BioMed Central Blog

ZubaBox connects African scientists to open access research

Computer Aid International highlighted its innovative ZubaBox at BioMed Central’s recent Research Awards. This unique solar powered Internet hub is a shipping container housing one computer and 11 monitors with access to the Internet provided via satellite link.

The ZubaBox was created to allow Internet connectivity in the vast areas of Africa that do not have electricity. It has enabled Computer Aid International to reach the most rural, isolated and poor communities to provide low power computing solutions. This technology is vital to the development of scientific research in these regions as free access to open access research is now available in otherwise unconnected areas.

So far Computer Aid International has sent two “Boxes” to Zambia and one to Kenya. In

Zambia, one ZubaBox is 50 miles from the nearest surfaced road. The ZubaBox is used by medical professionals who want to communicate with specialists in the city, buy medicine online ready for collection and document patient’s medical history.

In Kenya, the ZubaBox serves local schools giving hundreds of children valuable access to online resources andinformation, as well as gaining valuable ICT skills needed to gain future employment in an ever increasing global market.

If you would like to learn more about the ZubaBox, please visit Computer Aid International’s website - http://www.computeraid.org/zubaBox-solar-internet-hub.asp

Posted by Guy Melzack at 11:45    Comments (0)