1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,160 Okay, so get this, today's deep dive. 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:06,360 It's taking us to a company with a name that, 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:08,320 well, took me a few tries. 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,240 Gesellschafterentwicklung von Dingen. 5 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:14,160 Wow. Right, G-E-E-V-D for short. 6 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:16,600 But, you know, it really got me interested. 7 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:17,600 Okay. 8 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:19,680 Their website, they say they're developing things 9 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:20,600 for a better world. 10 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:22,480 I'm like, things? 11 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:24,080 Yeah. What kind of things? 12 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:26,240 Like, how are they actually building a better world? 13 00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:27,480 I need to know more. 14 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:29,200 Yeah, it kind of grabs your attention right. 15 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,520 And it seems like that's their whole thing being clear, 16 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:33,280 avoiding all that technical jargon. 17 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:34,880 Yeah. But what really struck me, 18 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,680 it's their commitment to this open source software. 19 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,040 And I mean, it's not just a buzzword for them. 20 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:42,280 Right. It's like the foundation 21 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:43,680 of their entire approach. 22 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:45,640 So, okay, let's break down this open source thing. 23 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:47,600 Yeah. Why is it such a big deal, 24 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:48,440 especially for a company 25 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:50,920 that's trying to make a positive impact, like really? 26 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,800 Imagine, right, a world where everything digital, 27 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,260 the apps we use, government platforms, everything, 28 00:00:58,260 --> 00:01:01,920 is built on transparency and collaboration. 29 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:04,060 That's the potential of open source. 30 00:01:04,060 --> 00:01:07,720 The code, anyone can see it, change it, share it. 31 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:09,160 It builds trust and security 32 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,600 because you're not relying on some mysterious thing 33 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:14,360 made by just one company, right? 34 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,880 So it's not like, you know, proprietary software 35 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,780 where everything is hidden, copyright laws, 36 00:01:20,780 --> 00:01:22,280 and like, you can't even talk about it. 37 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:23,120 Yeah. Yeah. 38 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:24,260 Open source is more like something 39 00:01:24,260 --> 00:01:25,880 everyone can benefit from. Exactly. 40 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,140 And that connects with GZEVD's whole, 41 00:01:28,140 --> 00:01:30,220 we are the good ones philosophy. 42 00:01:30,220 --> 00:01:32,720 They want to democratize technology, you know, 43 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:34,440 make it for everyone, not just a few. 44 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,000 And in fact, they even have this branch, broken image. 45 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:38,480 It's all about accessibility. 46 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:39,960 Broken image. 47 00:01:39,960 --> 00:01:41,600 That's a choice, right? Yeah. 48 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,880 Okay. I'm intrigued, but also a little, I don't know, worried. 49 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:46,440 Sure. What's the story? 50 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,920 Well, they're not afraid to talk about the tough stuff. 51 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,040 They're acknowledging that a lot of tech, 52 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:53,080 especially on the web, 53 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,840 it's not accessible for people with disabilities. 54 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:59,000 And broken image, they tackle that head on. 55 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,680 Screen readers, voice assistants, keyboard navigation. 56 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,280 They want to make sure everything they make works for everyone, 57 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:07,280 no matter what. 58 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,800 So it's not just about being, quote, good. 59 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,800 It's about, like, admitting where tech messes up 60 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:13,880 and actually trying to fix it. 61 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,560 Exactly. And they're not just, like, going with the flow, 62 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,480 GZ, EVD. They follow all those accessibility rules. 63 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:20,880 Yeah. Things like WCAG. 64 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,760 It stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. 65 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:30,520 And those UMPN standards, too. YAN301549 and BITV2.0. 66 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,600 These, like, set the rules, right, 67 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,840 for making digital content accessible, easy to use, 68 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,480 understandable, and strong, you know, 69 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:40,120 for folks with all sorts of disabilities. 70 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:41,960 Wow. OK. I'm getting a crash course 71 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:43,680 in digital accessibility here. 72 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:45,240 Yeah. And it's pretty amazing, 73 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:46,880 all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes 74 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,040 to make technology truly inclusive. 