Travel in The Amazing Air Bus 380…

Interesting online game in Swahili…

Visit: http://www.gladiatus.co.ke/

Africa: Blueprint to Process E-Waste Developed…

Concerns over mounting electronic waste in Africa have led to the development of a framework to help the continent deal with the problem.

E-waste – unwanted electronic goods such as computers and mobile phones – needs to be disposed of or recycled carefully to avoid health problems and environmental contamination from component toxic materials such as lead and mercury.

In some African countries there have been fears that the use of electronics is rising with no parallel increase in safe disposal methods.

A team of organisations – which began investigating e-waste in Africa in 2007 reported last month that the scenario varies widely from country to country.

Morocco, for example, produces 13,500 tonnes of e-waste per year from computers alone, whereas this figure is around 3,000 tonnes in Kenya, according to research by the group, which includes the Global Digital Solidarity Fund, the Swiss Institute for Material Science (Empa) and computer company Hewlett-Packard (HP).

They said that these figures could double or triple as a result of strong growth in the ICT sector.

The group also initiated a pilot scheme establishing a local, self-sustainable e-waste recycling facility in Cape Town, South Africa. Started in 2008, the facility has so far processed around 60 tonnes of e-waste, generating an income of US$14,000 and creating direct employment for 19 people.

“The Cape Town Pilot is a local decentralised first-step recycling solution that can be used as a model for other African countries,” said Mathias Schluep, project manager for sustainable technology cooperation at Empa, at a press briefing (17 February).

“We now know how to approach a country [tackling e-waste] at the beginning to find out what solution we can come up with, how to get the right information.”

Kirsty McIntyre, HP’s environmental compliance manager, said the project is intended to make sure that e-waste processing is done in an environmentally sound manner that protects the health and safety of workers.

The group has now put together a series of recommendations for dealing with e-waste, though it emphasises that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the global problem.

“What we’re looking for are regional solutions,” McIntyre told SciDev.Net. “It’s very difficult to get across how long it takes to do this kind of work. There are pockets of academic work on e-waste, but nobody has ever pulled it all together.”

The second phase of the project seeks to engage government and corporate partners to extend e-waste management programmes to other African countries, eventually reaching the entire continent.

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200903051020.html

Kenya going Open Source route…

Nairobi, Kenya.

March 23.

Research by Linux Professional Association of Kenya (LPA) on public software procurement has established that the government is currently spending over K.Sh. 500 million on proprietary software services & license fees. This amount could double next year, if historical trends continue…

Full story: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/Local/Kenya-going-Open-Source-route-1852.html

Vietnam to widely use Open Source Software…

Minister of Information and Communications Le Doan Hop asked that 100% of servers of IT divisions of government agencies must be installed with open source software by June 30, 2009.

VietNamNetBridge – The Ministry of Information and Communications has issued an instruction on using open source software products at state agencies.

Accordingly, by June 30, 2009, 100% of servers of IT divisions of government agencies must be installed with open source software; 100% of staffs at these IT divisions must be trained in the use of these software products and at least 50% use them proficiently. IT divisions at government agencies comprise the IT departments of ministries and government agencies, provincial and municipal Departments of Information and Communications. Open source software products are OpenOffice, email software for servers of Mozilla ThunderBird, Mozilla FireFox web browser and the Vietnamese typing software Unikey. The instruction also said that by December 31, 2009, 70% of servers of ministries’ agencies and local state agencies must be installed with the above open source software products and 70% of IT staff trained in using this software; and at least 40% able to use the software in their work. The above agencies are requested to increase the number of documents and information exchanged among them processed by the above software. By December 31, 2010, all staff at these agencies must be able to use open source software in their jobs. The instruction asks IT associations to assist state agencies in the implementation of this plan. The instruction also requests that computer traders not sell PCs installed with cracked software, but open source ones.

Imagine a Cyber in a ma3…

Could this be the next technological advancement of public transport in Kenya?

Full story: http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/10/microsofts-desktop-equipped-mass-transit-bus-is-a-boss-dream/

Modern Romance: Get texted when love is near…

Online dating is so last year. Now, if you’re thinking romance, look to your mobile phone…

Full story: http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TECH/11/29/mobile.romance/index.html

Surface Computing…

Surface computing is the use of a specialized computer GUI in which traditional GUI elements are replaced by intuitive, everyday objects. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, the user interacts directly with a touch-sensitive screen, replicating the familiar hands-on experience of everyday object manipulation.

Major innovations in the surface computing field are attributed to Apple, Inc and to Microsoft Corporation. Apple had demonstrated surface computing interfaces intended for professional use since 2006, with no expected product release date. Microsoft unveiled plans for the Microsoft Surface in May 2007. The Microsoft Surface seems to be closer to production, with devices intended for consumer use at large establishments such as hotels and casinos.

Microsoft Surface: Hands-on First Look.