Ikamva National e-Skills Institute€¦ · and Zubair Moosa (Laudium Secondary School). CV Creator provides the user with a form to complete. It then generates a CV (Curriculum Vitae)

iNeSIIkamva National eSkills Institute

Ikamva National e-Skills Institute

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shaping the mobile apps development landscape

in SA through human capacity development

• Platform for entrepreneurship, developing e-skills and creating solutions to national challenges: Mobile apps stimulate the economy as mobile developers create income and businesses through selling the apps. The apps also assist in solving national challenges through social innovation. This is where app developers, as active citizens, focus on innovative solutions to social problems.

Entrepreneurs are an important sector of the economy and have been highlighted by national government as having the potential to drive the South

The mobile app has become the single most significant tool driving the

mobile economy in South Africa. This is according to ‘Mobility 2014’ by World Wide Worx, a report that looks at online trends annually.

It notes that the use of apps on phones has shot up from 24% of adult cellphone users in cities and towns in mid-2012 to 43% in late 2013. Of significance is that the rural market is also growing quickly, with its 27% level of use surpassing the overall market of 18 months before.

In terms of mobile app revenue growth, South Africa is in the top 40 countries. It is placed at number 37 according to ‘The Mobile App Ecosystem - Global trends in established and growth markets’ by Distimo and MEF, 2013.

iNeSI prioritises mobile app developmentThe Ikamva National e-Skills Institute (iNeSI) prioritises mobile app development as part of the national drive to e-skill South Africa. The organisation has established mobile application development factories to serve as platforms for innovation for local benefit. This has been done in three provinces, namely the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Western Cape.

Mobile apps and e-skills to drive South Africa forward Current efforts fail to acknowledge that mobile apps have the potential to play a significant role in South Africa and across the continent. There is clear alignment with the National Development Plan 2030 priority areas as defined and supported by the National e-Skills Plan of Action 2013. The priority areas include developing an active citizenry, creating an inclusive economy, building capabilities and creating a capable developmental state.

South Africa Connect, the broadband policy, includes the vision of a broadband

The Ikamva National e-Skills Institute

shaping the mobile apps development landscape in SA through human capacity development

ecosystem that requires demand to be stimulated for digital opportunities to be realised. This demand can only come about through an increase in e-skills development where people have the know-how to make use of the infrastructure, as well as the ability to create local and relevant content and applications.

The information below illustrates how iNeSI’s mobile app development has aligned with national priority areas and is part of driving South Africa forward:

• Creating relevant content for the broadband ecosystem: iNeSI is mandated to increase e-skills in the country and that includes promoting the development of local and relevant applications. There have been numerous mobile app development initiatives which have resulted in mobile apps developed.

e-skilling the nation

The Ikamva National e-Skills Institute shaping mobile apps development

A mobile application (or mobile app) is defined as a software application designed to run on smartphones, tablets, computers and other mobile devices. These apps are usually available through application distribution platforms, typically operated by the owner of the mobile operating system (such as the Apple App Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store and BlackBerry App World).

What is a mobile app?

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African economy forward. Not only has iNeSI conducted e-skills for entrepreneurs courses but it has begun the process of developing an ecosystem for mobile apps where entrepreneurship is fundamental.

• Developing the necessary e-skills and impacting on education: Beyond the apps themselves, learning to create the mobile apps (during hackathons and other initiatives) develops necessary e-skills. This increases the e-skills pool and also attracts interest into the ICT sector. iNeSI has been able to increase the human resource capacity within mobile apps development through train-the-trainer courses, boot camps, workshops and hackathons.

This e-skills human resource capacity has spanned across educators, mobile application developers and the youth (among others) both in the ICT and non-ICT environments. This creates an opportunity for e-skills

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With the focus on mobile and smart devices, the mobile application development factories focus on:• supporting local application development • innovation for learning, effective service delivery and

new job opportunities• awareness raising • development collaboration• creating a space as an entrepreneurial focal point

and a physical environment to collaborate and innovate

The role of mobile application development factories

Developing a mobile app ecosystemThe World Bank’s ‘Innovation Policy: A guide for Developing Countries’ defines innovation as “technologies or practices that are new to a given society” and that which is not disseminated and used is not an innovation. It’s not an innovation unless the ideas go through a process to reach society, resulting in economic output or social impact.

