INSITE showcases SA innovations
4 November 2004
An International Science, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (INSITE) held in Midrand this week showcased some of the country's innovations that could contribute positively towards economic development.
The three-day historic event that ended in Johannesburg on Wednesday was aimed at creating an international marketplace for science and technology in the context of long-term sustainability.
A BuaNews team spent time at some few stands to discover for themselves the benefits of science and technology in the world.
Over 40 companies from different countries exhibited new technological inventions, while at the same time scientists, academics and researchers shared ideas at a Biotechnology conference on the sidelines of the exhibition.
While delegates were debating various issues on biotechnology, scores of students from tertiary institutions and high schools explored the latest technologies and innovations.
The team caught
up with the Empilweni Pension Payout Services that exhibited an armoured technologically advanced vehicle called Mshay'azafe.
The company has been contracted for four years by the Mpumalanga government to pay social grants to more than 265 000 people in the province.
As one of the pioneers in the field of mobile payment solutions, Empilweni has focused on developing new technology to support the distribution of R141-million in both rural and urban areas without serious hindrances such as robberies.
Their "superior cash-in-transit vehicle" on display confirms Gys Potgieter's observation, who is the company's IT manager, that since the introduction of these seven vehicles, they have never been robbed.
The vehicles are equipped with eight video cameras that record every movement around them for up to 36 hours, even if the car is switched off.
"Our solution enables us to go beyond traditional parameters and enables us to achieve our strategic goals in
the ever changing information technology environment. The security of our assets and personnel is a high priority," he said.
He said their technology was locally developed and enables the delivery of government's services conveniently to the beneficiaries.
This black-owned company is also in the process of introducing smart cards to provide services to beneficiaries swiftly. With these cards, the transactions will take only 30 seconds to make a payment.
Meanwhile, through its various poverty eradication projects, the Department of Science and Technology funded a number of SMMEs and assisted them to participate in the exhibition.
One of environmentally friendly projects supported by the department, Imbaula (cooker), displayed a unique way of cooking and heating using jell fuel, a new innovation suitable for both indoors and outdoors.
The affordable Imbaula is described as ideal as it does not operate on gas, paraffin or electricity. Most importantly,
it does not emit smoke, no smell, and is safe to use.
As part of poverty eradication, the project encourages entrepreneurship in communities.
Imbaula Marketing Manager Dudu Makunyane shared the same sentiment, saying the production of these cookers required the recycling of 750g coffee tins.
Thanks to the exhibition, Makunyane's project is geared for growth following a huge demand by delegates from the Eastern Cape for example, who already saw a potential for business.
"We are saying away with death caused by coal Imbaulas that are not safe for the people. With our technology and government' assistance, we hope to bring safety and warmth in most families," she said.
Shift Interactive Communications had its stand crowded at all times by learners and entrepreneurs.
The company intends to introduce in the market short message systems (SMS) kiosks around the country, where people who cannot afford a cellphone, can send and receive SMS without
using mobile phones.
The machine operates through a touch screen and voice prompts in English and isiZulu for now, which easily directs one on how to send and receive messages.
Company director Nothemba Noruwana said they have already received an overwhelming response from SMMEs demanding the installation of the kiosks in their businesses.
"The kiosks are designed for fairly literate people, all they need is to punch the number and send the message. With our cutting edge technology, we are exactly responding to the President's [Thabo Mbeki] call of bridging the digital divide.
"This is our way of contributing to the Ten Years of Democracy Celebrations and we believe this could be an ideal machine to bring government services to the people, as people do not necessarily have to be literate to operate the machines.
"We want technology to work for the people, " she said.
Noruwana added that her company will approach government with an idea of
installing the machines at all the multi-purpose community centres in the country.
While South Africa is attempting to advance science and technology in response to its socio-economic challenges, these innovative ideas, it seems, will bring hope for the future.
Source: BuaNews
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