TeleWeaver: an innovative telecommunication platform for marginalized communities in Africa
- Dalvit, Lorenzo, Gumbo, Sibukelo, Ntshinga, Lindikaya, Terzoli, Alfredo, Hansen, Susan
- Authors: Dalvit, Lorenzo , Gumbo, Sibukelo , Ntshinga, Lindikaya , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hansen, Susan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431317 , vital:72763 , https://www.academic-bookshop.com/ourshop/prod_2659103-ECEG-2013-13th-European-Conference-on-eGovernment-Como-Italy-PRINT-version.html
- Description: Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) is becoming an increasingly important and multi‐faceted area of research and software development. Particularly through provision via mobile devices, e‐services can potentially reach and improve the lives of millions of people living in marginalised areas. The efforts of many governments in sub‐Saharan Africa are frustrated by poor tele-communication infrastructure, lack of skills and unsustainable models of intervention. In this paper we describe the holistic solution offered by the TeleWeaver platform. The novel approach to the development of the software, the strong sense of social responsibility of the developers and the collaborative spirit that shaped the ecosystem of which Tele-Weaver is part, warrants the adoption of an innovative approach to its marketing and implementation. On the one hand, the project needs to provide returns on investment and generate profit for the key stake-holders (ie government at the local and national level, academia, indus-try and socio‐-entrepreneurs in the target community). On the other, it must benefit all members of the marginalised communities it is intended to serve as well as the global community of software developers. Tele-Weaver was developed in close collaboration with the community of Dwesa, a rural area on the Wild Cost of the Transkei regions in eastern South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Dalvit, Lorenzo , Gumbo, Sibukelo , Ntshinga, Lindikaya , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hansen, Susan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431317 , vital:72763 , https://www.academic-bookshop.com/ourshop/prod_2659103-ECEG-2013-13th-European-Conference-on-eGovernment-Como-Italy-PRINT-version.html
- Description: Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) is becoming an increasingly important and multi‐faceted area of research and software development. Particularly through provision via mobile devices, e‐services can potentially reach and improve the lives of millions of people living in marginalised areas. The efforts of many governments in sub‐Saharan Africa are frustrated by poor tele-communication infrastructure, lack of skills and unsustainable models of intervention. In this paper we describe the holistic solution offered by the TeleWeaver platform. The novel approach to the development of the software, the strong sense of social responsibility of the developers and the collaborative spirit that shaped the ecosystem of which Tele-Weaver is part, warrants the adoption of an innovative approach to its marketing and implementation. On the one hand, the project needs to provide returns on investment and generate profit for the key stake-holders (ie government at the local and national level, academia, indus-try and socio‐-entrepreneurs in the target community). On the other, it must benefit all members of the marginalised communities it is intended to serve as well as the global community of software developers. Tele-Weaver was developed in close collaboration with the community of Dwesa, a rural area on the Wild Cost of the Transkei regions in eastern South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Unicorn: A unified communication solution for marginalized communities
- Nyathi, Okelitsi, Terzoli, Alfredo, Tsietsi, Mosiuoa
- Authors: Nyathi, Okelitsi , Terzoli, Alfredo , Tsietsi, Mosiuoa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430666 , vital:72707 , 10.1109/ICASTech.2013.6707506
- Description: The convergence of previously distinct networks into an All-IP network has resulted in an increase in the number and diversity of devices, channels and communication networks available to users. This has increased the number commu-nication options available and is evidenced by the number of different communication devices owned and services subscribed to. How-ever, this has created complexities that call for proper methods to manage these diverse and in-compatible communication options. The objective of Unified Communication (UC) is to seamlessly integrate the dispar-ate communication channels into a device independent plat-form that can easily be managed by users. Due its focus on a largely urban and highly connected market, UC has not benefited marginalized communities. This paper discusses the design and implementation of Unicorn, a UC solution for a middleware software platform called Teleweaver which was designed to support the development of services for marginalized communities. The solution integrates services from a telecommunication container called Mobicents. It seamlessly amalgamates voice, data and video onto one device independent unified platform easily accessible by users.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Nyathi, Okelitsi , Terzoli, Alfredo , Tsietsi, Mosiuoa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430666 , vital:72707 , 10.1109/ICASTech.2013.6707506
- Description: The convergence of previously distinct networks into an All-IP network has resulted in an increase in the number and diversity of devices, channels and communication networks available to users. This has increased the number commu-nication options available and is evidenced by the number of different communication devices owned and services subscribed to. How-ever, this has created complexities that call for proper methods to manage these diverse and in-compatible communication options. The objective of Unified Communication (UC) is to seamlessly integrate the dispar-ate communication channels into a device independent plat-form that can easily be managed by users. Due its focus on a largely urban and highly connected market, UC has not benefited marginalized communities. This paper discusses the design and implementation of Unicorn, a UC solution for a middleware software platform called Teleweaver which was designed to support the development of services for marginalized communities. The solution integrates services from a telecommunication container called Mobicents. It seamlessly amalgamates voice, data and video onto one device independent unified platform easily accessible by users.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A Mobile Phone Solution to Improve Geographic Mobility
- Miteche, Sacha, Terzoli, Alfredo, Thinyane, Hannah
- Authors: Miteche, Sacha , Terzoli, Alfredo , Thinyane, Hannah
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428423 , vital:72510 , https://www.cs.ru.ac.za/research/g10m4201/docs/SATNACWIP.pdf
- Description: Motor vehicle ride sharing is a popular way of travelling in most coun-tries. Different incentives have made this mode of travelling to exist formally and informally, for example as in carpooling clubs and hitchhik-ing respectively. Advances in Information and Communication Tech-nology (ICT) have facilitated developments of formal Dynamic Ride Sharing (DRS) systems that target mobile devices. These are seen as solutions to people’s preference of flexible ride sharing services. In de-veloping countries, hitchhiking is a common technique for ride sharing travels. This paper describes a proposal to develop a DRS system that primarily targets mobile phone users in South Africa for informal ride sharing methods done in hitchhiking.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Miteche, Sacha , Terzoli, Alfredo , Thinyane, Hannah