Among other elements, for an innovation framework to function effectively, there needs to be alignment, coordination, cooperation and coherence between government, business, education and civil society. There also needs to be monitoring and evaluation and a way of providing a feedback loop.

iNeSI and its mobile application development factories are involved in developing an ecosystem for mobile apps that allows for the process of innovation to occur. This will create

a platform for developing local talent to fill South Africa’s skills needs, including the fostering of entrepreneurial skills.

Teaching and transferring skills is part of the process of innovation, as is creating apps that speak to the social challenges that face our country and continent. However, this is just the start. Another step is to take the mobile app and its inventor through a business incubation process, developing and refining what is needed for the mobile app to go to market. These steps have become part of the mobile app development initiatives run by iNeSI.

escalation through the recipients’ circles of influence.

Furthermore, targeted graduate courses have also been created around mobile apps development. An example is ‘Introduction to Information Systems’ run at the University of Pretoria.

• Development for local benefit: Key to developing mobile apps is the focus on development for local benefit. Currently the majority of app development occurs outside the country and doesn’t necessarily relate to South Africa’s needs nor fit appropriately within the social context. The iNeSI mobile app development initiatives focus on creating apps that meet South Africa’s needs.

• Allows for stakeholder engagement: The mobile app development initiatives allow for stakeholder engagement with businesses, mobile companies and other organisations. This provides a platform for multiple inputs into the mobile app development process and is part of the process of creating a mobile app ecosystem.

Mobile app development activitiesOver 80 apps have been developed through various iNeSI initiatives. These initiatives include mobile app development workshops, hackathons and business incubation processes. Topics covered by the apps have included e-learning content,

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Research around mobile app developmentIt is important that there is evidence-based research that feeds back into the mobile app ecosystem. There has been ongoing research around mobile apps and

assistance with finding jobs, social innovation apps, games, organisation and planning, health, transport, entertainment, GPS data, events, emergency help, advice, education, news, business, career guidance and recycling. Participants in the initiatives range from school learners and university students to academics and the public.

Mmeni’s Job Finder provides descriptions of different kinds of jobs, qualifications needed and more information regarding where you can apply for the job. By Ezile Evander Gcasamba (Pretoria Secondary) and Innocent Nyama (Bokgoni High School).

Career Guidance This is a guidance application for the youth around career path choices. It covers areas such as finances and choosing the correct institution. By Kapil Nana and Zubair Moosa (Laudium Secondary School).

CV Creator provides the user with a form to complete. It then generates a CV (Curriculum Vitae) that is emailed to the user as a PDF document. The app keeps the details of users. This allows users to come back any time and update their CV. By Jaco Duplooy (Hermanus High School).

Matrix Go Smart is aimed at high school learners to help them choose the relevant subjects for their career choices. The app includes: available institutions where they can study towards their career choices; tertiary institutions entry requirements, and available bursaries. By Nigel Chisinga, Neliswa Valashiya, Varoline Tah and Ntombekhaya Jolobe.

JobApp connects jobseekers with employers. Jobseekers can register and look for available jobs. Users can also connect to job-related websites (such as GumTree). By Siyathemba Gwe, Athenkosi Cetyana and Lwando Gqobho – Centre of Science and Technology (COSAT).

Mobile apps developed around

career & employment guidance

mobile app development, such as research on the impact of mobile technology as a stimulator of entrepreneurial potential and interest in ICT as a career and study choice (part of the BlackBerry Mobile Application Development Challenges).

Following are some of the mobile apps that have been developed through the teaching and learning programme of iNeSI and its CoLabs.

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health

First Aid Quiz (FAQ) The app helps you learn for a first aid exam. It’s a quiz with questions from a first aid manual. The questions will be for a level one First Aid certificate. More difficult questions and more quizzes can be bought by the user at a later stage. By Nicola Wolfaardt and Annerie van Jaarsveld (Hoërskool Die Wilgers).

