A cloud adoption framework for South African SMEs
- Authors: Mudzamba, Ronald Ratidzo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Cloud computing , Cloud computing -- Security measures , Small business -- Technological innovations -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Small business -- Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework , Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148574 , vital:38751
- Description: Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been touted as key enablers to the economic development of most countries. Despite growing evidence that most SMEs fail within their initial years, ICTs have been found to add substantial value in facilitating their success. However, in most developing countries, ICT adoption by SMEs has been plagued with a plethora of challenges ranging from poor electricity supply, high ICT costs, lack of ICT expertise to lack of government support. While this might seem problematic for SMEs, the adoption and the use of cloud services mitigates some of these challenges. The problem, however, is that a limited amount of literature has provided guidance with regard to how the cloud adoption process should be carried out by SMEs. The objective of this research, was therefore, to address this by developing a framework that can be used by SMEs to guide them through the cloud adoption process. To this end, thirteen (13) semi-structured interviews were conducted across nine (9) SMEs in the Eastern Cape. The resultant interview transcripts were analysed using an established thematic approach; the result of which allowed for the development of a rich interpretive narrative about SME cloud adoption. Combined with theory from extant literature, this culminated in the development of a framework for cloud services adoption for SMEs in the Eastern Cape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mudzamba, Ronald Ratidzo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Cloud computing , Cloud computing -- Security measures , Small business -- Technological innovations -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Small business -- Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework , Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148574 , vital:38751
- Description: Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been touted as key enablers to the economic development of most countries. Despite growing evidence that most SMEs fail within their initial years, ICTs have been found to add substantial value in facilitating their success. However, in most developing countries, ICT adoption by SMEs has been plagued with a plethora of challenges ranging from poor electricity supply, high ICT costs, lack of ICT expertise to lack of government support. While this might seem problematic for SMEs, the adoption and the use of cloud services mitigates some of these challenges. The problem, however, is that a limited amount of literature has provided guidance with regard to how the cloud adoption process should be carried out by SMEs. The objective of this research, was therefore, to address this by developing a framework that can be used by SMEs to guide them through the cloud adoption process. To this end, thirteen (13) semi-structured interviews were conducted across nine (9) SMEs in the Eastern Cape. The resultant interview transcripts were analysed using an established thematic approach; the result of which allowed for the development of a rich interpretive narrative about SME cloud adoption. Combined with theory from extant literature, this culminated in the development of a framework for cloud services adoption for SMEs in the Eastern Cape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Teachers’ perceptions, experiences and challenges related to using ICTs in teaching Social Sciences in marginalised classrooms in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Gunzo, Fortunate Takawira
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social sciences -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Technological innovations -- Employee participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teachers -- Attitudes , Technological innovations -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Technology Acceptance Model , Teacher Cognitions theory
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146964 , vital:38581
- Description: This study seeks to examine teachers’ perceptions and experiences of using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching as the basis for actual use in the classroom. I conducted an eclectic study with a multidisciplinary theoretical viewpoint combining theories from Information Technology (IT) and education to examine how perceptions and prior experiences with ICT influence cross-curriculum ICT integration. Specific aspects of five theories and models were used in different phases of this study. I drew on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Teacher Cognitions theory to understand teachers’ perceptions towards ICT in general and towards ICT in the classroom. The classroom observations were conducted using an observation guide informed by Activity theory. I then utilised the Adoption of Innovation and the Diffusion of Innovation theories to explain why and how ICT was utilised in the classrooms. A mixed methods research approach located within a pragmatic paradigm was chosen. Three data sets were collected. First, a questionnaire of attitudes and perceptions towards ICT was conducted with 183 teachers (mainly working at marginalised schools in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa). Questionnaire data was analysed using descriptive statistics and a chi-square correlations test. Second, teachers enrolled in an in-service Advanced Certificate in Education specializing in ICT (ACE-ICT) at Rhodes University were supported in planning and implementing an intervention involving the use of a mobile computer lab in rural and peri-urban schools. Three key participants were observed while teaching in class using ICT for the first time and they were subsequently interviewed. Third, drawing from lessons learnt from this experience, students in the in-service education bachelor’s degree in ICT (BEd-ICT) – which replaced the in-service ACE-ICT – were supported and encouraged to experiment with