 |
| Digital Drum |
The Digital Drum, a computer
system that gives people access to information on health, education and
other relevant issues, has been cited by Time magazine as one of the
world's top 50 inventions for 2011.
The Digital Drum is a co-creation by the United Nations Children's
Fund (Unicef) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
The solution is based on the CSIR's Digital Doorway, a standalone
computer system to promote self-learning of computer literacy and
information skills. The Digital Doorway initiative is funded by the Department of Science and Technology.
The
Unicef/CSIR team was tasked to come up with an alternative in Uganda,
using local materials in a simplified housing. Khalid Arbab, Unicef's
Uganda IT specialist, suggested that, since oil drums were readily
available, they could be used as a basis for the new housing. Grant
Cambridge, from the CSIR, worked with Jean-Marc Lefebure, from Unicef's
Uganda office, to come up with a prototype Digital Drum, which was
mounted on the wall.
Cambridge explains: “Manufacturing the
Digital Doorway in Uganda was impossible, as the country lacks the
suitable technology – powder-coating and laser-cutting equipment – to
manufacture it to specifications.
“The Digital Drum design proved
to be an innovative way for Unicef and the CSIR to address a need
through a solution developed in the absence of technology.”
The Digital Drum has two workstations, with content adapted from the standard Digital Doorway suite.
The
original prototype, as well as a subsequent iteration of the Digital
Drum using a second oil drum as a stand, is on display at the
Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, in New York City. It features in
the museum catalogue, “Design with the Other 90%: Cities”.
No comments:
Post a Comment