75 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,320 And it sounds like GEVD is really stepping up 76 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,480 to make it a priority. Yeah, they really are. 77 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,640 And they love to share what they know, too. 78 00:02:55,640 --> 00:02:57,960 One of their open source projects that caught my eye, 79 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,320 it's called OpenCulturist, and it's all about giving power 80 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,040 to these regional arts organizations. 81 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:04,680 Hold on. Open source for the arts. 82 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:06,520 Please tell me they're not just making spreadsheets 83 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:08,080 for galleries. How does that even work? 84 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:09,960 Well, it's way cooler than spreadsheets, I promise. 85 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,640 Yeah. Imagine, like, this central hub, right? 86 00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:14,960 Arts organizations, they can manage everything. 87 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,520 There are events, selling tickets, even fundraising. 88 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,320 All in one spot. Right. 89 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,720 And because it's open source, it's free. 90 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:23,800 Wow. They can use it, 91 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:25,280 change it to fit what they need. 92 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,400 No crazy subscription fees eating up their budget. 93 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,880 That's incredible, especially for the smaller organizations. 94 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:33,160 They don't have a ton of money. 95 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:34,680 This levels the playing field, right? 96 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,680 Right. It lets them focus on the art, 97 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,480 making it, sharing it. Exactly. 98 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:40,400 And they don't just stop at the arts either. 99 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,680 They've got this other project, D-gov. 100 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:47,080 It's about something that affects us all, government websites. 101 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:48,600 OK, got to be honest. 102 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,880 Government websites doesn't exactly scream exciting new tech to me. 103 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:54,840 Right. What's the deal with D-gov? 104 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:56,880 Think about it. Government websites. 105 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:58,920 Usually that's how we get important info, right? 106 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,160 Public services, announcements, all that. 107 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:06,120 The problem is these websites, often they're clunky, outdated, 108 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,520 impossible to navigate, and that creates a real barrier for people. 109 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,240 So D-gov, it's like a makeover for those, let's be honest, 110 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:15,640 often dreaded government websites. 111 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:17,000 You could say that, yeah. 112 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,520 It's a content management system, but it's user-friendly, open-source. 113 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:21,120 Yeah. 114 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,080 Makes it easier for government agencies. 115 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,600 They can build, maintain websites that are actually accessible, 116 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,200 secure, and easy for everyone to use. 117 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:29,560 Nice. 118 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:33,880 And because it's open-source, it means more transparency, more accountability. 119 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,280 It's like GAZVD is looking at all these areas 120 00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:38,720 where technology could be doing so much more, right? 121 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:43,320 Arts for government, accessibility, and they're actually making it happen. 122 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,080 But it doesn't stop there, does it? 123 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,960 What about this, our Better World Manifesto? 124 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,840 Sounds like they're pretty serious about actually living up to these 125 00:04:50,840 --> 00:04:52,920 ethical and sustainable practices. 126 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:53,640 Oh, yeah. 127 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,880 They definitely want everyone to know what they stand for. 128 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:00,000 And this manifesto, it's not just for show, you know? 129 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,920 It's a core part of how they operate as a company. 130 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,400 They've got rules for everything, like how they reduce their carbon footprint, 131 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,120 how they make travel more sustainable, 132 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:12,000 even supporting employees who are out there fighting climate change. 133 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:12,720 That's really cool. 134 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:17,320 I mean, it's refreshing to see a company that's not just talking about being green, 135 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,600 but actually doing something about it, right? 136 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,040 Like making real changes to shrink their environmental impact. 137 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:23,640 Yeah. 138 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,560 They're even thinking about the small stuff, what they eat. 139 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,760 This is so much more than just checking boxes on some corporate to-do list. 140 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:31,520 For sure. 141 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,320 And this commitment, it goes into all their projects, 142 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:39,000 even the ones that might not seem directly related to sustainability at first. 143 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:43,920 Like SafeServer, they offer these really secure IT solutions, 144 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,520 but they focus on data privacy, and that's crucial these days. 145 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:48,080 Absolutely. 146 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,440 Data privacy is a huge deal right now. 147 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,440 All those headlines about data breaches, people's information being misused. 