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What is the Solar Power Opportunity in Southern Africa?
1st Lusaka Salon - March 26 - RSVP Now
Mobile payments have broken down major barriers to solar energy. High upfront capital costs can now be spread over multiple small payments. This Pay as You Go (PAYG) solar revolution is sweeping East Africa, particularly Kenya.
Rural populations that are largely off grid, are keen to kick their kerosene habit and enjoy the benefits of clean energy. Startups in Kenya are finding markets of every shape and size and eager rural households are snapping up more than 2,000 units a week.
ICT has a potentially powerful role to play in extending this revolution, and mobile networks can sustain a post-sales relationship that builds trust between consumers and new firms like mKopa and SunTransfer.
As Kenya goes, so goes the continent? Or does the combination of high mPesa penetration and mobile savvy consumers make East Africa a unique case?
Please RSVP now for the first Technology Salon Lusaka to dig deep into the PAYG solar opportunities in Zambia and other SSA countries. Our discussion will be lead by three noted thought leaders:
You are invited to join in the lively conversation - all participants will have an equal chance to explore questions like:
- What is the potential for PAYG solar in Zambia and similar markets?
- Where are the opportunities in off-the-shelf household lighting products?
- How can development actors speed up solar uptake?
- Who is leading the development of complimentary solutions such as support, maintenance, and payments infrastructure?
Please RSVP now to join us at Population Council. We start promptly, and will have hot coffee, tea and treats for morning rush but seating is limited. So RSVP now to be confirmed for attendance. Once we reach our 30-person capacity there will be a waitlist.
What is the Solar Power Opportunity in Zambia?
1st Technology Salon Zambia
8.00 – 10.00 a.m.,
Thursday, March 26 th 2015
Lusaka, Zambia
RSVP is required for attendance
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What is the Role of Wearables in Development?
March 31st - New York City - RSVP Now
Wearable technology is a $700 million industry, growing to over 100 million wearable device sold by 2018. The current focus on wearables is in fitness and fashion, and there is a boom in wearable health technology erupting in front of us:
- Vaccination data held on chips inserted into baby bracelets
- Wearable sunblock-like devices that can detect skin temperature and hydration
- Intelligent breast patches that track cellular tissues changes and warn of potential breast cancer.
Wearables and smart gadgets can also play a role in alerting individuals and communities to emergencies and disasters, improving resilience, and supporting humanitarian organizations during and after disasters.
Along with all the potential, however, “smart devices†could be leading us further down the road to Big Brother and “colonization by technologists,†where smart gadgets track and nudge us into automated behaviors that are rewarded, punished and monetized by large corporations and governments.
Smart devices could also exacerbate wider socio-economic issues — e.g., one person can hit the gym regularly and get rewarded, yet another person cannot afford gym fees and thus misses out on both the benefits of better health and cheaper healthcare.
Please RSVP now to join us at the next Technology Salon to discuss the role of wearable technology in disaster relief, community health, data collection, and behavior change with three noted thought leaders:
Please RSVP now for a lively and animated discussion on the role of wearables in international development where we’ll explore questions like:
- How can wearable technology be built around user needs in developing counties?
- Who will spearhead these initiatives - technologists, government, insurance companies?
- How can we raise awareness and understanding of the ethics of wearable technology?
- What are the potential uses of wearable data, and what are the privacy factors?
- How can we encourage wearables that improve the lives of low-income users?
Please RSVP now to join Technology Salon NYC for a lively discussion! Be sure to arrive early to get a good seat, hot coffee, and morning snacks before we start.
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About the Technology Salon
The Technology Salonâ„¢ is an intimate, informal, and in person, discussion between information and communication technology experts and international development professionals, with a focus on both:
- technology's impact on donor-sponsored technical assistance delivery, and
- private enterprise driven economic development, facilitated by technology.
Our meetings are lively conversations, not boring presentations. Attendance is capped at 30 people - and frank participation with ideas, opinions, and predictions is actively encouraged.
It's also a great opportunity to meet others motivated to employ technology to solve vexing development problems. Join us today!
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