Mozambican startup develops a solar powered tablet to provide internet to rural African homes
Mozambican technology start-up Kamaleon has developed a solar-powered mobile tablet to connect more Africans to the internet.
Launched in November 2016, the startups says the “Community Tablet” (“Tablet Comunitário”) is an innovative and engaging way of promoting digital literacy through a shared platform.
The Community Tablet is a solar powered mobile computer with touch screen displays and virtual keyboards built in on a trailer to provide Internet access to remote areas. In order to facilitate interaction with the virtual world, Kamaleon also offers training on how to use the Internet and its features to members of the community and the local workforce.
The Community Tablet ultimately aims to promote digital inclusion and a knowledge-based society in Africa. Beginning in Mozambique with an astounding 24 million people with no Internet connection, the Community Tablet will be used to support campaigns on various Health and Education initiatives in partnership with governmental and private organizations. Spreading up-to-date messages and interactive lessons that showcase symptoms, prevention and treatment options – replacing the need for leaflet distributions to convey life-saving information. Kamaleon says it is on a mission to close the digital divide and empower more people in Africa to engage in the digital economy and its educational benefits.
“I believe technology and digital literacy can contribute to the greater effectiveness of civic education campaigns in various communities”, says Dayn Amade, the Founder, and CEO of Kamaleon.
“A few years ago anyone who could not read and write was considered illiterate, but today this concept goes further, encompassing people who do not know how to use information and communication technologies. Health organizations and schools in Africa often face a unique set of obstacles, including a lack of access to much-needed health education and counseling platforms. The Community Tablet was created to help solve these problems”, he adds.
The Internet is one of the most important enablers of social development and education. While Internet services have been quite phenomenal in the rest of the world, access to the Internet remains very low in Africa, especially in the rural communities. According to the Internet World Stats for Africa 2016, only 9.3% of people across the African continent are Internet users. Bringing Internet access to rural communities is therefore viewed as a tremendous step in the right direction of social development and education.
