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South Africa : CAPSULE TECHNOLOGIES signs solar-powered desktop computer that runs on ANDROID [TendersInfo (India)](TendersInfo (India) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Capsule Technologies designed Africa s first solar-powered desktop computer running on Android. Recognised as a World Design Capital project, the device is called the IMPI Mk1, is energy-efficient and can operate on 20W, compared with desktop computers which can burn an average of 200W to 400W. Capsule Technologies founder Megan Verkuil said that the computer was built in response to Africa s energy crisis. The computer can be plugged into a solar panel, has WiFi capability, a 500GB hard drive and up to 4GB of RAM. It retails for R3,300. The company chose to use Android as the operating system because it is less intimidating since most young people in Africa are using Android-powered smartphones. The computer uses open-source applications, meaning it is cheap to run. Even though the computer was not aesthetically pleasing, it was durable and able to withstand the dusty African terrain. It is an African computer and is targeted at communities that don t have power. The company is committed to creating more jobs, and hire more people. Information and communications technology (ICT) is one of the Western Cape s priority sectors, employing 30,000 people in the province and contributing R3 billion to gross domestic product. The province has been regarded as an attractive destination for information technology companies and start-ups. This attributes to the provincial government s support for entrepreneurial activity. The provincial government announced more than R50 million would be allocated to developing the ICT industry. (c) 2014 Euclid Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |