Evolving an Efficient and Effective Off-the-Shelf Computing Infrastructure for Rural Communities of South Africa
- Siebörger, Ingrid, Terzoli, Alfredo, Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Authors: Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430990 , vital:72734 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52014-4_5
- Description: Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have diffused into al-most every area of life for citizens living in the Global North. Data is seen as a key element in the fourth industrial revolution and is the foundation of Information, Knowledge and Wisdom. Knowledge has become the new “make or break” asset and an inability to access the world’s data and technologies that facilitate access, synthesis and inter-rogation of data places one at a disadvantage. In 2013, the Department of Communications in South Africa announced a new national broad-band policy to promote the reduction of a digital divide and sup-port citi-zens and the economy in digital interactions. Implementation has thus far not been successful. Furthermore, the Broadband policy does not address how South Africans are to access the Internet once available. The Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) provides an example of a computing infrastructure model for the introduction of ICTs into rural communities. Through the deployment of “broadband islands” and low-cost compu-ting infrastructure to promote both knowledge creation and consump-tion, access to the proposed ubiquitous Internet connectivity can be un-locked. However, the initial computing infrastructure deployed to the SLL suffers from a single point of failure. In this paper, we discuss al-ternative computing infrastructure configurations that were tested and deployed within the SLL in order to determine a more appropriate com-puting infrastructure model for the SLL and potentially other rural South African communities; such that learners, teachers and community members can be active contributors and consumers of data, infor-mation, knowledge and wisdom.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430990 , vital:72734 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52014-4_5
- Description: Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have diffused into al-most every area of life for citizens living in the Global North. Data is seen as a key element in the fourth industrial revolution and is the foundation of Information, Knowledge and Wisdom. Knowledge has become the new “make or break” asset and an inability to access the world’s data and technologies that facilitate access, synthesis and inter-rogation of data places one at a disadvantage. In 2013, the Department of Communications in South Africa announced a new national broad-band policy to promote the reduction of a digital divide and sup-port citi-zens and the economy in digital interactions. Implementation has thus far not been successful. Furthermore, the Broadband policy does not address how South Africans are to access the Internet once available. The Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) provides an example of a computing infrastructure model for the introduction of ICTs into rural communities. Through the deployment of “broadband islands” and low-cost compu-ting infrastructure to promote both knowledge creation and consump-tion, access to the proposed ubiquitous Internet connectivity can be un-locked. However, the initial computing infrastructure deployed to the SLL suffers from a single point of failure. In this paper, we discuss al-ternative computing infrastructure configurations that were tested and deployed within the SLL in order to determine a more appropriate com-puting infrastructure model for the SLL and potentially other rural South African communities; such that learners, teachers and community members can be active contributors and consumers of data, infor-mation, knowledge and wisdom.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
LTSP DNS round robin clusters: green technology access enablers for telecommunication services in marginalised communities
- Siebörger, Ingrid, Terzoli, Alfredo, Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Authors: Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428437 , vital:72511 , https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/75984640/177-libre.pdf?1639074275=andresponse-content-disposi-tion=inline%3B+filename%3DLTSP_DNS_Round_Robin_Clusters_Green_Tech.pdfandExpires=1714912779andSignature=Gmd52OTCvGmiKhiFiQH~rrfp6lSPbp7glndLPn7V4Jy5yt7lU-eToE4IPxr7lDQQOdUW348nkXIMgYHnXkWjWl7nYBM7hlluxJGd15oKbpifvTofHVVEB-kOLbz0caOrAodnS~eMHdebRQOumKSAHPGQkqem756vbw0KV7bhmFQ0TUN-vsVeBoH5ftfg7s355Oh9EZCQhZu~~P0AWzlSRnMTH~6vpj3EKvp7P4gy55oISZ~207VFFFZidb90aoP7JWehRYjRqn3Tk19A6nwm4o9U-wc9Dz1MrCy-YfbqOxdNulQh4bti2WI7DA6C3Q8TMCbtqnZskXQYsIzfEianS~gw__andKey-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
- Description: Rural development is seen as a priority in South Africa; information and knowledge are key strategic resources for social and economic develop-ment. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are seen as im-portant tools in rural development, assisting in enabling change through economic development. In rural areas where ICT infrastructure is being expanded and deployed there is a need to provide appropriate technolo-gies that support sustainability and meet the needs of the local communi-ty. In this paper we argue that the use of Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) cluster servers are appropriate technologies for use in computer laboratory environments for relatively inexpensive access to technologies by schools and local communities in rural areas. Typically LTSP clusters are deployed when there is a need to support 100s or 1000s of comput-ers, however, we argue that by reusing recycled (older) desktop or server computers as cluster servers could lower the entry level costs of LTSP computing while maximising the use of available resources. The paper details the configuration of a Domain Name System (DNS) round robin cluster solution together with initial testing and results. It is suggested that LTSP cluster solutions, and the DNS round robin implementation, show promise for use in providing access technologies to rural communities and schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428437 , vital:72511 , https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/75984640/177-libre.pdf?1639074275=andresponse-content-disposi-tion=inline%3B+filename%3DLTSP_DNS_Round_Robin_Clusters_Green_Tech.pdfandExpires=1714912779andSignature=Gmd52OTCvGmiKhiFiQH~rrfp6lSPbp7glndLPn7V4Jy5yt7lU-eToE4IPxr7lDQQOdUW348nkXIMgYHnXkWjWl7nYBM7hlluxJGd15oKbpifvTofHVVEB-kOLbz0caOrAodnS~eMHdebRQOumKSAHPGQkqem756vbw0KV7bhmFQ0TUN-vsVeBoH5ftfg7s355Oh9EZCQhZu~~P0AWzlSRnMTH~6vpj3EKvp7P4gy55oISZ~207VFFFZidb90aoP7JWehRYjRqn3Tk19A6nwm4o9U-wc9Dz1MrCy-YfbqOxdNulQh4bti2WI7DA6C3Q8TMCbtqnZskXQYsIzfEianS~gw__andKey-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
- Description: Rural development is seen as a priority in South Africa; information and knowledge are key strategic resources for social and economic develop-ment. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are seen as im-portant tools in rural development, assisting in enabling change through economic development. In rural areas where ICT infrastructure is being expanded and deployed there is a need to provide appropriate technolo-gies that support sustainability and meet the needs of the local communi-ty. In this paper we argue that the use of Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) cluster servers are appropriate technologies for use in computer laboratory environments for relatively inexpensive access to technologies by schools and local communities in rural areas. Typically LTSP clusters are deployed when there is a need to support 100s or 1000s of comput-ers, however, we argue that by reusing recycled (older) desktop or server computers as cluster servers could lower the entry level costs of LTSP computing while maximising the use of available resources. The paper details the configuration of a Domain Name System (DNS) round robin cluster solution together with initial testing and results. It is suggested that LTSP cluster solutions, and the DNS round robin implementation, show promise for use in providing access technologies to rural communities and schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The development of ICT networks for South African schools: Two pilot studies in disadvantaged areas
- Siebörger, Ingrid, Terzoli, Alfredo, Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Authors: Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431018 , vital:72737 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09729-9_25
- Description: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are increasingly considered valuable tools in educa-tion, promoting the development of higher cognitive processes and allowing teachers and learners access to a plethora of information. This paper reports on two pilot studies conducted in South Africa in proto-typical previously disadvantaged schools and their surrounding communities. Each pilot study deployed a local loop network within impoverished communi-ties, connecting schools to one another and central services such as email and voice communications. The benefits of these networks were that teachers, learners and the local community had access to in-formation, and communication and collaboration channels, providing potential test beds for investigat-ing the use of computers as mind tools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431018 , vital:72737 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09729-9_25
- Description: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are increasingly considered valuable tools in educa-tion, promoting the development of higher cognitive processes and allowing teachers and learners access to a plethora of information. This paper reports on two pilot studies conducted in South Africa in proto-typical previously disadvantaged schools and their surrounding communities. Each pilot study deployed a local loop network within impoverished communi-ties, connecting schools to one another and central services such as email and voice communications. The benefits of these networks were that teachers, learners and the local community had access to in-formation, and communication and collaboration channels, providing potential test beds for investigat-ing the use of computers as mind tools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Enabling and constraining ICT practice in secondary schools: case studies in South Africa
- Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl, Siebörger, Ingrid, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl , Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428923 , vital:72546 , https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1504/IJKL.2007.015551
- Description: The use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in education is being seen as a way of widening access to education, particularly in developing countries. This paper addresses the issue of ICT implemen-tation in secondary schools and focuses specifically on the practices that enable or constrain the successful implementation of ICT for teach-ing and learning activities. It reflects upon the lessons learned from a collective case study undertaken in 12 of the 13 secondary schools in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. School principals and designated IT teachers were interviewed and on-site infrastructure audits conducted. This paper identifies a number of key enabling and constraining factors surrounding practical issues, including sufficient hardware, appropriate software and affordable connectivity, sufficient technical support and training, policy-related issues such as the role of national, provincial and school policy, the vital contribution of principal leadership and champion teachers as well as ongoing teacher profes-sional development coupled with a willingness to change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl , Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428923 , vital:72546 , https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1504/IJKL.2007.015551
- Description: The use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in education is being seen as a way of widening access to education, particularly in developing countries. This paper addresses the issue of ICT implemen-tation in secondary schools and focuses specifically on the practices that enable or constrain the successful implementation of ICT for teach-ing and learning activities. It reflects upon the lessons learned from a collective case study undertaken in 12 of the 13 secondary schools in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. School principals and designated IT teachers were interviewed and on-site infrastructure audits conducted. This paper identifies a number of key enabling and constraining factors surrounding practical issues, including sufficient hardware, appropriate software and affordable connectivity, sufficient technical support and training, policy-related issues such as the role of national, provincial and school policy, the vital contribution of principal leadership and champion teachers as well as ongoing teacher profes-sional development coupled with a willingness to change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Wi-Fi as a last mile access technology and The Tragedy of the Commons
- Brandt, Ingrid, Terzoli, Alfredo, Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Authors: Brandt, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431106 , vital:72744 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6266-7_33
- Description: With an alarmingly low teledensity in South Africa, just 12%, and not much hope of further wired infrastructure at the local loop level, as the costs incurred are high compared to potential revenue, wireless con-nectivity could be a great asset and service in South Africa. However, the use of unlicensed spectrum in building wireless networks can be comparable to “The Tragedy of the Commons”, the result of selfish be-haviour towards common and limited resources. This paper evaluates the use of 802.11 wireless technologies in building a broadband wire-less network and the effects of high amounts of interference on such a network. The paper concludes that for urban areas 802.11 technologies using unlicensed spectrum is not advisable, unless used in point-to-point links, while its use in rapid rural development (where there is less interference) is very promising.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Brandt, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431106 , vital:72744 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6266-7_33
- Description: With an alarmingly low teledensity in South Africa, just 12%, and not much hope of further wired infrastructure at the local loop level, as the costs incurred are high compared to potential revenue, wireless con-nectivity could be a great asset and service in South Africa. However, the use of unlicensed spectrum in building wireless networks can be comparable to “The Tragedy of the Commons”, the result of selfish be-haviour towards common and limited resources. This paper evaluates the use of 802.11 wireless technologies in building a broadband wire-less network and the effects of high amounts of interference on such a network. The paper concludes that for urban areas 802.11 technologies using unlicensed spectrum is not advisable, unless used in point-to-point links, while its use in rapid rural development (where there is less interference) is very promising.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Wireless communication for previously disadvantaged secondary schools in Grahamstown, South Africa.