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428423 , vital:72510 , https://www.cs.ru.ac.za/research/g10m4201/docs/SATNACWIP.pdf
- Description: Motor vehicle ride sharing is a popular way of travelling in most coun-tries. Different incentives have made this mode of travelling to exist formally and informally, for example as in carpooling clubs and hitchhik-ing respectively. Advances in Information and Communication Tech-nology (ICT) have facilitated developments of formal Dynamic Ride Sharing (DRS) systems that target mobile devices. These are seen as solutions to people’s preference of flexible ride sharing services. In de-veloping countries, hitchhiking is a common technique for ride sharing travels. This paper describes a proposal to develop a DRS system that primarily targets mobile phone users in South Africa for informal ride sharing methods done in hitchhiking.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A qualitative analysis to determine the readiness of rural communities to adopt ICTs: A Siyakhula Living Lab Case Study
- Gumbo, Sibukelo, Jere, Norbert, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Gumbo, Sibukelo , Jere, Norbert , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431396 , vital:72771
- Description: Rural schools have a pressing need for ICT and Internet services, for them-selves and the surrounding communities. Educators can play a crucial role of fulfilling this need. But how ready are schools, educators and communi-ties to engage with ICT and use it for their empowerment? This paper re-ports the findings of an e-readiness assessment and promotion drive by re-searchers from the Siyakhula Living Lab in parts of the Mbashe Municipali-ty, in South Africa. The Siyakhula Living Lab is a multi-disciplinary, multi-year initiative to foster grassroots innovation in marginalized communities with the aim of improving their lives and economies. The drive was con-ducted to support the expansion of the network of Digital Access Nodes, ie ICT points-of-presence of the Living Lab in the community: this network rep-resents the structural backbone on which all other activities rest. The as-sessment shows that, while the practical difficulties are many, the communi-ties are very eager to engage with ICT and understand fairly well the con-nection between ICT availability and the possibility of improvement in their life conditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Gumbo, Sibukelo , Jere, Norbert , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431396 , vital:72771
- Description: Rural schools have a pressing need for ICT and Internet services, for them-selves and the surrounding communities. Educators can play a crucial role of fulfilling this need. But how ready are schools, educators and communi-ties to engage with ICT and use it for their empowerment? This paper re-ports the findings of an e-readiness assessment and promotion drive by re-searchers from the Siyakhula Living Lab in parts of the Mbashe Municipali-ty, in South Africa. The Siyakhula Living Lab is a multi-disciplinary, multi-year initiative to foster grassroots innovation in marginalized communities with the aim of improving their lives and economies. The drive was con-ducted to support the expansion of the network of Digital Access Nodes, ie ICT points-of-presence of the Living Lab in the community: this network rep-resents the structural backbone on which all other activities rest. The as-sessment shows that, while the practical difficulties are many, the communi-ties are very eager to engage with ICT and understand fairly well the con-nection between ICT availability and the possibility of improvement in their life conditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
An RTSP proxy for implementing the IPTV media function using a streaming server
- Shibeshi, Zelalem S, Terzoli, Alfredo, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429136 , vital:72562 , https://www.informatica.si/index.php/informatica/article/view/383
- Description: Multimedia content delivery in IMS, including IPTV, is handled by a separate unit, the Media Function (MF), made up of media control and media delivery units, which in the case of IPTV are the Media Control Function (MCF) and Media Delivery Function (MDF), respectively. According to the different specifications of an IMS based IPTV architecture, the User Equipment (UE) is expected to use the RTSP protocol as a media control protocol to interact with the MCF, and obtains delivery of media from the MDF using the RTP protocol. This also means that the streaming session needs to be initiated from the media controller on behalf of the user but the delivery of media is sent to the UE from the media deliverer (media server). Due both to the lack of free and open source Media Servers and the availability of free and open source Streaming Servers, the ideal choice for the delivery of multimedia services, including IPTV, by the research community is Streaming Servers. Nevertheless, because of denial of service attacks and other issues, most streaming servers do not allow a different location for the session setup request and the delivery of media in the streaming session. In other words, most streaming servers are not designed to be controlled by some other entity other than the RTSP client that consumes the media. This makes it difficult to have a separate media control unit for IPTV service in IMS if one wanted to use a streaming server as an MDF unit. So, while waiting for streaming servers to work in this manner, it is better to find a work around in order to use streaming servers to develop and test IPTV services in IMS environments. For this purpose we propose another component (an RTSP proxy and relay unit) as part of the IPTV MF and to mediate between the MCF and MDF. This unit correctly relays media control commands from the MCF to the MDF and RTP packets from the MDF to the UE. It also helps in the implementation of other streaming functionalities that are required for IPTV service delivery, but which are not implemented in the current open source streaming servers. Additional services can also be easily implemented with the help of this unit. This will facilitate the development of an IPTV service using readily available open source streaming servers and help researchers to evaluate their proposals on new services they would like to develop. In this paper we show how this RTSP proxy unit can be integrated into the Media Function of the IPTV architecture to ease the media delivery process of an IMS based IPTV service.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429136 , vital:72562 , https://www.informatica.si/index.php/informatica/article/view/383
