# Carl Hartung

> Ph.D. University of Washington 2012

**Wikidata**: [Q102403566](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102403566)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/carl-hartung

## Summary
Carl Hartung is a computer scientist and academic known for his work on mobile data collection technologies, particularly the Open Data Kit (ODK). He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Washington in 2012 under the supervision of Gaetano Borriello. His research focuses on developing tools for data collection in resource-constrained environments.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1980 (exact date and place unknown)  
- **Nationality**: [Not specified in source material]  
- **Education**: Ph.D. in computer science, University of Washington (2012)  
- **Known for**: Developing the Open Data Kit for mobile data collection in developing regions  
- **Employer(s)**: University of Washington (affiliation during doctoral studies)  
- **Field(s)**: Computer science, mobile technology, data collection systems  

## Contributions
Carl Hartung’s primary contribution is the development of the **Open Data Kit (ODK)**, a suite of open-source tools designed to enable mobile data collection in challenging environments. His 2012 Ph.D. thesis, titled *“Open Data Kit: Technologies for Mobile Data Collection and Deployment Experiences in Developing Regions”*, laid the foundation for this work. ODK has been widely adopted for applications such as public health surveys, environmental monitoring, and humanitarian aid efforts, particularly in low-resource settings. By simplifying the process of collecting and managing data via mobile devices, Hartung’s work has improved data accessibility and informed decision-making in global development projects. The toolkit remains a critical resource for researchers and practitioners worldwide.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Carl Hartung best known for?  
A: He is best known for developing the Open Data Kit (ODK), an open-source platform for mobile data collection, especially in developing regions.  

### Q: Where did Carl Hartung earn his Ph.D.?  
A: He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Washington in 2012.  

### Q: Who supervised Carl Hartung’s doctoral research?  
A: His doctoral advisor was Gaetano Borriello, a prominent computer scientist and academic.  

## Why They Matter  
Carl Hartung’s work on the Open Data Kit has had a lasting impact on global development initiatives by democratizing access to mobile data collection tools. Prior to ODK, conducting surveys or gathering field data in remote or low-infrastructure areas was often prohibitively expensive and logistically complex. By creating an adaptable, open-source platform, Hartung empowered organizations to design, deploy, and analyze data collection projects independently. This innovation has supported everything from disease outbreak tracking to voter registration drives, demonstrating how targeted technological solutions can address systemic challenges in resource-limited environments. His contributions highlight the role of computer science in driving equitable global progress.

## Notable For  
- **Open Data Kit (ODK)**: A transformative tool for mobile data collection in developing regions.  
- **Ph.D. Thesis**: Focused on practical deployment experiences of mobile technologies in low-resource settings.  
- **Advisor**: Studied under Gaetano Borriello, a renowned expert in ubiquitous computing.  

## Body  
### Education & Career  
- Earned a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Washington in 2012.  
- Conducted doctoral research under the supervision of **Gaetano Borriello**, a distinguished computer scientist and professor.  
- Specialized in mobile systems and their application in global development challenges.  

### Research & Impact  
- **Open Data Kit (ODK)**:  
  - Developed as part of his doctoral work, ODK provides tools for building mobile data collection applications.  
  - Enables offline data collection, real-time submission, and integration with cloud services.  
  - Widely used by organizations such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Red Cross.  
- **Deployment Focus**: Hartung’s research emphasized real-world usability, with case studies in countries like Kenya, India, and Uganda.  
- **Awards & Recognition**:  
  - Mathematics Genealogy Project ID: 168889.  
  - Featured in the Wikimedia project *WikiProject PCC Wikidata Pilot/University of Washington*.  

### Legacy  
- ODK remains a cornerstone of open-source humanitarian technology, with active community-driven development.  
- Hartung’s work exemplifies the intersection of computer science and global health, influencing subsequent research in mobile health (mHealth) and development informatics.

## References

1. Mathematics Genealogy Project
2. WorldCat