Brain Freezer The app asks questions and also gives hints about the brain. It includes a short article about the brain and connects to a web site that teaches the user more about the brain. By Abel Sathekge and Banza Ilunga (Pretoria Secondary).

Pregnancy App The app is based on reducing teenage pregnancy in a fun but serious way. Organisations focused on stopping teenage pregnancy will be

advertised on the apps web site and it also supports community projects that address this social issue. By Percival Edward (Pretoria Secondary School).

Reci-Berry Food Finder/Meal Builder The app plans the evening meal for the whole family. It includes selecting ingredients from drop-down lists and finding a recipe with these ingredients. You can also enter the maximum price you are willing to pay for the entire meal and the app will search the database for recipes. By Jaco Vorster and Tihan Pelser (Hoërskool Garsfontein).

FirstAid First is a quick effective guide on what to do in first aid emergency situations. The user is presented with a screen that allows him or her to choose a situation. It then guides the user on how to treat the emergency or which contact number to call for assistance. Any emergency selected takes the user through a step-by-step process (with images) on how to handle the emergency. By Alvaro Peters (Northlink College).

Advanced BMI calculator The app is a BMI calculator with the ability to work out your body mass index, weight-to-height ratio and your body fat percentage using the Navy Seal method. The app is written as a native Blackberry 10 app and gives the user a unique method to interact with the calculator. By Eben du Toit.

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Snakes The app allows people to play

Snakes through any menu item on the BlackBerry device. The aim of the game is

to see how many points you can earn

by manoeuvring a snake towards squares

and eating them. By Arend Stoffberg and Kennith Holder (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool).

‘Jetfighter’ mobile app game by Mzolo Nkosi.

My World The app combines the user’s favourite website links, music and media sites, and education links in one app. By Emmanuel Faleye and Nigel Mpofu (Pretoria Secondary).

Cool Places allows you to upload a picture and a short description of a ‘Cool Place’ onto a map that other users of the app can access. A user looking for a cool place can either do a search for matching places or can browse the map for nearby ones. By Matthias Harvey and Ray Kruger (Pretoria Boys High).

Live Music Guide Using the location acquired from the user’s device, this application displays the live music events within a user-specified distance. The events are displayed in a list and

will display more detailed information if selected,

with the option to display the location

of the event on the map. By Tyler Hoffman and Unathi Chonco (Pretoria Boys High).


games & entertainment

G4ming_RSA The app keeps you up to date with the latest news and

happenings around the world of games and technology. It was the

only complete client-server app submitted in its specific mobile app

development challenge. By Johan Nel, (Hoërskool Garsfontein).

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Learners Test App (1) The app asks questions for the learner driver’s test. By Brendon van der Meijden (The Glen High School).

Learners Test App (2) This involves a list of multiple choice questions with three options as answers. The user is told if the answer is correct but not given the correct answer. At the end of the test, the user receives a score out of 100 and the percentage. The test can be repeated as many times as the user needs. By Brennan Buitendag (Hoërskool Gerrit Maritz).

Driver’s Guide The app assists people with a learner’s

license who want to get their driver’s license. It provides video tutorials on the various aspects covered during a driver’s test. By Fanisa Mlangeni and

Kamogelo Ramakgadi (Pretoria Girls High).

GREENiT allows the user to understand why we need to save energy and water and why we need to recycle. It focuses on saving or making money by going the green route. It provides information on recycling and how to use, reuse and recycle. It connects companies, communities and households. By Amber Arendse, Tasneem Khan, Robin George and Lanielle Hartzenberg.


life skills & opportunities

How do you look? The app allows the user to mix and match different items of clothing. It helps the user by giving them feedback such as a rating on the

outfit combination, matching clothes

fashionably and suggests better ways to wear the different clothes. By Sameya

Kabeya and Charity

Maropola (The Glen). Keiskammahoek Now sends registered community

members email or SMS notices about events and opportunities that improve their lives, enabling mass

communication using even the most basic cellphones. Community organisations will use the app to send

notices to members and the public and as a research tool. A version of the app, supported by UNESCO and the National Arts Council, will be used to notify artists and performers about funding, training and marketing opportunities. By Makana Apps Factory with the Rhodes University

Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Eastern Cape.