- Description: Multimedia content delivery in IMS, including IPTV, is handled by a separate unit, the Media Function (MF), made up of media control and media delivery units, which in the case of IPTV are the Media Control Function (MCF) and Media Delivery Function (MDF), respectively. According to the different specifications of an IMS based IPTV architecture, the User Equipment (UE) is expected to use the RTSP protocol as a media control protocol to interact with the MCF, and obtains delivery of media from the MDF using the RTP protocol. This also means that the streaming session needs to be initiated from the media controller on behalf of the user but the delivery of media is sent to the UE from the media deliverer (media server). Due both to the lack of free and open source Media Servers and the availability of free and open source Streaming Servers, the ideal choice for the delivery of multimedia services, including IPTV, by the research community is Streaming Servers. Nevertheless, because of denial of service attacks and other issues, most streaming servers do not allow a different location for the session setup request and the delivery of media in the streaming session. In other words, most streaming servers are not designed to be controlled by some other entity other than the RTSP client that consumes the media. This makes it difficult to have a separate media control unit for IPTV service in IMS if one wanted to use a streaming server as an MDF unit. So, while waiting for streaming servers to work in this manner, it is better to find a work around in order to use streaming servers to develop and test IPTV services in IMS environments. For this purpose we propose another component (an RTSP proxy and relay unit) as part of the IPTV MF and to mediate between the MCF and MDF. This unit correctly relays media control commands from the MCF to the MDF and RTP packets from the MDF to the UE. It also helps in the implementation of other streaming functionalities that are required for IPTV service delivery, but which are not implemented in the current open source streaming servers. Additional services can also be easily implemented with the help of this unit. This will facilitate the development of an IPTV service using readily available open source streaming servers and help researchers to evaluate their proposals on new services they would like to develop. In this paper we show how this RTSP proxy unit can be integrated into the Media Function of the IPTV architecture to ease the media delivery process of an IMS based IPTV service.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Challenges experienced in the first year of implementation of a teaching and learning virtual partnership at the University of Namibia
- Mufeti, K, Foster, Gregory G, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Mufeti, K , Foster, Gregory G , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431234 , vital:72756 , https://rcetj.org/index.php/rcetj/article/view/178
- Description: Advances in information and communication technologies are enabling higher educa-tion institutions to build virtual partnerships with other institutions. Virtual partner-ships are defined here as collaborations between geographically dispersed institutions, where interaction between these institutions is enabled mainly by electronic modes of communication. This article reports on the participants’ experiences of the implemen-tation of one such partnership from the perspective of a partner in a developing con-text. It uses the SANTED Virtual Classroom Project (VCP), a virtual partnership initia-tive between the Departments of Computer Science at the University of Namibia (UNAM) and Rhodes University (RU), as a case study. In the VCP, the department at RU was tasked with building teaching and human resource capacity in the department at UNAM. The article focuses on the challenges experienced at UNAM during the first year of implementation of the VCP and lessons learned.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mufeti, K , Foster, Gregory G , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431234 , vital:72756 , https://rcetj.org/index.php/rcetj/article/view/178
- Description: Advances in information and communication technologies are enabling higher educa-tion institutions to build virtual partnerships with other institutions. Virtual partner-ships are defined here as collaborations between geographically dispersed institutions, where interaction between these institutions is enabled mainly by electronic modes of communication. This article reports on the participants’ experiences of the implemen-tation of one such partnership from the perspective of a partner in a developing con-text. It uses the SANTED Virtual Classroom Project (VCP), a virtual partnership initia-tive between the Departments of Computer Science at the University of Namibia (UNAM) and Rhodes University (RU), as a case study. In the VCP, the department at RU was tasked with building teaching and human resource capacity in the department at UNAM. The article focuses on the challenges experienced at UNAM during the first year of implementation of the VCP and lessons learned.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Living lab methodology as an approach to innovation in ICT4D: The Siyakhula Living Lab experience
- Gumbo, Sibukelo, Thinyane, Hannah, Thinyane, Mamello, Terzoli, Alfredo, Hansen, Susan
- Authors: Gumbo, Sibukelo , Thinyane, Hannah , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hansen, Susan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431302 , vital:72762 , https://www.siyakhulall.com/sites/default/files/ISTAfrica_Paper_ref_18_doc_4809_0.pdf
- Description: Underdevelopment and poverty represent key challenges faced by the modern world, which have attracted the attention of NGOs, civil society, government and multinationals. Various undertakings including the United Nations Millennium Development Goals articulation and the World Summit on Information Society highlight the global commitment towards addressing these problems. The solutions to these problems should be derived out of well-structured innovation systems that take into consideration the grassroot context and concerns. A number of in-novation models have been formulated and utilized effectively in differ-ent industries, and some of these have equally been used effectively in community development contexts. This paper elaborates on the Living Lab methodology and its application in ICT4D contexts, highlighting the effectiveness of this model towards integrating end-users within their problem solving effort. This is discussed through the backdrop of the Siyakhula Living Lab, an ICT4D intervention. The embedding environ-ment for this model, which enables key synergies with other stakehold-ers, is also discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Gumbo, Sibukelo , Thinyane, Hannah , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hansen, Susan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431302 , vital:72762 , https://www.siyakhulall.com/sites/default/files/ISTAfrica_Paper_ref_18_doc_4809_0.pdf
- Description: Underdevelopment and poverty represent key challenges faced by the modern world, which have attracted the attention of NGOs, civil society, government and multinationals. Various undertakings including the United Nations Millennium Development Goals articulation and the World Summit on Information Society highlight the global commitment towards addressing these problems. The solutions to these problems should be derived out of well-structured innovation systems that take into consideration the grassroot context and concerns. A number of in-novation models have been formulated and utilized effectively in differ-ent industries, and some of these have equally been used effectively in community development contexts. This paper elaborates on the Living Lab methodology and its application in ICT4D contexts, highlighting the effectiveness of this model towards integrating end-users within their problem solving effort. This is discussed through the backdrop of the Siyakhula Living Lab, an ICT4D intervention. The embedding environ-ment for this model, which enables key synergies with other stakehold-ers, is also discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Research Testbed Networks: Practical Tools for Service Delivery?
