Unique conflict database now iPhone application

The Conflict Database at Uppsala University gathers neutral information about all wars and conflicts in the world. Now the popular database is also available as an iPhone application, which makes the information easy to access for researchers, journalists, and other interested parties even without an Internet connection.

It is often difficult to find balanced information about conflicts, and this is a gap that the Conflict Database wants to fill. Since the 1980s researchers at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University have gathered facts about more than 300 conflicts, statistics on civilian casualties, summaries of peace agreements, and much more. The database, which is the only one of its kind in the world, is available on the Internet and may be freely used by everyone.

“At the Uppsala Conflict Data Program we have long been eager to reach out to a wider audience with information about armed conflicts and organized violence. In the research world we are one of the most frequently used data sources, but we want to make neutral information readily available to the public as well,” says project leader Stina Högbladh at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research.

The advantage of the new iPhone application is that, unlike the database on the Internet, it does not require an Internet connection in order to work. This makes it especially useful to researchers, journalists, and assistance workers in the field.

“Once you’ve downloaded the application you have the information constantly available on your iPhone,” says Åke Johansson, IT strategist at the Division for Communication and External Relations, who has led the work to produce Uppsala University’s first iPhone application.

“It’s been a challenge to implement such a complex database for a platform where the screen size is extremely limited. Our goal has been to make the application feel simple and intuitive both for faithful iPhone users and for those who are used to the Web version of the Conflict Database,” says Anton Holmquist, a developer at the Monterosa company, which has been involved in developing the application.

Download the iPhone application at http://bit.ly/conflictDB or search for Uppsala University in the App Store.

Read more about the database on the Uppsala Conflict Data Program Web site.

For more information, please contact project leader Stina Högbladh, Department of Peace and Conflict Research, phone: +46 (0)18-471 76 54, mobile: +46 (0)76-167 94 04, e-mail: stina.hogbladh@pcr.uu.se or IT strategist Åke Johansson, Division for Communication and External Relations, Communication Office, mobile: +46 ( 0)70-425 01 23, e-mail: ake.johansson@uadm.uu.se.