cross-curriculum integration using ICT already at their disposal. Planning and reflections by three in-service BEd-ICT teachers were subjected to theory-based document thematic analysis. Findings indicate that the vast majority of the teachers had positive attitudes towards ICT and perceived ICT as useful, mainly as a productivity tool in teaching. ICT was used mostly for administration, planning and preparation of lessons and not for teaching or as a cognitive tool. Despite all key participants having access to similar ICTs and support, their experiences of teaching with ICT were different based on their personal commitment, access to and frequency of use of ICTs in their personal lives. Teachers who were self-motivated to use ICT in their teaching made efforts to do so regardless of infrastructure and resource challenges they faced at their schools. The main barriers to the use of ICT in the classroom appear to be lack of technical support and time constraints.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Gunzo, Fortunate Takawira
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social sciences -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Technological innovations -- Employee participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teachers -- Attitudes , Technological innovations -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Technology Acceptance Model , Teacher Cognitions theory
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146964 , vital:38581
- Description: This study seeks to examine teachers’ perceptions and experiences of using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching as the basis for actual use in the classroom. I conducted an eclectic study with a multidisciplinary theoretical viewpoint combining theories from Information Technology (IT) and education to examine how perceptions and prior experiences with ICT influence cross-curriculum ICT integration. Specific aspects of five theories and models were used in different phases of this study. I drew on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Teacher Cognitions theory to understand teachers’ perceptions towards ICT in general and towards ICT in the classroom. The classroom observations were conducted using an observation guide informed by Activity theory. I then utilised the Adoption of Innovation and the Diffusion of Innovation theories to explain why and how ICT was utilised in the classrooms. A mixed methods research approach located within a pragmatic paradigm was chosen. Three data sets were collected. First, a questionnaire of attitudes and perceptions towards ICT was conducted with 183 teachers (mainly working at marginalised schools in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa). Questionnaire data was analysed using descriptive statistics and a chi-square correlations test. Second, teachers enrolled in an in-service Advanced Certificate in Education specializing in ICT (ACE-ICT) at Rhodes University were supported in planning and implementing an intervention involving the use of a mobile computer lab in rural and peri-urban schools. Three key participants were observed while teaching in class using ICT for the first time and they were subsequently interviewed. Third, drawing from lessons learnt from this experience, students in the in-service education bachelor’s degree in ICT (BEd-ICT) – which replaced the in-service ACE-ICT – were supported and encouraged to experiment with cross-curriculum integration using ICT already at their disposal. Planning and reflections by three in-service BEd-ICT teachers were subjected to theory-based document thematic analysis. Findings indicate that the vast majority of the teachers had positive attitudes towards ICT and perceived ICT as useful, mainly as a productivity tool in teaching. ICT was used mostly for administration, planning and preparation of lessons and not for teaching or as a cognitive tool. Despite all key participants having access to similar ICTs and support, their experiences of teaching with ICT were different based on their personal commitment, access to and frequency of use of ICTs in their personal lives. Teachers who were self-motivated to use ICT in their teaching made efforts to do so regardless of infrastructure and resource challenges they faced at their schools. The main barriers to the use of ICT in the classroom appear to be lack of technical support and time constraints.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Developing a help-desk system for a multi-purpose ICT platform in a marginalised setting
- Authors: Makombe, Farai
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Computer industry -- Customer services , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Case-based reasoning , Telecommunication -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11381 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/315 , Computer industry -- Customer services , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Case-based reasoning , Telecommunication -- Technological innovations
- Description: Attempts to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural Information and Communications Technology (ICT) users have led to the deployment of ICT platforms in remote rural areas. This puts an increased demand for skilled support in rural ICT platforms to assist users in resolving technical problems that they face on a daily basis. A web based help desk system is developed and implemented to allow knowledge sharing and collaboration amongst users and experts as a way of ensuring the technical sustainability of the Siyakhula Living Lab, a remote rural based Information and Communications Technology (ICT4D) intervention. The research describes the use of Transactional and Innovation & Creative knowledge management strategies and their associated applications such as case-based reasoning (CBR) methods and collaborative knowledge approaches to develop a help desk support system for a geographically distributed multipurpose ICT centre in Dwesa, a rural remote area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The system implemented in this study has been validated for functional adequacy and usability within the Siyakhula Living Lab. The results of the evaluation are presented in this thesis to provide the initial validation of the effectiveness of the help desk system. Keywords: ICT4D, ICT, Case-Based Reasoning; Collaborative Knowledge, Technical Sustainability, Help Desk Systems, Siyakhula Living Lab Forums, Issue Tracking, Rural Users, South Africa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Makombe, Farai