- Wertlen, Ronald R, Siebörger, Ingrid, Tsietsi, Mosiuoa, Shibeshi, Zelalem S, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Wertlen, Ronald R , Siebörger, Ingrid , Tsietsi, Mosiuoa , Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429204 , vital:72567 , https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1681-4835.2012.tb00351.x
- Description: The Telkom Centre of Excellence (CoE) at Rhodes University, housed in the Computer Science department was opened in 1997. The CoE's focus on Distributed multimedia service platforms soon showed that the technology being researched could be applied in the disadvantaged peri‐urban communities. The CoE has thus concentrated its research on building a testbed network that delivers real services to real users. In 2007, the testbed was extended to include a marginalised rural area in the Siyakhula Living Lab. The greatest factor in the sustainability of the CoE testbed network has been maintaining usefulness to all the stakeholders over the last 12 years. Industrial funding, University outreach goals and research goals could all be harmonised, while sustaining the delivery of high quality informatics services in the community. This paper presents a brief case study of the communications network testbed and how it was applied to the Development Informatics space. It analyses the roles played by stakeholders in either assisting and sustaining or obstructing the service delivery. It makes key recommendations on best practices for research networks that can also bring informatics to disadvantaged communities. It shows how testbeds for the research of new technologies can be designed so as to allow Development Informatics work to take place on such networks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Wertlen, Ronald R , Siebörger, Ingrid , Tsietsi, Mosiuoa , Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429204 , vital:72567 , https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1681-4835.2012.tb00351.x
- Description: The Telkom Centre of Excellence (CoE) at Rhodes University, housed in the Computer Science department was opened in 1997. The CoE's focus on Distributed multimedia service platforms soon showed that the technology being researched could be applied in the disadvantaged peri‐urban communities. The CoE has thus concentrated its research on building a testbed network that delivers real services to real users. In 2007, the testbed was extended to include a marginalised rural area in the Siyakhula Living Lab. The greatest factor in the sustainability of the CoE testbed network has been maintaining usefulness to all the stakeholders over the last 12 years. Industrial funding, University outreach goals and research goals could all be harmonised, while sustaining the delivery of high quality informatics services in the community. This paper presents a brief case study of the communications network testbed and how it was applied to the Development Informatics space. It analyses the roles played by stakeholders in either assisting and sustaining or obstructing the service delivery. It makes key recommendations on best practices for research networks that can also bring informatics to disadvantaged communities. It shows how testbeds for the research of new technologies can be designed so as to allow Development Informatics work to take place on such networks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A Framework for the Management of Operator Policies and User Preferences for Service Compositions in the IP Multimedia Subsystem
- Tsietsi, Mosiuoa, Terzoli, Alfredo, Wells, George C
- Authors: Tsietsi, Mosiuoa , Terzoli, Alfredo , Wells, George C
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430680 , vital:72708 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6032212
- Description: The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a telecommunication middleware platform with robust service features that enables the delivery of a wide range of services to mobile network subscribers. Network operators are encouraged to develop services from service building blocks in order to avoid redundancies by re-using existing functionality. In this environ-ment, operators must be able to control the service execution chain in order to prevent undesirable interactions from occurring between indi-vidual building blocks. It is also in their interests to provide subscribers with personalisation options so that they can modify service composi-tions and define their own preferences for how they would like their ser-vices to behave during live sessions. This paper describes a solution for these challenges that involves the storage of service information in an XDMS and allows operator staff and subscribers to manage this in-formation using the XCAP protocol. The ETSI-defined XCAP applica-tion usage named simservs was chosen to demonstrate an application usage that can be used to create service compositions in XML format. A prototype is described that uses components of the open source Mo-bicents project to verify the suitability of the design. This work is part of a larger effort aimed at modeling interaction management in the IMS through the use of a service broker that is part of an extended IMS ser-vice layer (EISL). The service broker's functional and structural architec-ture have not yet been standardised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Tsietsi, Mosiuoa , Terzoli, Alfredo , Wells, George C
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430680 , vital:72708 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6032212
- Description: The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a telecommunication middleware platform with robust service features that enables the delivery of a wide range of services to mobile network subscribers. Network operators are encouraged to develop services from service building blocks in order to avoid redundancies by re-using existing functionality. In this environ-ment, operators must be able to control the service execution chain in order to prevent undesirable interactions from occurring between indi-vidual building blocks. It is also in their interests to provide subscribers with personalisation options so that they can modify service composi-tions and define their own preferences for how they would like their ser-vices to behave during live sessions. This paper describes a solution for these challenges that involves the storage of service information in an XDMS and allows operator staff and subscribers to manage this in-formation using the XCAP protocol. The ETSI-defined XCAP applica-tion usage named simservs was chosen to demonstrate an application usage that can be used to create service compositions in XML format. A prototype is described that uses components of the open source Mo-bicents project to verify the suitability of the design. This work is part of a larger effort aimed at modeling interaction management in the IMS through the use of a service broker that is part of an extended IMS ser-vice layer (EISL). The service broker's functional and structural architec-ture have not yet been standardised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
African Languages And ICT Education
- Dalvit, Lorenzo, Murray, Sarah, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Dalvit, Lorenzo , Murray, Sarah , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431166 , vital:72750 , https://www.scitepress.org/Papers/2011/33507/33507.pdf
