located in economically fast-growing emerging and developing nations, with expanding populations, surging GDPs, and growing middle classes.
We also believe that the next billion users will hail from growing ethnic minority communities in Eurocentric markets. They will be apart of the increasing audience numbers socialising online within niche communities and will present demands stemming from underserved yet large-scale needs.
Q3 Projects
Dear Menopause with Impact on Urban Health
Over the last couple years, we have closely engaged in collaboration on several projects with Impact on Urban Health, a funder that partners with organisations to address health challenges in cities and urban areas.
During our exploration of potential AI use cases in Women’s Health, we began developing an intelligent assistant named Dear Menopause.
Using simple text inputs, it discerns specific symptoms and needs related to menopause, offering users a curated assortment of products, services, and advice.
Our initial user research made it evident that many women* feel there's a pronounced lack of knowledge and support around menopause.
Each individual may experience unique symptoms during menopause, but most advice and solutions cater only to a few common ones. For instance, many women we interviewed showed interest in homoeopathy and alternative treatment options.
Unfortunately, online searches often lead them to extensive lists of links, influenced by advertisers and search engine optimisation, making it challenging for them to find accurate and relevant information.
*This may include those who identify as non binary and non gender conforming
The Dear Menopause project is a work in progress, one where we would love to launch and introduce the world, but only if we can truly serve a purpose.
Innovation for innovation sake does not work. Especially as we got shiny new LLMs which can do wonders, we still need to be responsible in the deployment of these technologies.
Reducing High Blood Pressure in South London with Lambeth Together
An alarming 1.28 billion adults, aged between 30 and 79 years, currently suffer from hypertension. It's particularly concerning to note that evidence from numerous studies indicates individuals with lower incomes are more susceptible to high blood pressure.
In Lambeth, a borough with a population of 322,000 residents, a staggering 34% have blood pressure that's above average. Furthermore, individuals from black and minority communities are at a significantly higher risk compared to their white counterparts.
Recognising this urgent health disparity, COMUZI collaborated with Lambeth Together on a comprehensive research initiative, conducting interviews and focus groups that reached out to some of the most vulnerable and often overlooked sections of the borough: those at risk who habitually missed appointments, individuals from black and minority backgrounds, and residents from low-income households.
Our findings culminated in an insightful report. Among the recommendations, one stood out as particularly impactful: launching a local multi-channel campaign aimed at raising awareness about high blood pressure, its dire consequences, and actionable steps for its management.
Thus an initiative, United Pulse: Empowering Lambeth to Beat High Blood Pressure was proposed. The initiative's goal is not just to inform but to instil a proactive approach towards health checks, particularly within the black and minority communities in Lambeth.
At its core, United Pulse promotes two main calls to action: first, encouraging individuals to take personal responsibility for their health and wellbeing, and second, championing community mobilisation. This means rallying the community to come together, share personal stories, and inspire one another in their health journeys.
Working with us in 2024
As we usher in a new year, we're excited to share multiple avenues to for you and your organisation to collaborate with the COMUZI team.
Whether you're looking for a dedicated designer's touch or a deep-dive into creative experimentation, we offer tailored solutions to fit your needs.
Explore our diverse range of offerings below and discover the perfect way to bring your vision to life.
Workshops
Engage in 1—3 days of interactive sessions for creative solutions and a clear path forward.
Experiments
Spend 2—6 weeks with our creative experts to craft futuristic propositions and prototypes.
Sprints
Dive into a 5-day intensive co-creation process for validated designs and fresh perspectives.
Collabs
Embark on 6-12 week projects complementing and elevating your existing teams and strategies.