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Computer industry -- Customer services , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Case-based reasoning , Telecommunication -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11381 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/315 , Computer industry -- Customer services , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Case-based reasoning , Telecommunication -- Technological innovations
- Description: Attempts to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural Information and Communications Technology (ICT) users have led to the deployment of ICT platforms in remote rural areas. This puts an increased demand for skilled support in rural ICT platforms to assist users in resolving technical problems that they face on a daily basis. A web based help desk system is developed and implemented to allow knowledge sharing and collaboration amongst users and experts as a way of ensuring the technical sustainability of the Siyakhula Living Lab, a remote rural based Information and Communications Technology (ICT4D) intervention. The research describes the use of Transactional and Innovation & Creative knowledge management strategies and their associated applications such as case-based reasoning (CBR) methods and collaborative knowledge approaches to develop a help desk support system for a geographically distributed multipurpose ICT centre in Dwesa, a rural remote area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The system implemented in this study has been validated for functional adequacy and usability within the Siyakhula Living Lab. The results of the evaluation are presented in this thesis to provide the initial validation of the effectiveness of the help desk system. Keywords: ICT4D, ICT, Case-Based Reasoning; Collaborative Knowledge, Technical Sustainability, Help Desk Systems, Siyakhula Living Lab Forums, Issue Tracking, Rural Users, South Africa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Development of an M-Payment system prototype for a marginalized region (Dwesa case study)
- Authors: Mpofu, Handsome C
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home banking services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11387 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/458 , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home banking services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Wireless technologies, such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), are making it easier to provide the much needed telecommunications infrastructure in marginalized areas worldwide. These technologies enable the rapid deployment of network services as well as their redistribution throughout these marginalized areas. The ability to bring Internet connectivity to previously underserviced and marginalized areas has the potential to leap-frog socio-economic development and improve participation in the global knowledge economy. This study investigated how wireless access technologies, such as WiMAX and WiFi, can be integrated and used to deliver ubiquitous distributed Internet connectivity with increased capillarity in rural areas. The research was undertaken within an ICT for Development (ICT4D) intervention called Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) which is based in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The research further eliminated the accessibility constraints associated with long distances and remoteness from the Digital Access Nodes (DANs) and provided increased penetration in the network in contrast to the traditional Telecentre model which has been used extensively in ICT4D interventions. This was achieved by deploying WiFi hotspots around the DANs and extending the existing SLL WiMAX backbone to increase the network footprint to neighboring communities. The technical result of the research has been the provision of increased capillarity on the network and service redistribution throughout the entire Dwesa community. Consequently, this has given local community members an opportunity to access network services easily and ubiquitously. Finally, the research investigated and presented the benefits of such wireless network deployment configurations on ICT4D activities in marginalized areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mpofu, Handsome C
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home banking services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11387 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/458 , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home banking services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Wireless technologies, such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), are making it easier to provide the much needed telecommunications infrastructure in marginalized areas worldwide. These technologies enable the rapid deployment of network services as well as their redistribution throughout these marginalized areas. The ability to bring Internet connectivity to previously underserviced and marginalized areas has the potential to leap-frog socio-economic development and improve participation in the global knowledge economy. This study investigated how wireless access technologies, such as WiMAX and WiFi, can be integrated and used to deliver ubiquitous distributed Internet connectivity with increased capillarity in rural areas. The research was undertaken within an ICT for Development (ICT4D) intervention called Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) which is based in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The research further eliminated the accessibility constraints associated with long distances and remoteness from the Digital Access Nodes (DANs) and provided increased penetration in the network in contrast to the traditional Telecentre model which has been used extensively in ICT4D interventions. This was achieved by deploying WiFi hotspots around the DANs and extending the existing SLL WiMAX backbone to increase the network footprint to neighboring communities. The technical result of the research has been the provision of increased capillarity on the network and service redistribution throughout the entire Dwesa community. Consequently, this has given local community members an opportunity to access network services easily and ubiquitously. Finally, the research investigated and presented the benefits of such wireless network deployment configurations on ICT4D activities in marginalized areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Development of isiXhosa text-to-speech modules to support e-Services in marginalized rural areas