- Description: In South Africa, English plays a dominant role compared to African lan-guages in empowering domain. Better access to Education through the use of African languages is an object of heated debate. This paper shows that an intervention involving the use of an African language in the domain of ICT Education can change the attitudes of Black universi-ty students. The methodology used included a survey with preliminary and follow-up questionnaires and interviews and an intervention involv-ing the use of localised software and of an on-line glossary of computer terms translated, explained and exemplified in an African language (isiXhosa). This experience increased the support for the use of African languages as additional LoLT, even in the English-dominated field of study of Computer Science. This is an initial step towards promoting linguistic equality between English and African languages and social equality between their speakers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Dalvit, Lorenzo , Murray, Sarah , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431166 , vital:72750 , https://www.scitepress.org/Papers/2011/33507/33507.pdf
- Description: In South Africa, English plays a dominant role compared to African lan-guages in empowering domain. Better access to Education through the use of African languages is an object of heated debate. This paper shows that an intervention involving the use of an African language in the domain of ICT Education can change the attitudes of Black universi-ty students. The methodology used included a survey with preliminary and follow-up questionnaires and interviews and an intervention involv-ing the use of localised software and of an on-line glossary of computer terms translated, explained and exemplified in an African language (isiXhosa). This experience increased the support for the use of African languages as additional LoLT, even in the English-dominated field of study of Computer Science. This is an initial step towards promoting linguistic equality between English and African languages and social equality between their speakers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Delivering a personalised video service using IPTV
- Shibeshi, Zelalem S, Ndakunda, Shanga, Terzoli, Alfredo, Bradshaw, Karen L
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Ndakunda, Shanga , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429163 , vital:72564 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5746086
- Description: Video oriented services are taking the lead in terms of revenue in the current Internet environment. In order to tap this revenue, Telcos are resorting to serious measures such as moving to Next Generation Network (NGN) where they can provide QoS for services that demand this feature, such as, IPTV. IPTV is more than just what its name implies and includes various types of additional services to make the TV a better entertainment and communication environment. Various innovative IPTV services have been proposed and developed by researchers and practitioners, including personalized advertisement, personalized EPG (Electronic Program Guide), and personalized VoD (Video on Demand). In this paper we introduce a new IPTV service called, the personalized dynamic video delivery service, which sends new video alerts (like breaking news alert) to subscribed users and notifies them when the video is available. If desired, users can watch the video automatically by switching from what they are currently watching without requiring explicitly a new video setup. Users can configure their profile and also set a policy on the way they wish to be notified and the types of video they wish to be alerted to. The paper describes the issues surrounding the delivery of this service and presents the architecture and the various open source technologies that are used to develop the service.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Ndakunda, Shanga , Terzoli, Alfredo , Bradshaw, Karen L
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429163 , vital:72564 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5746086
- Description: Video oriented services are taking the lead in terms of revenue in the current Internet environment. In order to tap this revenue, Telcos are resorting to serious measures such as moving to Next Generation Network (NGN) where they can provide QoS for services that demand this feature, such as, IPTV. IPTV is more than just what its name implies and includes various types of additional services to make the TV a better entertainment and communication environment. Various innovative IPTV services have been proposed and developed by researchers and practitioners, including personalized advertisement, personalized EPG (Electronic Program Guide), and personalized VoD (Video on Demand). In this paper we introduce a new IPTV service called, the personalized dynamic video delivery service, which sends new video alerts (like breaking news alert) to subscribed users and notifies them when the video is available. If desired, users can watch the video automatically by switching from what they are currently watching without requiring explicitly a new video setup. Users can configure their profile and also set a policy on the way they wish to be notified and the types of video they wish to be alerted to. The paper describes the issues surrounding the delivery of this service and presents the architecture and the various open source technologies that are used to develop the service.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Development of an ICT road map for eservices in rural areas
- Jere, Norbert R, Thinyane, Mamello, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Jere, Norbert R , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430695 , vital:72709 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6144217
- Description: ICTs, driven by the convergence of computers, telecommunications and traditional media, are crucial for the knowledge-based economy of the future. The rapid technological changes have resulted in different ideas being suggested for the expected ICT applications. As a result, different e-Service applications have being developed as a way to fos-ter ICT developments. However, ICT applications deployed at the mo-ment may not be able to sustain the rural communities in maybe 10 years or more to come. The paper considers the past, analyzes the present and conduct surveys to gain insight into the future. Based on all of this information, the research tries to provide an ICT road map for what is to come. What kind of applications can we develop now to cater for the technological changes, so that the ICT applications developed today would still be compatible with those developed in years to come? The Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) is used as the case study in this paper and some interviews and literature review are done to get different ide-as on the future of ICTs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Jere, Norbert R , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430695 , vital:72709 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6144217
- Description: ICTs, driven by the convergence of computers, telecommunications and traditional media, are crucial for the knowledge-based economy of the future. The rapid technological changes have resulted in different ideas being suggested for the expected ICT applications. As a result, different e-Service applications have being developed as a way to fos-ter ICT developments. However, ICT applications deployed at the mo-ment may not be able to sustain the rural communities in maybe 10 years or more to come. The paper considers the past, analyzes the present and conduct surveys to gain insight into the future. Based on all of this information, the research tries to provide an ICT road map for what is to come. What kind of applications can we develop now to cater for the technological changes, so that the ICT applications developed today would still be compatible with those developed in years to come? The Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) is used as the case study in this paper and some interviews and literature review are done to get different ide-as on the future of ICTs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Development of an Interactive Real-Time Negotiation Module for an E-commerce Platform
