Leading experts in this market believe the country faces an uphill battle against ruthless suppliers who vaguely understand biometrics and are driving sales targets without providing adequate after-sales service. There are also many posers who have no genuine track record in the market or sufficient expertise to add any real value.
Read more: South Africa’s biometric industry under threat from ‘cowboys’
The initiative, the Mobile Health Information System (MHIS), is a collaborative effort that uses mobile technology to support the work of rural health professionals. The pilot project was rolled out in two phases, and now provides health workers in community health centres, tertiary and district hospitalswith an Internet-capable, commercially available smart phone pre-loaded with a locally-relevant, reliable clinical library containing about 4,000 pages of content. The Mobile Health Library includes South African treatment guidelines, drug formularies, diagnostic tools, and other evidence-based content. Information is downloaded using 3G connectivity from the ECDOH mobile library portal to mobile devices.
Read more: ZA: Proving that mobile can revolutionise healthcare
This approach replaces previous plans to build ICT classrooms in every school as part of the government’s aim to make Gauteng a smart and connected province.
Read more: ZA: Gauteng province invests $40 million in tablet learning
The City of Tshwane metropolitan municipality (Tshwane) announced the roll-out plan of its free Wi-Fi project at a media briefing in Centurion today (15 August 2013).
Executive mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa announced in a statement that the roll-out will be done in partnership with Project Isizwe, a non-profit movement that aims to provide free Wi-Fi Internet to Africa.
Rigatech, a company that has been formed specifically to grow South Africa’s ICT skills base, is focusing on developing one particular demographic: previously disadvantaged women.