- Authors: Mhlana, Siphe
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Xhosa language -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Text processing (Computer science) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Literacy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transmission of texts -- Data processing , Electronic publishing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11388 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/495 , Xhosa language -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Text processing (Computer science) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Literacy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transmission of texts -- Data processing , Electronic publishing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects are being initiated and deployed in marginalized areas to help improve the standard of living for community members. This has lead to a new field, which is responsible for information processing and knowledge development in rural areas, called Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D). An ICT4D projects has been implemented in a marginalized area called Dwesa; this is a rural area situated in the wild coast of the former homelandof Transkei, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. In this rural community there are e-Service projects which have been developed and deployed to support the already existent ICT infrastructure. Some of these projects include the e-Commerce platform, e-Judiciary service, e-Health and e-Government portal. Although these projects are deployed in this area, community members face a language and literacy barrier because these services are typically accessed through English textual interfaces. This becomes a challenge because their language of communication is isiXhosa and some of the community members are illiterate. Most of the rural areas consist of illiterate people who cannot read and write isiXhosa but can only speak the language. This problem of illiteracy in rural areas affects both the youth and the elderly. This research seeks to design, develop and implement software modules that can be used to convert isiXhosa text into natural sounding isiXhosa speech. Such an application is called a Text-to-Speech (TTS) system. The main objective of this research is to improve ICT4D eServices’ usability through the development of an isiXhosa Text-to-Speech system. This research is undertaken within the context of Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL), an ICT4D intervention towards improving the lives of rural communities of South Africa in an attempt to bridge the digital divide. Thedeveloped TTS modules were subsequently tested to determine their applicability to improve eServices usability. The results show acceptable levels of usability as having produced audio utterances for the isiXhosa Text-To-Speech system for marginalized areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mhlana, Siphe
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Xhosa language -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Text processing (Computer science) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Literacy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transmission of texts -- Data processing , Electronic publishing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11388 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/495 , Xhosa language -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Text processing (Computer science) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Literacy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transmission of texts -- Data processing , Electronic publishing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects are being initiated and deployed in marginalized areas to help improve the standard of living for community members. This has lead to a new field, which is responsible for information processing and knowledge development in rural areas, called Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D). An ICT4D projects has been implemented in a marginalized area called Dwesa; this is a rural area situated in the wild coast of the former homelandof Transkei, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. In this rural community there are e-Service projects which have been developed and deployed to support the already existent ICT infrastructure. Some of these projects include the e-Commerce platform, e-Judiciary service, e-Health and e-Government portal. Although these projects are deployed in this area, community members face a language and literacy barrier because these services are typically accessed through English textual interfaces. This becomes a challenge because their language of communication is isiXhosa and some of the community members are illiterate. Most of the rural areas consist of illiterate people who cannot read and write isiXhosa but can only speak the language. This problem of illiteracy in rural areas affects both the youth and the elderly. This research seeks to design, develop and implement software modules that can be used to convert isiXhosa text into natural sounding isiXhosa speech. Such an application is called a Text-to-Speech (TTS) system. The main objective of this research is to improve ICT4D eServices’ usability through the development of an isiXhosa Text-to-Speech system. This research is undertaken within the context of Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL), an ICT4D intervention towards improving the lives of rural communities of South Africa in an attempt to bridge the digital divide. Thedeveloped TTS modules were subsequently tested to determine their applicability to improve eServices usability. The results show acceptable levels of usability as having produced audio utterances for the isiXhosa Text-To-Speech system for marginalized areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Improving the robustness and effectiveness of rural telecommunication infrastructures in Dwesa South Africa