- Jere, Norbert R, Thinyane, Mamello, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Jere, Norbert R , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430742 , vital:72712 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5954490
- Description: With developments in the Internet and Web-based technologies, dis-tinctions between traditional markets and the global electronic market-place-such as business capital size, are gradually being narrowed down. It is recognized that in the Information Age, e-Commerce is a powerful tool for economic growth of developing countries. While there are indications of e-Commerce patronage among large firms in devel-oping countries, there seems to be little and negligible use of the Inter-net for commerce among small and medium sized firms. However, many of these e-Commerce projects in marginalized areas fail as a re-sult of lack of the required resources to support ICTs. Different ways have been suggested for marketing products online and to create cus-tomer loyalty. This paper discusses a marketing and customer loyalty strategy through a real-time interactive negotiation application, aimed at improving the existing e-Commerce platform. The e-Commerce platform has been deployed as part of the Siyakhula Living Lab ICTD project which is undertaken for the Dwesa community in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Jere, Norbert R , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430742 , vital:72712 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5954490
- Description: With developments in the Internet and Web-based technologies, dis-tinctions between traditional markets and the global electronic market-place-such as business capital size, are gradually being narrowed down. It is recognized that in the Information Age, e-Commerce is a powerful tool for economic growth of developing countries. While there are indications of e-Commerce patronage among large firms in devel-oping countries, there seems to be little and negligible use of the Inter-net for commerce among small and medium sized firms. However, many of these e-Commerce projects in marginalized areas fail as a re-sult of lack of the required resources to support ICTs. Different ways have been suggested for marketing products online and to create cus-tomer loyalty. This paper discusses a marketing and customer loyalty strategy through a real-time interactive negotiation application, aimed at improving the existing e-Commerce platform. The e-Commerce platform has been deployed as part of the Siyakhula Living Lab ICTD project which is undertaken for the Dwesa community in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
LTSP DNS round robin clusters: green technology access enablers for telecommunication services in marginalised communities
- Siebörger, Ingrid, Terzoli, Alfredo, Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Authors: Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428437 , vital:72511 , https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/75984640/177-libre.pdf?1639074275=andresponse-content-disposi-tion=inline%3B+filename%3DLTSP_DNS_Round_Robin_Clusters_Green_Tech.pdfandExpires=1714912779andSignature=Gmd52OTCvGmiKhiFiQH~rrfp6lSPbp7glndLPn7V4Jy5yt7lU-eToE4IPxr7lDQQOdUW348nkXIMgYHnXkWjWl7nYBM7hlluxJGd15oKbpifvTofHVVEB-kOLbz0caOrAodnS~eMHdebRQOumKSAHPGQkqem756vbw0KV7bhmFQ0TUN-vsVeBoH5ftfg7s355Oh9EZCQhZu~~P0AWzlSRnMTH~6vpj3EKvp7P4gy55oISZ~207VFFFZidb90aoP7JWehRYjRqn3Tk19A6nwm4o9U-wc9Dz1MrCy-YfbqOxdNulQh4bti2WI7DA6C3Q8TMCbtqnZskXQYsIzfEianS~gw__andKey-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
- Description: Rural development is seen as a priority in South Africa; information and knowledge are key strategic resources for social and economic develop-ment. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are seen as im-portant tools in rural development, assisting in enabling change through economic development. In rural areas where ICT infrastructure is being expanded and deployed there is a need to provide appropriate technolo-gies that support sustainability and meet the needs of the local communi-ty. In this paper we argue that the use of Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) cluster servers are appropriate technologies for use in computer laboratory environments for relatively inexpensive access to technologies by schools and local communities in rural areas. Typically LTSP clusters are deployed when there is a need to support 100s or 1000s of comput-ers, however, we argue that by reusing recycled (older) desktop or server computers as cluster servers could lower the entry level costs of LTSP computing while maximising the use of available resources. The paper details the configuration of a Domain Name System (DNS) round robin cluster solution together with initial testing and results. It is suggested that LTSP cluster solutions, and the DNS round robin implementation, show promise for use in providing access technologies to rural communities and schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428437 , vital:72511 , https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/75984640/177-libre.pdf?1639074275=andresponse-content-disposi-tion=inline%3B+filename%3DLTSP_DNS_Round_Robin_Clusters_Green_Tech.pdfandExpires=1714912779andSignature=Gmd52OTCvGmiKhiFiQH~rrfp6lSPbp7glndLPn7V4Jy5yt7lU-eToE4IPxr7lDQQOdUW348nkXIMgYHnXkWjWl7nYBM7hlluxJGd15oKbpifvTofHVVEB-kOLbz0caOrAodnS~eMHdebRQOumKSAHPGQkqem756vbw0KV7bhmFQ0TUN-vsVeBoH5ftfg7s355Oh9EZCQhZu~~P0AWzlSRnMTH~6vpj3EKvp7P4gy55oISZ~207VFFFZidb90aoP7JWehRYjRqn3Tk19A6nwm4o9U-wc9Dz1MrCy-YfbqOxdNulQh4bti2WI7DA6C3Q8TMCbtqnZskXQYsIzfEianS~gw__andKey-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
- Description: Rural development is seen as a priority in South Africa; information and knowledge are key strategic resources for social and economic develop-ment. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are seen as im-portant tools in rural development, assisting in enabling change through economic development. In rural areas where ICT infrastructure is being expanded and deployed there is a need to provide appropriate technolo-gies that support sustainability and meet the needs of the local communi-ty. In this paper we argue that the use of Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) cluster servers are appropriate technologies for use in computer laboratory environments for relatively inexpensive access to technologies by schools and local communities in rural areas. Typically LTSP clusters are deployed when there is a need to support 100s or 1000s of comput-ers, however, we argue that by reusing recycled (older) desktop or server computers as cluster servers could lower the entry level costs of LTSP computing while maximising the use of available resources. The paper details the configuration of a Domain Name System (DNS) round robin cluster solution together with initial testing and results. It is suggested that LTSP cluster solutions, and the DNS round robin implementation, show promise for use in providing access technologies to rural communities and schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
SOA driven architectures for service creation through enablers in an IMS testbed
- Tsietsi, Mosiuoa, Terzoli, Alfredo, Wells,George C
- Authors: Tsietsi, Mosiuoa , Terzoli, Alfredo , Wells,George C
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430726 , vital:72711 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6144230
