Power in Africa remains a major problem resulting to internet connectivity to few places and not others especially in rural areas. This may soon be a thing of the past following Samsung‘s new invention of the Solar-powered Internet School (SPIS) to help connect the rural schools to the ‘e-world’.
The classroom which also happen to be mobile, is set inside a 12-metre-long shipping container fitted in with laptops and tablets enabled with internet, video Wi-Fi cameras, and a 50-inch electronic blackboard, all powered by solar panels. It has a space for 21 pupils and a teacher with a ventilation system designed to maintain a “temperate environment”.
According to the manufacturers, the “solar powered internet school” can survive harsh weather conditions, crucially, operate where there is no electricity supply and can be easily be carried by truck to remote areas.
Internet is speedily becoming one of the basic necessities to be able to survive in this modern wold.It’s not only becoming one of the best businesses to run all across the world but a major tool in learning institutions. However, power insufficiency persists isolating many rural communities from accessing internet. This in turn limits their access to education and information, both of which are key to fast-tracking a nation’s development.
Samsung launched the project as a pilot programme in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan. The is to aim connect 2.5 million learners in the power-deficient rural parts of Africa with the rest of the world via internet by the year 2015.
The first such project was launched in the Northern parts Kenya by Computer Aid who set a solar café. Much effort is being done to make available internet to most parts of the country. Projects have been started to connect schools with the fibre optic cable.
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