- Brandt, Ingrid, Terzoli, Alfredo, Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Authors: Brandt, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/427615 , vital:72451 , https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1andtype=pdfanddoi=2520d49f684e821c84350ae8c504572f35186d2f
- Description: With an alarmingly low teledensity in South Africa, less than 5% in some rural areas, and not much hope of further wired infrastructure, as the costs incurred are high compared to potential revenue, wireless connec-tivity could be a great asset and service in South Africa. This paper looks at how wireless communication technologies, 802.11, WiMAX and VSAT, can be used to allow broadband connectivity of schools to the Internet, with special reference to experimental work that is being done in Grahamstown schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Brandt, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/427615 , vital:72451 , https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1andtype=pdfanddoi=2520d49f684e821c84350ae8c504572f35186d2f
- Description: With an alarmingly low teledensity in South Africa, less than 5% in some rural areas, and not much hope of further wired infrastructure, as the costs incurred are high compared to potential revenue, wireless connec-tivity could be a great asset and service in South Africa. This paper looks at how wireless communication technologies, 802.11, WiMAX and VSAT, can be used to allow broadband connectivity of schools to the Internet, with special reference to experimental work that is being done in Grahamstown schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Models of Internet Connectivity in Previously Disadvantaged Secondary Schools in the Eastern Cape
- Brandt, Ingrid, Terzoli, Alfredo, Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Authors: Brandt, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2004
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/427602 , vital:72450 , https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/43383861/Models_of_Internet_Connectivity_in_Previ20160305-2534-1salhbh-libre.pdf?1457175561=andresponse-content-disposi-tion=inline%3B+filename%3DModels_of_Internet_Connectivity_in_Previ.pdfandExpires=1714994733andSignature=AS-VDG85ZQPZzWwvz3ITck4K9JIs4zA2bCzFW9LLCYPj9aI~gA4qSOmURIkQz4VE2ZiOrjWHDyeebZyoYs50SPW8~IF31aXPoz8MFAY~qz0DgIAVCNF5k7vXqnCxmnuE5zMEjnxxkNigthvwSD4yDrpJ0Hy5VdN20~3p1j0E9N7zaiTPexGvrH85p3k~bb4Mht00QdltgVGO3tcqiAA9-eskZ--mS7X1acD3ehhXVG7hGVxLqq6TsjdEWOKh6Z4Gkt0Utdcx84zWAkC56yN8GoHwTbxt1DkjMOuatLhWppfMLNQPy6hNYga9GNq-0dalbisbJ1G-Nrbez0O0w2w8EA__andKey-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
- Description: Computers are increasingly considered a valuable tool in Education, not only for the purpose of administration but also for teaching and learning. This project aims to model Internet connectivity to previously disadvan-taged schools in the Eastern Cape by investigating known networking technologies in the context of such schools. We look at wired and wireless technologies, while bearing in mind issues such as cost, organisation ca-pacity and such like.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
- Authors: Brandt, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
- Date: 2004
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/427602 , vital:72450 , https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/43383861/Models_of_Internet_Connectivity_in_Previ20160305-2534-1salhbh-libre.pdf?1457175561=andresponse-content-disposi-tion=inline%3B+filename%3DModels_of_Internet_Connectivity_in_Previ.pdfandExpires=1714994733andSignature=AS-VDG85ZQPZzWwvz3ITck4K9JIs4zA2bCzFW9LLCYPj9aI~gA4qSOmURIkQz4VE2ZiOrjWHDyeebZyoYs50SPW8~IF31aXPoz8MFAY~qz0DgIAVCNF5k7vXqnCxmnuE5zMEjnxxkNigthvwSD4yDrpJ0Hy5VdN20~3p1j0E9N7zaiTPexGvrH85p3k~bb4Mht00QdltgVGO3tcqiAA9-eskZ--mS7X1acD3ehhXVG7hGVxLqq6TsjdEWOKh6Z4Gkt0Utdcx84zWAkC56yN8GoHwTbxt1DkjMOuatLhWppfMLNQPy6hNYga9GNq-0dalbisbJ1G-Nrbez0O0w2w8EA__andKey-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
- Description: Computers are increasingly considered a valuable tool in Education, not only for the purpose of administration but also for teaching and learning. This project aims to model Internet connectivity to previously disadvan-taged schools in the Eastern Cape by investigating known networking technologies in the context of such schools. We look at wired and wireless technologies, while bearing in mind issues such as cost, organisation ca-pacity and such like.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
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