- Description: Standards development organisations have long been in agreement that the most appropriate and cost effective way of developing services for the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is through the use - and re-use - of service capabilities, which are the building blocks for developing complex services. IMS specifications provide a theoretical framework for how service capabilities can be aggregated into large service appli-cations. However, there is little evidence that mainstream IMS service development is capability-based, and many services are still designed in a monolithic way, with no re-use of existing functionality. Telecom-munication networks are well positioned to stimulate the Internet ser-vices market by exposing these service enablers to third parties. In this paper, we marry the two issues by defining an extended IMS service layer (EISL) that provides a service broker that is the central agent in both service interaction management and the execution of external re-quests from third parties. A prototypical implementation of the service broker is described that was developed using a converged SIP servlet container, and a discussion is also provided that details how third party developers could use HTTP APIs to interact with a service broker in or-der to gain access to network capabilities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Tsietsi, Mosiuoa , Terzoli, Alfredo , Wells,George C
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430726 , vital:72711 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6144230
- Description: Standards development organisations have long been in agreement that the most appropriate and cost effective way of developing services for the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is through the use - and re-use - of service capabilities, which are the building blocks for developing complex services. IMS specifications provide a theoretical framework for how service capabilities can be aggregated into large service appli-cations. However, there is little evidence that mainstream IMS service development is capability-based, and many services are still designed in a monolithic way, with no re-use of existing functionality. Telecom-munication networks are well positioned to stimulate the Internet ser-vices market by exposing these service enablers to third parties. In this paper, we marry the two issues by defining an extended IMS service layer (EISL) that provides a service broker that is the central agent in both service interaction management and the execution of external re-quests from third parties. A prototypical implementation of the service broker is described that was developed using a converged SIP servlet container, and a discussion is also provided that details how third party developers could use HTTP APIs to interact with a service broker in or-der to gain access to network capabilities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The future of e-Service provision in Marginalised Areas: Online Negotiation.
- Jere, Norbert R, Thinyane, Mamello, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Jere, Norbert R , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431332 , vital:72765 , https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1type=pdfdoi=5d49a8014f769a529d821556ad204f1b25a97dcb#page=245
- Description: As the amount of commercial transactions carried out on t he Internet in-creases, the interest to partially or totally automate the negotiation of the terms of these transactions has rapidly become an interesting research topic. Several e-marketing strategies through various online websites have been developed. In rural communities e-services applications such as e-commerce, ehealth, e-judiciary and e-government have been devel-oped. However, most of these applications are failing to fully benefit the people in the societies because they are no modifications which are done to the applications as technology changes. This paper discusses the de-velopment of an intelligent negotiation module to enhance an e-commerce platform. The paper explains a negotiation application that has been developed and plugged to any existing e-Commerce shopping por-tal for the Dwesa Community in the Eastern cape province of South Africa and proposes an architecture for all other e-Services. This project ex-plained is undertaken within the Siyakhula Living Lab.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Jere, Norbert R , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431332 , vital:72765 , https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1type=pdfdoi=5d49a8014f769a529d821556ad204f1b25a97dcb#page=245
- Description: As the amount of commercial transactions carried out on t he Internet in-creases, the interest to partially or totally automate the negotiation of the terms of these transactions has rapidly become an interesting research topic. Several e-marketing strategies through various online websites have been developed. In rural communities e-services applications such as e-commerce, ehealth, e-judiciary and e-government have been devel-oped. However, most of these applications are failing to fully benefit the people in the societies because they are no modifications which are done to the applications as technology changes. This paper discusses the de-velopment of an intelligent negotiation module to enhance an e-commerce platform. The paper explains a negotiation application that has been developed and plugged to any existing e-Commerce shopping por-tal for the Dwesa Community in the Eastern cape province of South Africa and proposes an architecture for all other e-Services. This project ex-plained is undertaken within the Siyakhula Living Lab.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Development of an IMS Compliant, Cross Platform Client Using the JAIN SIP Applet Phone
- Muswera, Walter T, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Muswera, Walter T , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431274 , vital:72760 , https://www.cs.ru.ac.za/research/g09M3278/Muswera.pdf
- Description: Several open source SIP/IMS Clients are currently in use in the Rhodes University Convergence Research Group. However, there is no single Client that provides researchers with all the required functionality need-ed to test the applications they have developed. Integrating advanced features into a single Client can help to speed up testing as well as pro-vide a variety of innovative communication services. In this paper we present an overview of two popular SIP/IMS Clients currently in use. We also discuss the features and design architecture of a Client called JAIN SIP Applet Phone (JSAP) which will be used as a basis for the development of a new IMS compliant Client. We then analyse what functionality JSAP lacks and propose features that need to be imple-mented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Muswera, Walter T , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431274 , vital:72760 , https://www.cs.ru.ac.za/research/g09M3278/Muswera.pdf
- Description: Several open source SIP/IMS Clients are currently in use in the Rhodes University Convergence Research Group. However, there is no single Client that provides researchers with all the required functionality need-ed to test the applications they have developed. Integrating advanced features into a single Client can help to speed up testing as well as pro-vide a variety of innovative communication services. In this paper we present an overview of two popular SIP/IMS Clients currently in use. We also discuss the features and design architecture of a Client called JAIN SIP Applet Phone (JSAP) which will be used as a basis for the development of a new IMS compliant Client. We then analyse what functionality JSAP lacks and propose features that need to be imple-mented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Google docs and skype for a low bandwidth virtual classroom for developing countries
- Thinyane, Hannah, Mufeti, Tulimevava K, Terzoli, Alfredo, Wright, Madeleine
- Authors: Thinyane, Hannah , Mufeti, Tulimevava K , Terzoli, Alfredo , Wright, Madeleine
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430757 , vital:72713 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5753006
