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Vivo partners with OPPO and Xiaomi in new innovation

January 6, 2020 Dianne Jacobs

Smartphone giant Vivo has partnered with OPPO and Xiaomi to bring an innovative new wireless file transfer system to consumers around the world. An initiative of the newly formed “Peer-to-Peer Transmission Alliance”, the new system enables seamless cross-brand file transfer with just one click. The new wireless file transfer system will allow consumers of these three brands to easily transfer files between their mobile devices without the need for any third-party applications or network data, supporting a wide range of files, including photos, videos, music, documents and more. The move…

New off-grid and mini-grid technologies to extend energy

December 18, 2019 Dianne Jacobs

Investing in new off-grid and mini-grid technologies to extend energy access across Africa will be instrumental in helping smallholder farmers to meet rising food demand, according to a new report. Africa accounts for just six per cent of the world’s demand, despite hosting 20 per cent of the global population, leaving rural areas relying on manpower for as much as 80 per cent of the energy used in farming. In Energized: Policy innovation to power the transformation of Africa’s agriculture and food system, experts from the Malabo Montpellier Panel highlighted opportunities…

Innovation that will help with the provision of clean water

December 16, 2019 Dianne Jacobs

Kenya’s quest to fulfill the need for clean water mainly in rural areas could be finally met after five university students invented a solar-powered water desalinator. The group calling itself, The Greatest of All Time (Goat), which comprises students from Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi and Strathmore University was unveiled at this year’s IBM Digital-Nation Africa: Smart Water Challenge. Goat’s innovation also uses Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to prevent water pipes from bursting by keeping the piping system fully functional. The team which won a paid internships with IBM…

Technology’s Involvement in the Pet Care Industry

December 3, 2019 Dianne Jacobs

The pet industry is a growing industry around the world but mostly in USA. Pet owners keep increasing day by day hence making the industry grow. Silicon Valley seems to have itself a new “pet” project. But it’s not just any kind of project. It is for an industry that is projected to be worth $281 billion by 2023. The pet-related business has been gaining grounds, with sales exceeding $225 billion in North America alone in 2018. Whether the economy is tough or not, owners have to take care of their…

AI VS Human News Reporters. Alarming or not?

December 3, 2019 Dianne Jacobs

Last year, China’s state-run news agency Xinhua announced the latest addition to its team of news reporters. Qiu Hao, dressed in a pinstripe suit and red tie, made his first broadcast in November. However, unlike his colleagues, the news reporter is not real. “I am the Chinese AI anchor who just joined Xinhua news agency today,” he said, “my appearance and voice are based on Xinhua news reporter Qiu Hao. But I never need to rest. I offer more than non-stop service 24 hours…

Capital Market’s Authority Launches regulatory sandbox for Kenya’s startups to develop inTech products

June 7, 2019 Editor

Kenya’s Capital Market’s Authority announced plans last year to set up a regulatory sandbox for startups to join and develop their FinTech products and they have started accepting applications to the sandbox. Apply for the CMA Regulatory Sandbox for a 12-month period to deploy & conduct live tests on innovative products, solutions & services that have the potential to broaden the Kenyan capital markets. Eligibility https://t.co/mqDeIgZzcT | Application process https://t.co/v3sTqdjT1p pic.twitter.com/XeZ1F8QWJf — Capital Markets Authority_Kenya (@CMAKenya) June 6, 2019 First regulatory sandboxes have been implemented around the world in at…

Miss.Africa Digital Celebrates International Women’s Day With its Annual Seed Fund Application Drive

March 14, 2019March 14, 2019 Staff Writer

DCA Trust celebrated the Women’s Day by launching the 2019 Miss.Africa Digital Seed Fund Application Drive. Parallel to my advocacy on the philosophy of positive “tech disruption”, and how it has the ability to create a welcome change in our societies, if we regularly engage in doing something out of our comfort zone for our mind, body and spirit, I’m a great believer that we will find ourselves in a much better space as human beings, as well as be more effective in our work.” 2019: Year of work-life-balance, –…

How prepared are African businesses to tap AI benefits?

March 1, 2019March 1, 2019 Editor

The world is becoming a consumers’ market where future trends are now determined by an impatient customer with a smart phone. The modern shopper wants the best for less right now. They also demand that brands speak to and about their unique individuality. These conversations are taking place online in real time, feeding research, design and development teams with enough data to make accurate predictions of what will sell in the future. How this information is collected and collated is being made possible by technology. What does Artificial Intelligence mean…

Co-creation Hub’s Design Lab in Kigali, Rwanda wants to own local problems

February 22, 2019February 22, 2019

The launch of Co-creation Hub’s Design Lab in Kigali, Rwanda last week was important in many ways. The ‘CcHUB Design Lab’ is a revolutionary vision from the hub, and will be key to tackling some of Africa’s socio-economic problems. Designers and engineers at the lab will also be working with scientists from around the world to design solutions for some of Africa’s biggest issues in public health, education, governance, and the private sector. It is often said that “African problems require African solutions,” a phrase coined by Ghanaian economist George Ayittey.…