In recent years technology has improved drastically and continues to do so and so is Africa. The African Union has concentrated on better ways to solve local problems. The continent is raising a generation of innovators who are making big investments in African technology development taking a creative approach and non-standard thinking. Here are the top nine African technology innovations.
Mellowcabs
Country Of Origin: South Africa by South African serial entrepreneur Neil du Preez.
Mellowcabs are a high-tech electric vehicles that are manufactured from recycled materials. They provide a public transportation in urban areas. Mellowcabs are eco-friendly and carbon neutral. The vehicles uses a Hydrogen fuel cells, illuminated body panels, human powered charging and on-board tablet computers which feature Mellowcab’s own proprietary software which includes augmented reality facility, geo-activation advertising and full social media integration features.
SavvyLoo
Country Of Origin: South Africa
SavvyLoo is a pedal-operated, self-contained, easy to assemble waterless toilet that features a conical disc that separates urine, diarrheic and other liquids from solids. Designed specifically for rural communities and South Africa’s informal settlements, SavvyLoo drains liquids and diarrheic waste into a soak-away through a central liquids sump while solid waste is desiccated using heat absorbed from the sun and airflow which helps it dry quickly and eradicate pathogens and odours.
Sterio.me
Country Of Origin: Zimbabwe
Sterio.me is a critical education start-up in Africa. Sterio.me utilizes the recent development of mobile industry, SMS-based programs are a good way to engage learners outside the classroom, to reinforce in- classroom learning. The aim of Sterio.me is for teachers to record a lecture or quiz, upload it to the site where learners can access the information with code.
Woelab
Country Of Origin: Togo
Woelab is a fablab launched in 2012 where local makers come together to collaborate and create. In 2013 Woelab developed the world’s first fully-functional 3D printer made entirely from recycled parts made from used computer parts and other finds.
First Digital Laser
Country Of Origin: South Africa
In 2013 the first world’s digital laser was created by Dr. Sandile Ngcobo, a researcher for the country’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Ngcobo, developed an important invention that could revolutionize the worlds of science, medicine and information and communications technology. this laser beam is shaped electronically via computer. The digital laser has applications across several disciplines and is making all the meticulous effort that goes into producing technology using lasers a good deal simpler.
Saphonian Zero-Blade Wind Convertor
Country Of Origin: Tunisia by Hassine Labaied and Anis Aouini.
The Saphonian is a bladeless wind turbine that leverages on sailboat technology to produce energy by harnessing wind through a sail that follows a non-rotational back-and-forth 3D motion. The sail channels the wind in a back and forth motion and then converts the kinetic energy into mechanical energy using pistons. The pistons subsequently convert the energy to a hydraulic pressure that can be stored in a hydraulic accumulator or converted into electricity using a hydraulic motor or generator.
ViViFi Touch Sticker
Country Of Origin: Egypt by Egyptian engineer Haitham Desoky.
ViViFi touch sticker is a human-object interface that can transform non-conductive surfaces with limited thickness such as wood and glass into touch sensors or screens that can interact with human contact through sticking ViViFi’s transparent stickers on the surface’s opposite side. In other words, you can place ViViFi’s touch sticker under any surface to convert it into a touch feature surface. The ViViFi touch sticker, which is water-resistant basically relies on human electrostatic energy in such a way that when there is physical contact between a human body and an insulating surface, the sticker senses the movement and position of the human contact and transmits it through a Wi-Fi environment into the main controller, which subsequently order actuators to take the matching action. This technology can be applied to light switches, medical devices and books.
Mubser
Country Of Origin: Egypt by Khaled Shady, a 22 year-old Egyptian student and a group of computer engineering students at Menoufia University, Egypt.
Mubser is a breakthrough navigational aid tool designed for visually-impaired people. It is a wearable belt with a Bluetooth-connected headset that guides blind people to move and navigate around common obstacles such as walls, chairs and staircases in a safe and easy way. Mubser recognizes these obstacles by leveraging on RGB imaging and infrared depth data captured by a 3D depth camera and quickly notifies the user through an inbuilt audio device and vibration motor.
Sleep Out
Country Of Origin: Kenya
Sleep Out is a website for travellers and adventurous people who are looking for accommodation in Africa. The website was launched in 2011 in kenya. The online portal covers hotels, B&Bs and private hosts from all over the continent.
