Samsung Electronics Africa unveiled its renewable-energy-powered Digital Village at an event in Midrand yesterday.
The village comprises the brand's solar-powered Internet school and solar healthcare centre, as well as a solar generator and solar-powered lanterns. Samsung says these offer remote communities consolidated services and cater to the needs of those with limited resources.
For the first time, the consumer electronics brand showcased its telemedical centre, which provides remote medical assistance to rural communities that lack sufficient access to qualified medical professionals.
According to Samsung, the purpose of the centre is to promote quick diagnosis and to educate the community about various healthcare issues.
"The Samsung telemedicine centres, driven by solar power technology, comprise four rooms and can provide access to doctors and medical specialists anywhere in the world. With the exception of the cost of data, consumables for the printer and medical equipment, there are no further running costs involved - making it not only affordable, but also easy to implement," said Thierry Boulanger, director of IT and B2B Solutions at Samsung Electronics Africa, of the centre.
Consult in the cloud
To complement the telemedical centre, Samsung also unveiled its Tele-Medical App. The application can be used as a platform to consult with doctors from around the globe. Using the app, officials are able to compile a comprehensive medical history of patients, including important stats like blood pressure, body mass index, etc.
The app also facilitates various tests. Once a nurse has selected the test to be performed, the app will provide a diagram of the machinery to be used, how the equipment must be set up, and how the patient should be positioned. Once the test is completed, the information is captured digitally and the results are then sent to the cloud, where relevant doctors can analyse the findings, Boulanger said.
"No specialised software is needed to access the password-protected information, and once accessed by the remote doctor, the results can be analysed and a diagnosis for treatment provided - along with a prescription, if necessary," he said, adding that, should any further clarification be required, the doctor can set up a video conference with the patient.
According to Boulanger, elements of the Digital Village have been deployed across Africa. The solar-powered Internet school has been rolled out in 19 countries across the continent, he said, citing Phomolong Secondary School, in Tembisa, as the perfect proof-of-concept for this renewable-energy community project.
Speaking at the launch of the village, Phomolong's principal, Mocheke Thoka, outlined how this technology has made a difference for the learners and staff at Phomolong. "Educators are able to use the facilities to plan their lessons and learners can use the facilities to apply to universities and for Internet access. In the past our learners and staff had to wait in long queues to access this kind of technology."
"I am proud to say that I am a product of the Samsung solar-powered Internet school," said 2012 Phomolong graduate, Lefa Tresure Makgato, at the event. "I am one of those children from an impoverished background whose parents were not able to send me to a good school, but through this CSI initiative, we become a well-equipped school without having to spend any money."
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