- Description: There has been much attention recently on the use of virtual class-rooms to support distance learning. However, the required real-time and high-rate transfers for multimedia contents such as video and audio that comprise most off-the-shelf virtual classrooms make them infeasible for developing countries where bandwidth is typically more restricted. This paper describes the findings of an ongoing investigation to develop a low bandwidth virtual classroom that can provide the necessary func-tionality to deliver courses to distant students. By combining Google Docs and Skype, we realised a low bandwidth virtual classroom alterna-tive that could provide adequate functionality within our teaching con-text.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Thinyane, Hannah , Mufeti, Tulimevava K , Terzoli, Alfredo , Wright, Madeleine
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430757 , vital:72713 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5753006
- Description: There has been much attention recently on the use of virtual class-rooms to support distance learning. However, the required real-time and high-rate transfers for multimedia contents such as video and audio that comprise most off-the-shelf virtual classrooms make them infeasible for developing countries where bandwidth is typically more restricted. This paper describes the findings of an ongoing investigation to develop a low bandwidth virtual classroom that can provide the necessary func-tionality to deliver courses to distant students. By combining Google Docs and Skype, we realised a low bandwidth virtual classroom alterna-tive that could provide adequate functionality within our teaching con-text.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Technology solutions to strengthen the integration of marginalized communities into the global knowledge society
- Hlungulu, Bulumko, Kunjuzwa, Dumani, Ndlovu, Nyankiso, Samalenge, Jimmy, Sikhumbuzo, Ngwenya, Thinyane, Mamello, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Hlungulu, Bulumko , Kunjuzwa, Dumani , Ndlovu, Nyankiso , Samalenge, Jimmy , Sikhumbuzo, Ngwenya , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430769 , vital:72714 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5753005
- Description: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has made it possible to explore novel and innovative mechanisms to leap-frog socio-economic development in rural and marginalized communities. An ICT for development intervention called Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) has been underway in Dwesa, a rural community in the Eastern Cape Prov-ince, for the past four years. The living lab methodology, which enables user-driven innovation within a multi-stakeholder relationship of aca-demia, user communities, government and private industry, has facili-tated greater integration of the Dwesa community into the digital ecolo-gy and subsequently the knowledge society. This paper introduces the SLL intervention, discusses the SLL's supporting technical infrastruc-ture and the interventions that are undertaken towards long-term sus-tainability of the project. The developed eServices are also discussed, with a view to highlighting the key characteristics that contribute to in-creased context-sensitivity, ownership, and buy-in from the community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Hlungulu, Bulumko , Kunjuzwa, Dumani , Ndlovu, Nyankiso , Samalenge, Jimmy , Sikhumbuzo, Ngwenya , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430769 , vital:72714 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5753005
- Description: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has made it possible to explore novel and innovative mechanisms to leap-frog socio-economic development in rural and marginalized communities. An ICT for development intervention called Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) has been underway in Dwesa, a rural community in the Eastern Cape Prov-ince, for the past four years. The living lab methodology, which enables user-driven innovation within a multi-stakeholder relationship of aca-demia, user communities, government and private industry, has facili-tated greater integration of the Dwesa community into the digital ecolo-gy and subsequently the knowledge society. This paper introduces the SLL intervention, discusses the SLL's supporting technical infrastruc-ture and the interventions that are undertaken towards long-term sus-tainability of the project. The developed eServices are also discussed, with a view to highlighting the key characteristics that contribute to in-creased context-sensitivity, ownership, and buy-in from the community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The role of the web in the promotion of African languages
- Maseko, Pamela, Nosilela, Bulelwa B, Sam, Msindisi S, Terzoli, Alfredo, Dalvit, Lorenzo
- Authors: Maseko, Pamela , Nosilela, Bulelwa B , Sam, Msindisi S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Dalvit, Lorenzo
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431370 , vital:72768
- Description: In this article we explore the possible contribution of the Web in promot-ing the use and status of African languages. Participation in sharing and producing knowledge through the Web can play a key role in the eco-nomic, social and educational development of Africa. While physical ac-cess to information is hampered by lack of infrastructure and connectivi-ty, epistemological access is hampered by the use of English. Re-sources in African languages are available. Until the amount of Web content and the number of users reach critical mass, these resources play a symbolic rather than an instrumental role in promoting African lan-guages. The use of electronic resources available on the Web could contribute to cutting the printing and transport cost of paper material, es-pecially in multilingual settings where many languages would have to be represented. Another practical way in which the Web can promote the development of African languages is to promote communication among their speakers. This is already showing its potential by allowing experts from various disciplines to work collaboratively on the development of new indigenous terminology through mailing lists and chat rooms. On a larger scale, the Web can play a unifying function among speakers of different varieties of the same African language.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Maseko, Pamela , Nosilela, Bulelwa B , Sam, Msindisi S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Dalvit, Lorenzo
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431370 , vital:72768
- Description: In this article we explore the possible contribution of the Web in promot-ing the use and status of African languages. Participation in sharing and producing knowledge through the Web can play a key role in the eco-nomic, social and educational development of Africa. While physical ac-cess to information is hampered by lack of infrastructure and connectivi-ty, epistemological access is hampered by the use of English. Re-sources in African languages are available. Until the amount of Web content and the number of users reach critical mass, these resources play a symbolic rather than an instrumental role in promoting African lan-guages. The use of electronic resources available on the Web could contribute to cutting the printing and transport cost of paper material, es-pecially in multilingual settings where many languages would have to be represented. Another practical way in which the Web can promote the development of African languages is to promote communication among their speakers. This is already showing its potential by allowing experts from various disciplines to work collaboratively on the development of new indigenous terminology through mailing lists and chat rooms. On a larger scale, the Web can play a unifying function among speakers of different varieties of the same African language.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010