The use of kerosene lamps in Africa has been a subject of concern for many years now. These lamps are used most commonly in developing Sub-Saharan Africa and the southern regions of Asia. More than 95% of communities without electricity are found in these regions. The Problem For people who live off the grid,…
Smartphones are only as smart as the applications developed for their use; to this effect, some of the most clever and useful applications can be found in a few African nations where some mobile apps are improving society as a whole. Such is the case in Tanzania, a country that has partnered with UNICEF…
Health risks and dangerous conditions such as malaria, pneumococcal infections, viral induced encephalopathy, and bacterial blood diseases continue to affect African populations, particularly children, across the continent. These matters also constantly keep Dr. Evelyn Gitau, a cellular immunologist from Kenya, busy in the lab and the field. Dr. Gitau believes that clinical immunity to malaria…
Drivers and pedestrians in California could soon share the road with stylish Lexus sports utility vehicles driven solely by technology developed by the company behind the legendary iPhone and Macintosh computers. In mid-April, the Department of Motor Vehicles in California approved a request by Apple to test three luxury hybrid SUVs equipped with self-driving technology…
It’s official: Facebook just upped the competition in Kenya with their low-cost solution to WiFi services. The social media giant, partnering with Surf, has already launched similar services in Uganda, Nigeria, and India, making Kenya the fourth region to get access to cheap and accessible Internet services. The service has been live for over a…
In the early 21st century, Finland became known as the most revolutionary nation in terms of mobile adoption and integration into daily life. The home of electronics giant Nokia became the first country to implement mobile functions such as SMS banking, wireless payment of parking meters, access to government information, and other important public services…
An open source software mapping platform co-founded by a Kenyan woman is being used by young Somalis to help drought and famine-stricken families get emergency relief. The name of the platform is Ushahidi, which in Swahili approximately means “to witness and record.” Ushahidi has already been used to coordinate earthquake relief efforts in Haiti and Chile, record environmental damage…
Although there are some marked differences between African Millennials and their American counterparts, they share a certain sentiment towards personal banking. In Nairobi, the Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) recognizes that long queues, red tape, and triplicate banking forms are not in the best interest of this customer segment—i.e. account holders born in the 1980s and…
Earth is truly an amazing place, and mankind has traditionally viewed it through one perspective: the earth’s surface. NASA is changing that with their recent release of thousands of aerials, specifically of Africa’s geography. Africa is one of the largest continents on the planet, full of diverse geography, amazing ecosystems, large cities and…
Modern technology has surely improved the lives of millions, with smartphone apps that help manage your finances or health, and even ones to help with tracking your children to ensure they are safe, the smartphone age has taken the world by storm. Kenya is falling into another smartphone craze—online gambling. With the easy- to-access dealer…