- Authors: Ranga, Memory Munashe
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Computer networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11382 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001113 , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Computer networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: In recent years, immense effort has been channelled towards the Information and Technological development of rural areas. To support this development, telecommunication networks have been deployed. The availability of these telecommunication networks is expected to improve the way people share ideas and communicate locally and globally, reducing limiting factors like distance through the use of the Internet. The major problem for these networks is that very few of them have managed to stay in operation over long periods of time. One of the major causes of this failure is the lack of proper monitoring and management as, in some cases, administrators are located far away from the network site. Other factors that contribute to the frequent failure of these networks are lack of proper infrastructure, lack of a constant power supply and other environmental issues. A telecommunication network was deployed for the people of Dwesa by the Siyakhula Living Lab project. During this research project, frequent visits were made to the site and network users were informally interviewed in order to gain insight into the network challenges. Based on the challenges, different network monitoring systems and other solutions were deployed on the network. This thesis analyses the problems encountered and presents possible and affordable solutions that were implemented on the network. This was done to improve the network‟s reliability, availability and manageability whilst exploring possible and practical ways in which the connectivity of the deployed telecommunication network can be maintained. As part of these solutions, a GPRS redundant link, Nagios and Cacti monitoring systems as well as Simple backup systems were deployed. v Acronyms AC Access Concentrators AMANDA Automatic Marylyn Network Disk Archiver CDMA Code Divison Multiple Access CGI Common Gateway Interface.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ranga, Memory Munashe
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Computer networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11382 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001113 , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Computer networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: In recent years, immense effort has been channelled towards the Information and Technological development of rural areas. To support this development, telecommunication networks have been deployed. The availability of these telecommunication networks is expected to improve the way people share ideas and communicate locally and globally, reducing limiting factors like distance through the use of the Internet. The major problem for these networks is that very few of them have managed to stay in operation over long periods of time. One of the major causes of this failure is the lack of proper monitoring and management as, in some cases, administrators are located far away from the network site. Other factors that contribute to the frequent failure of these networks are lack of proper infrastructure, lack of a constant power supply and other environmental issues. A telecommunication network was deployed for the people of Dwesa by the Siyakhula Living Lab project. During this research project, frequent visits were made to the site and network users were informally interviewed in order to gain insight into the network challenges. Based on the challenges, different network monitoring systems and other solutions were deployed on the network. This thesis analyses the problems encountered and presents possible and affordable solutions that were implemented on the network. This was done to improve the network‟s reliability, availability and manageability whilst exploring possible and practical ways in which the connectivity of the deployed telecommunication network can be maintained. As part of these solutions, a GPRS redundant link, Nagios and Cacti monitoring systems as well as Simple backup systems were deployed. v Acronyms AC Access Concentrators AMANDA Automatic Marylyn Network Disk Archiver CDMA Code Divison Multiple Access CGI Common Gateway Interface.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Investigating wireless network deployment configurations for marginalized areas
- Authors: Ndlovu, Nkanyiso
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Wireless LAN -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , IEEE 802.16 (Standard) , Telecommunication wiring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Globalization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11385 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/463 , Wireless LAN -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , IEEE 802.16 (Standard) , Telecommunication wiring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Globalization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: In recent years, immense effort has been channelled towards the Information and Technological development of rural areas. To support this development, telecommunication networks have been deployed. The availability of these telecommunication networks is expected to improve the way people share ideas and communicate locally and globally, reducing limiting factors like distance through the use of the Internet. The major problem for these networks is that very few of them have managed to stay in operation over long periods of time. One of the major causes of this failure is the lack of proper monitoring and management as, in some cases, administrators are located far away from the network site. Other factors that contribute to the frequent failure of these networks are lack of proper infrastructure, lack of