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The Ikamva National e-Skills Institute and mobile apps development

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Die Affie App Developed for students from Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, the user gives his student code to download the app from the school website. The app will give students access to the latest music, videos and images, as well as work files for each subject in each grade that the teachers have uploaded on the web server. (The app will connect to a web service to enable the downloading of these files.) By Divan van Heerden and Jacques de Beer (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool).

Student Timetable/Register The app uses the phone to check in users at a certain location such as a school, working environment or college. It will state what subject the user has to attend and check the user in at every class independently. The app confirms the user is present and can send notes, timetables, home work etc. It will also reduce physical administration for teachers as it is an effective way to keep an attendance register. By Eben du Toit and Jacobus Fourie (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool).

Student Timetable/

Register Schools often use a timetable with more than five

days and this timetable app

can show you that data. The app enables

you to create a custom timetable that supports a maximum of 30 periods and 10 days. By Gericke Zondagh and Johan Ubbink (Hoërskool Waterkloof).

School Information System This app allows students to access the resources at their schools, like textbooks, emergency numbers

and announcements. It also allows them to ask questions

on tasks and assignments. By Victor Llunga (Pretoria

Secondary School).

Scheduler is designed to help students at school

and university level to use their study time wisely by creating a timetable. By Herman Chong, Pretoria Boys

High, and Evans Shi (Pretoria Girls High).

HomeworkAside is designed to help learners remember their homework assignments. Teachers can set assignments and send homework details and reminders to learners. Learners are able to receive homework assignments and to manage their diaries with calendar reminders. By Jonah Swain, Matthew van der Westhuizen, Dante Davids and Nicholas Penny (Cedar House School).

Time Table’ manages student timetables. By Siyanda Zulu.


timetable & logistics for schools

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BackUP The app stores BB messenger contacts in a free lite version and updates anything that the user wants (such as memos, cell phone numbers and applications) in a paid-for pro version. By Kuda Maneta and Robert Focke (Pretoria Boys High).

ToDoList The application is a to-do list with tasks, including a title and a description. It has a couple of ways of reminding the user of the task. The user can set the time and date when the app must remind him or her of the task. The user can also select an area on a map,

from their favourites or from their current location, which will be

connected to that task to alert the user of the task

when they enter the region. By Llewellyn Strydom and Walter Smuts (Pretoria Boys High).

Mr Delivery The app makes it easier, mobile and more affordable to order food using Wi-Fi or free data bundles. By Wian Crous (Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool).

Delivery App This is a food delivery app. The user is presented with a list of restaurants and their menus. The user can then place an order and the food will be delivered to an

address of their choice. By Christo Brink, James

Pretorius and Cheslyn Moses - Northlink College.

PetroAPP This app was inspired by the current fuel costs in everyday life. It calculates the user’s fuel index. Included in the app is a calculator that works out the amount of litres of fuel used based on the current fuel price. The app then evaluates the fuel usage and directs a response respective to the fuel usage. It then provides the user with basic guidelines towards improving fuel consumption. By Michael Ellis (Northlink College).

‘Sky Connect’ allows users to save phone contacts in the cloud. By Luxolo Tombela.

Glonass+ (Global Nav System+) The purpose of the app is to view GPS data such as your coordinates and speed. The app can also upload your location to the website of your choice. Once back at the computer, you can then use the files to geotag photos, as well as upload to travel sites, view in Google Earth and so on. By Marco Vledder and Eben Schutte (Hoërskool Die Wilgers).


general organisational tools

UCNF is an integrated transportation app where users find the shortest and/or cheapest route from their location to a destination. The app plans the route across multiple transportation service providers, such as Metro Rail and the UCT Jamie shuttle. Currently the app targets UCT commuters, with the potential to upscale later. By Kurt Jacobs, Motse Lehata, Melissa Johanessen, Jarred Martin and Janet Mundilo.

