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as well as external experts to review ’innovation hotspots‘
within UCT and develop appropriate strategies. We thank
NIPMO for this support.
Many new initiatives are on the cards for 2013, but I will
mention just two. ’IP Savvy‘ will allow our researchers to
improve their intellectual property knowledge through
onlinemodular presentations and, on successful completion
of a quiz, researchers are awarded a certificate certifying
them as ’IP Savvy‘.
We are also going to introduce the
Café Scientifique
concept to Cape Town. These events, sometimes dubbed
as ’science for the sociable‘, bring people together in a
friendly, informal ’pub‘ atmosphere in an after-work, happy-
hour context to
discuss and explore the latest ideas in
science and technology in laypersons’ terms. In essence,
it will start with an informal talk on a key UCT invention
given by the inventors themselves, who will highlight key
aspects of their research and the resulting commercial
opportunities, followed by question and answer exchanges,
debate and general discussion around the technology – an
opportunity for everyone to express an opinion, expert or
otherwise.
Always exciting, always lekker! Imnandi!
Department of Research and Innovation
UCT Spin-out
Unbundling connectivity
problems
Research indicates that globally, online video usage has
exploded. But this is not the case in Africa, as it simply
does not work.
A South African consortium has developed and
introduced a world-first technology for the African
market, facilitating video streaming to mobile devices.
The consortium, funded by the Technology Innovation
Agency, and consisting of the Council for Scientific
and Industrial Research (CSIR), UCT, and East Coast
Access, developed the technology known as ARTIST
(Adaptive Real-Time Internet Streaming Technology)
that allows streaming video to be viewed on mobile
devices, in low bandwidth or congested environments.
The technology was commercialised and a new
company called Tuluntulu (meaning
’
stream
‘
in Zulu)
launched.
ARTIST utilises patented technology to deliver
unbroken live video streams with fully integrated
social media interactivity. Users can use existing
devices – Android smart phones and/or tablets – and
existing mobile phone networks. The technology
works on 3G and EDGE (low bandwidth), which is the
dominant system used in rural areas in South Africa,
Africa and other developing countries.
The technology can be used extensively in commerce,
but also has specific application in health and
education, particularly for rural areas. The intention is
to launch into South Africa, into Africa and then target
the Asian market, before making the offering global.
The work of the consortium, which includes UCT’s
professors Mqhele Dlodlo and Gerhard de Jager, was
acknowledged through an innovation award at the
2012/13 NSTF-BHP Billiton Awards.
Associate Professor Mqhele Dlodlo and Emeritus
Professor Gerhard de Jager.