a constant power supply and other environmental issues. A telecommunication network was deployed for the people of Dwesa by the Siyakhula Living Lab project. During this research project, frequent visits were made to the site and network users were informally interviewed in order to gain insight into the network challenges. Based on the challenges, different network monitoring systems and other solutions were deployed on the network. This thesis analyses the problems encountered and presents possible and affordable solutions that were implemented on the network. This was done to improve the network‟s reliability, availability and manageability whilst exploring possible and practical ways in which the connectivity of the deployed telecommunication network can be maintained. As part of these solutions, a GPRS redundant link, Nagios and Cacti monitoring systems as well as Simple backup systems were deployed. v Acronyms AC Access Concentrators AMANDA Automatic Marylyn Network Disk Archiver CDMA Code Divison Multiple Access CGI Common Gateway Interface.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ndlovu, Nkanyiso
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Wireless LAN -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , IEEE 802.16 (Standard) , Telecommunication wiring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Globalization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11385 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/463 , Wireless LAN -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , IEEE 802.16 (Standard) , Telecommunication wiring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Globalization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: In recent years, immense effort has been channelled towards the Information and Technological development of rural areas. To support this development, telecommunication networks have been deployed. The availability of these telecommunication networks is expected to improve the way people share ideas and communicate locally and globally, reducing limiting factors like distance through the use of the Internet. The major problem for these networks is that very few of them have managed to stay in operation over long periods of time. One of the major causes of this failure is the lack of proper monitoring and management as, in some cases, administrators are located far away from the network site. Other factors that contribute to the frequent failure of these networks are lack of proper infrastructure, lack of a constant power supply and other environmental issues. A telecommunication network was deployed for the people of Dwesa by the Siyakhula Living Lab project. During this research project, frequent visits were made to the site and network users were informally interviewed in order to gain insight into the network challenges. Based on the challenges, different network monitoring systems and other solutions were deployed on the network. This thesis analyses the problems encountered and presents possible and affordable solutions that were implemented on the network. This was done to improve the network‟s reliability, availability and manageability whilst exploring possible and practical ways in which the connectivity of the deployed telecommunication network can be maintained. As part of these solutions, a GPRS redundant link, Nagios and Cacti monitoring systems as well as Simple backup systems were deployed. v Acronyms AC Access Concentrators AMANDA Automatic Marylyn Network Disk Archiver CDMA Code Divison Multiple Access CGI Common Gateway Interface.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Building a semantic web-based e-health component for a multipurpose communication centre
- Authors: Hlungulu, Bulumko
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Telecommunication in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Health -- Computer network resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11380 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/374 , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Telecommunication in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Health -- Computer network resources
- Description: Rural communities have limited access to health information which is made available on the internet. This is due to poor infrastructure (i.e., lack of clinics or Internet access) and that gives them problems in accessing information within the domain of health. The availability of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in a rural community can provide the community with a number of beneficial solutions to their problems as they maximize the potential of knowledge sharing and delivery. This research seeks to make use of ICTs deployed in the community of Dwesa, in order to contribute to improving the health standards of the community. It seeks to accomplish this by carrying out an investigation and literature review with the aim of understanding health knowledge sharing dynamics in the context of marginalized communities. The knowledge acquired will then be used in the development and implementation of a semantic web-based e-Health portal as part of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) project. This portal will share and deliver western medical knowledge, traditional knowledge and indigenous knowledge. This research seeks to make use of a combination of Free and/or Open Sources Software in developing the portal to make it affordable to the community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Hlungulu, Bulumko
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Telecommunication in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Health -- Computer network resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11380 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/374 , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Telecommunication in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Health -- Computer network resources