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PanicPal Once the user clicks on the panic button, the app sends a BBM to a contact specified by the user. The BBM includes an SOS message, as well as the user’s information and location. By Pedrie Oosthuizen (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunsskool).

Panic Button is a simple-to-use mobile app created for all age groups to ensure personal safety with the press of one button. By Marco Linde (Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool)

Flexie This flexi-time calculator doubles up to keep track of work time and overtime. It removes the need for signing a log book, saving time and confusion about dates. It uses reverse geolocations. By Eben du Toit and Gustav Du Preez (Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool).

StartApp helps start-ups and owners get information needed to survive. StartApp also links the start-up with an experienced mentor. By Chungu Mwelwa and Kalanje Kagulura.

BusinessGraph is a business analytics app showing the store owner how their business is doing during and at the end of the day. It shows the daily analysis via a graph on the x,y plane. It makes it easy to see peak buying times and can be used from store to phone. Owners can use the app to predict how much money or profit they will make in future. By Khomotjo Mohala.


safety


business tools


transport toolsMy Varsity Lift Club is a lift club app for varsity students. A registered driver inputs his meeting point and destination and other students can view this. They click to join by reserving a seat. This creates an informal lift club to and from campus. The app will work in real time and students looking for lifts can communicate with the driver beforehand, view his intended route and see the transport fee. By Yvonne Braaf and Stephen Cloete.

Hitch-hike! connects hitchhikers with potential lift providers by enabling both parties to upload travel details onto the platform and to search for hitchhikers or lift providers. While the screen shot is on a smart phone, the app is multimodal and uses SMS if no other channel is available. By Makana Apps Factory: Computer Science component.

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Life Sciences app The application is based on Life Science. It provides information on a particular topic. This app is for high school learners, using images with notes for a better understanding of the specific topic. By Kapish Nana and Nabeel Makkan (Laudium Secondary School).

Master Physics The app helps students to

learn the basics of physics. It

contains several topics from high school physics. By Meet Trivedi (Laudium

Secondary School).

Picture Dictionary When any image or word in the list is tapped, it takes you to a second screen which displays the tapped list item’s picture and name and gives you the option to hear what the word sounds like when you click the button. The intention is to help children with speech problems. By Trudie Erasmus.

One Hit Wonders helps students with questions and helps them with concepts they don’t understand. It connects students with ‘gurus’ that can answer any questions they have. Students can post questions in specific topics, search for previously-answered questions or ask a ‘guru’ directly. Students can also choose preferred ‘gurus’ who are then notified about their questions. Students also access resources, such as textbooks and summarised sources about any topic, through the app. By Tlholgelo Mphahlele, Luke Scholtz, Andrew Muller, Darren Jody van Roodt and Reuben Claassen.

LitMa for Kids is geared for children, assisting with some of the challenges that learners face when it comes to mathematics and literacy. The application is a gaming tool for foundation phase educators and parents and their children. It includes translations of maths and literacy into a number of South African languages. By Vuyiswa Nomlala, Noncedo Madubedude, Johnny Ramokhofi and Yonele Dyonase.


educational assistance

Some of the developed mobile apps are in use and downloadable (for example from the Blackberry mobile apps platform). Other apps are moving through cycles of refinement and further development. In certain of the initiatives, this has been done in conjunction with industry.

iNeSIIkamva National eSkills Institute

All rights reserved.No part of this material may be reproduced or used in any form, or by any means, electronic or

mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system.

Contact detailsFor further information, please contact:

The Ikamva National e-Skills Institute1166 Park Street

iParioli Office ParkBlock A, first floorHatfield, Pretoria

www.inesi.org.za

Documents

Ikamva National e-Skills Institute€¦ · and Zubair Moosa (Laudium Secondary School). CV Creator provides the user with a form to complete. It then generates a CV (Curriculum Vitae)