University of Cambridge > Talks.cam > Computer Laboratory Systems Research Group Seminar > Enabling the Internet of Things - IoT Penetrate the Base of Pyramid in Sub-Saharan Africa

Enabling the Internet of Things - IoT Penetrate the Base of Pyramid in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Abstract: In Sub Saharan Africa, connectivity and specifically internet penetration is a constant hurdle and problem affecting over 900 million people in this continent. With internet penetration at a low of 16% (McKinley Global Institute) of the population, a huge chunk is left out and are not reaping benefits of the digitized economy. This situation is far much worse in the Agricultural sector that creates job opportunities to 75% of the population in this region. Use of outdated farming technologies have hampered the sector and even reduced involvement of the tech savvy youth who lean more towards solutions with modern internet and technology. How then do we enable the internet of things reach and benefit people who live on less than 2 pounds a day and depend entirely on agriculture to provide food and income for their families?

I discuss what are the practical solutions for giant technology advancements in IoT to reach the base of pyramid people while ensuring sustainability and scalability are maintained and attained. We share lessons of building our solar powered sensors with GSM Connectivity in Nairobi and customizing our solution to address the problem in our region and why working with Cambridge on our new image sensing technology builds on our vision and mission that the internet of things can and will reach the base of pyramid in sub Saharan Africa.

Bio: Taita is an innovator and entrepreneur with a specific interest in solving challenges facing Kenya’s agriculture sector. He has done this by co-founding Illuminum Greenhouses, an Agri-Tech start-up that is revolutionising small scale farming in Kenya and has received capital from USADF , USAID, DFID through their SPRING Program. He has been recognised by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society of Mechanical Engineers among other global awards while recently being named a Mandela Washington Fellow. He is also an MIT -Global Entrepreneurship Alumni and Purdue University Alumni.

This talk is part of the Computer Laboratory Systems Research Group Seminar series.

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