- Description: Rural communities have limited access to health information which is made available on the internet. This is due to poor infrastructure (i.e., lack of clinics or Internet access) and that gives them problems in accessing information within the domain of health. The availability of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in a rural community can provide the community with a number of beneficial solutions to their problems as they maximize the potential of knowledge sharing and delivery. This research seeks to make use of ICTs deployed in the community of Dwesa, in order to contribute to improving the health standards of the community. It seeks to accomplish this by carrying out an investigation and literature review with the aim of understanding health knowledge sharing dynamics in the context of marginalized communities. The knowledge acquired will then be used in the development and implementation of a semantic web-based e-Health portal as part of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) project. This portal will share and deliver western medical knowledge, traditional knowledge and indigenous knowledge. This research seeks to make use of a combination of Free and/or Open Sources Software in developing the portal to make it affordable to the community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The impact of rural ICT projects in South Africa: a case study of Dwesa, Transkei, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Shingai, Kavhai Mitchell
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet--South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Project management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11362 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/317 , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet--South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Project management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This project aimed at assessing and evaluating the extent to which deployed ICTs in the rural area of Dwesa have impacted on the lives of the residents there. This occurred between February 2008 and December 2009. The ICTs are an initiative collaboration of University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University, sponsored by Telkom SA, the Government of Finland and other market players. This research started by reviewing the extent to which rural areas in general have lagged behind in terms of accessing ICTs, paying closer attention to governmental policies and initiatives towards rural development. The project then looked at the currently available ICTs in Dwesa and trying to measure the extent to which they have been useful or rather complicated the lives of the people there. Also important was a review of the efforts made by the technology innovators towards ensuring that relevant and appropriate technologies were made available to the rural people. The project also looked into issues of sustainability, maintenance and general running of the project to ensure its success. Important key findings on access, appropriateness of ICTs, use and knowledge about the ICTs, literacy levels, education standards and readiness of community to use ICTs were made during this research. Also included in the findings are issues on state of infrastructure, already present services, and current uses of ICTs as well as notable positive ICT impact in Dwesa. The most important findings of this research were to assist in providing a detailed prediction of future impact of various possible new technologies that can be introduced to Dwesa. This research also had to be able to bring out a monitoring and evaluation system that should measure the impact of the ICT interventions over the past 5 years. This project was initiated in 2005 and is identified by the name Siyakhula Living Lab. The concept of a living lab is a new term for providing ICTs in an area where their usefulness can be tested based on the natural environment in which they are being used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Shingai, Kavhai Mitchell
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet--South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Project management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11362 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/317 , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet--South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Project management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This project aimed at assessing and evaluating the extent to which deployed ICTs in the rural area of Dwesa have impacted on the lives of the residents there. This occurred between February 2008 and December 2009. The ICTs are an initiative collaboration of University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University, sponsored by Telkom SA, the Government of Finland and other market players. This research started by reviewing the extent to which rural areas in general have lagged behind in terms of accessing ICTs, paying closer attention to governmental policies and initiatives towards rural development. The project then looked at the currently available ICTs in Dwesa and trying to measure the extent to which they have been useful or rather complicated the lives of the people there. Also important was a review of the efforts made by the technology innovators towards ensuring that relevant and appropriate technologies were made available to the rural people. The project also looked into issues of sustainability, maintenance and general running of the project to ensure its success. Important key findings on access, appropriateness of ICTs, use and knowledge about the ICTs, literacy levels, education standards and readiness of community to use ICTs were made during this research. Also included in the findings are issues on state of infrastructure, already present services, and current uses of ICTs as well as notable positive ICT impact in Dwesa. The most important findings of this research were to assist in providing a detailed prediction of future impact of various possible new technologies that can be introduced to Dwesa. This research also had to be able to bring out a monitoring and evaluation system that should measure the impact of the ICT interventions over the past 5 years. This project was initiated in 2005 and is identified by the name Siyakhula Living Lab. The concept of a living lab is a new term for providing ICTs in an area where their usefulness can be tested based on the natural environment in which they are being used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
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