[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP-AFRICA (WEEK 52)

[Mwathi Francis]

*The (Small, Slow and Sufficient) $99 “Africa” Laptop*

16th December 2009

Just in time for Christmas, a new low-cost, low-power netbook is hitting the
scenes that actually retails for only $99. Cherrypal, the company behind it,
has dubbed it “Africa”, as they’re focusing the little computer on
developing countries. As the company states, this is a “no thrills” laptop –
it’s basic and won’t be attractive for most of the tech people reading this
blog for their own heavy use.

http://whiteafrican.com/2009/12/16/the-small-slow-and-sufficient-99-africa-laptop/



*ICT helps Mwanza health services*

22nd December 2009

Application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at health
facilities improves health services and prevents theft of receipts and
medicines, the Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC) has observed.  The
CSSC expert in Arusha, Ms Pauline Kimollo, said patients spend a shorter
time at dispensaries, health centres and hospitals currently applying the
technology, as were the case before.

Ms Kimollo was speaking at a telemedicine stock taking meeting for CSSC
members and civil servants from across Mwanza region.

http://thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=16407

* *

*UNEB to issue results via sms*

22nd December 2009

A newly launched short message service (SMS) will enable students who sit
national exams to get their results immediately after they are released by
the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).  With the SMS-service,
students in candidate classes countrywide will be also able to check their
exam registration status before sitting the exams.  In addition, UNEB has
launched a new design of examination certificates to curb on the rampant
forgery of transcripts and impersonation.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/705062



*MMDCEs go to school on technology*

21st December 2009

A three day Sensitization Workshop has been held in Kumasi for 55 selected
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives across the country to
brief them on the Community Information Centre (CIC) programme being
introduced by the government.

The workshop was aimed at enlightening the selected local authority members
on the programme being implemented to provide community development
information and business services to remote communities in the country.

http://www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/thestory.asp?id=15444&title=%3Cb%3EMMDCEs%20go%20to%20school%20on%20technology%20%3C/b%3E



*New ways of documenting data important *

18th December 2009

THE new advanced digital technology daily appearing on the market has
rendered the old way of documenting important historical data redundant and
not compliant with new technological methods. These changeovers have left us
with assets we can no longer play or use because they are outdated.”  So
said UNAM librarian, Ellen Namhila, on Friday at the opening of a one-day
sound archives workshop on campus. Two Swiss experts in the sound archives
field attended the event with 30 other librarians under the theme,
Safeguarding Namibian Orality.

http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=8919

* *

*IBM supports Tunisian ICT sector*

21st December 2009

During a working visit and as part of the 5th edition of the free software
forum which was recently held in Tunisia, Mr. Robert Sutor, Vice President
of Open Source and Linux at IBM met with Mr. Hadj Gley Minister of
Communication Technologies and Mrs. Lamia Chafei Sghaier, Secretary of State
to the Minister of communication technologies in charge of Informatics, the
Internet and free software.

http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/?p=31310