THE NONGOMA LIVING LAB

LLiSA 3rd annual conference

Bethel Mutanga

University of Zululand

PRESENTATION OUTLINE Motivation / introduction The GUISET project The Nongoma LL Stakeholders Progress What’s next Challenges Sustainability

MOTIVATION The Dept of Computer Science at the University of

Zululand (UZ) proposed GUISET (Adigun et al, 2006) Grid Based Utility Infrastructure for SMME enabling

Technologies GUISET is a Grid based utility infrastructure mainly

for SMMEs in Nongoma. GUISET enables applications to be deployed as

published services offered to subscribers Subscribers do not have to own the services they use No network infrastructure is in place to test GUISET

idea We proposed a living lab to support this and other

initiatives The Nongoma Living backbone Lab will be supported

by a Wireless Mesh Network

THE GUISET PROJECT An architectural vision of low-cost technology

and software service provision based on utility computing paradigm;

Variable pricing of services rather than fixed Culture-adaptive (collaborative business

model, and resource pooling for sharing) Integrates local communities into vibrant

Mobile Business value network Leverages 1)access to market info, 2)new

business opportunities, 3) customer reachability etc

The GUISET idea changed to a cloud-based infrastructure at a later stage

WAP application .NET Application Applet J2EE Client

Enabling Information Bus for Dynamic Service selection

Low Level Resources

Knowledge resources

Services

SME ENABLERS

UTILITY BROKER

RESOURCE REPOSITORY

ResponseRequest with QOS

Multi-modal Interfaces

Middleware Layer

Grid Infrastructure Layer

THE GUISET PROJECT

NONGOMA LIVING LAB The Nongoma district is one of the largest in the KwaZulu

Natal province The LL will be supported by a Wireless Mesh Backbone The lab is brought to the people by allowing anytime-

anywhere access Mesh routers will be strategically deployed to provide

maximum coverage within the area. Internet gateways, printers etc will be installed at schools

and other public institutions Mlokotwa High School Bhekuzulu High School Nzobo High School Chief Zulu primary school

NONGOMA LIVING LAB

NONGOMA COMMUNITY

Arial view of Nongoma Community. Insert: A Nongoma woman with her arts and crafts products

STAKEHOLDERS Meraka Institute

Wireless Africa Group Living Labs in Southern Africa (LiSSA). Industry partners

TelkomDynatechHuawei

The Nongoma community KZN government

OBJECTIVES OF THE LL Educational

computer literacy and technical training to both community and local schools.

Development of new technology solutions through research

Community DevelopmentTo generate, distribute and apply ICT skills

for use by SMMEsTo enhance the use of ICT on community

entrepreneurship.Enhancing existing business processes

PROGRESS ... Conducting training

Matric graduates were trained in ICT skills Network planning and deployment

Identify sites to install the mesh network infrastructure and construct computers centres

Optimization of network performance Using of solar technology Automatic configuration, security etc QoS issues, Mobility support etc

Conducting research on user needs, perceptions, level of computer skills and other social factors.

Development of applications to cater for the identified needs E-commerce on demand platform Accounting and billing Use of mobile devices / cellphones

WHAT’S NEXT ... Network deployment

Target date: Jan 2012 User training – phase II

To start : August 2011Network administration – Feb - 2012

Software developmentCurrently going on....Expected date of completion : April 2012

CHALLENGES Human resources Development of sustainable

management mechanisms for the Living LabSupporting non-profit making entities like

education Funding

SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES Publish subscriber concept will be

employed Members have to be equipped with

business and technical skills Must be run as a business enterprise Training programs offered by the

UniversityCISCO and Wireless Mesh Networks

program Partially funded by Meraka institute

Business skills program for small tradersBusiness English Program

Thank You