148 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:59,360 It's good to know that GCEVD is actually trying to protect data. 149 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:04,480 What else are they working on in their ethical tech lab of wonders? 150 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,400 Well, they've gotten into renewable energy, actually. 151 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:08,200 Oh, really? 152 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:08,720 Yeah. 153 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:10,640 With this project, it's called Indilux. 154 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:17,600 They're making plug-in solar devices so people can easily use solar power. 155 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:18,160 That's smart. 156 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:22,280 It's a great example of how GCEVD, they link technology to actual solutions. 157 00:06:22,280 --> 00:06:23,680 They're not just building gadgets. 158 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:28,680 These are tools to help people make sustainable choices in their own lives. 159 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:29,200 Totally. 160 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:33,480 It's like they're saying, we're not going to wait for governments or these huge 161 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:35,000 companies to fix climate change. 162 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:35,920 We'll do it ourselves. 163 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,200 Yeah, and that's what's so interesting about them. 164 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,680 They're not just developing like things. 165 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:45,400 They're developing a better future, you know, open source project by open source 166 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:50,960 project, accessible website by accessible website, solar panel by solar panel. 167 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:52,080 It adds up. 168 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:56,160 It's really inspiring to see a company that actually lives by its values, right? 169 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,600 They're not claiming to be perfect, but they're trying to make a difference. 170 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,640 And that's like, that's something to be excited about. 171 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:02,200 Definitely. 172 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,360 And they're showing everyone that you can be successful and 173 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:05,560 still stick to your principles. 174 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,080 GZEVD is challenging the whole tech industry, right? 175 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:14,200 To rethink what's important, to move away from just profits, just 176 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:18,280 growth, no matter what, to something more ethical, more sustainable. 177 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:18,640 Yeah. 178 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:19,880 It's a powerful message. 179 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:23,040 And I think it really speaks to people, especially now people are feeling 180 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:24,960 disillusioned with how tech is going. 181 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:28,760 It's like they're holding up a mirror, you know, to the industry and they're 182 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,880 saying, Hey, it doesn't have to be this way. 183 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:35,400 We can build amazing things, but we can also think about the impact on the 184 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:36,520 planet on people. 185 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:37,640 Exactly. 186 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:43,560 So for our listeners out there, what's the takeaway from our deep dive into 187 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:48,280 GZEVD, they're obviously doing some cool, important stuff, but what's the 188 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:49,000 bigger picture? 189 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:53,400 I think GZEVD is showing us another way, you know, a different vision for 190 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:57,680 what tech could be ethics, sustainability, putting users first. 191 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:59,080 Those aren't just buzzwords for them. 192 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,000 They're the foundation of everything they do. 193 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,040 They're showing us that a different tech industry is possible. 194 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,680 One that's more open, more fair, more accountable. 195 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,280 A future where tech helps people. 196 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,000 It helps communities, not just corporations, not just governments, a 197 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:18,640 future where developing things, like they say, actually does mean building a 198 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:19,840 better world for everyone. 199 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:21,080 And you know what? 200 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:22,160 I'm into that. 201 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:22,920 Me too. 202 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:23,720 Absolutely. 203 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:27,760 And the best part, it's a future we can all help create by supporting 204 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:32,480 companies like GZEVD, by demanding more from the tech industry as a whole, and 205 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:36,200 by speaking up, taking action, fighting for a better digital world, a more ethical 206 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:40,440 one, a more sustainable one, G-E-E-V-D, that might be a small coming over in 207 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,600 Germany, but they're having a big impact. 208 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:46,360 The proof that tech, when it's driven by a purpose, when it's about making a 209 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,000 positive impact, it can change the world. 210 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,800 So next time you find yourself wondering, can I even make a difference? 211 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:56,640 Remember G-E-E-V-D, remember their whole develop things for a better world thing, 212 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:00,720 because they've shown us that even small actions, they can ripple out, inspire 213 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:03,360 others and shape a brighter future for everyone.