Inveneo Computers for Ekialo Kiona

This week I had a privileged and humbling experience of meeting Kristin Peterson: CEO& Co –Founder Inveneo www.inveneo.org Inveneo is Technology Company specializing inventing and promoting realistic and viable technology solutions in rural areas .Inveneo have in their philosophy the view that technology is only ½ the battle in creating a knowledge based economy.

Providing appropriate /relevant Human skills and capacity is as crucial as providing the right hardware and software ICT solutions to rural communities.

Inveneo have come up with innovative technology solutions with their low power solid fanless solid state computers that respond to the perennial power shortage in rural and urban Africa. Working together with a network of in-country partners, Inveneo has designed, deployed and supported ICT projects in more than 4000 communities in some of the world’s most
Challenging settings

With support from Microsoft WECA, we at The Organic Health Response have just made an order for 12 Inveneo computers for The Ekialo Kiona Centre in Mfangano Island. The Ekialo Kiona centre will be opened on the 1st Dec 2009 .We will be celebrating The World AIDS Day by launching this unique Cyber VCT program.

OHR represents a mission cultivated by a group of Kenyan organic farmers, health workers, teachers and a team of international medical and graduate students. The remote beach communities on Mfangano Island in Lake Victoria are home to 19,000 people who face one of the most serious HIV/AIDS crises in the world, with local prevalence estimated at over 30%. Through local and global partnerships, and a unique solar powered resource facility; the Ekialo Kiona Center, we are activating information technology, social solidarity and ecological sustainability to turn the tide against HIV/AIDS.

At last, teachers in Mfangano Island will have a place they can train and access free internet.This centre is a welcome development for Teachers without Borders –Canada who in partnership with OHR and teachers in Mfangano Island will roll out training activities as part of its mandate in community education among other things

Inveneo also engages in finding training, and certifying local partners who can install, service, and support the rural installations quickly and at a much lower cost than flying in Inveneo engineers. As a Trustee of the Ekialo Kiona project. I am glad at this milestone and cannot wait to attend the next round of Training for Inveneo partners in Ethiopia

The fit-PC Slim is an ultra-low-power, affordable, and fully functional desktop computer that is certified by Inveneo for use in rural locations such as schools, clinics, field offices, community centers and Internet cafes. The fit-PC Slim features:

1.Low-power compact PC with AMD Geode LX800 (500 MHz) processor with 512MB RAM, 3 USB ports and 60GB hard drive
2.Built-in wireless networking
3.Operation from 12 Volts DC or AC power

4.Runs Ubuntu 8.10, or Windows XP
5.Very low power consumption (total power consumption of 18 watts at peak operation including LCD monitor) allows the units to operate efficiently from solar or other power sources.
6.Fanless design improves durability in hot, humid and/or dusty environments.
7.Mounts onto the LCD to reduce dust collection and improve security.
8.Flexible use as networked or standalone computer for a variety of use case scenarios.
9.Built-in wireless networking eliminates external USB Wi-Fi dongle.
10.Easy-to-use Ubuntu 8.10 Linux enables novice users and administrators to be productive with a minimum of training. Other operating systems like Microsoft XP can be supported as well.
11.Open-source operating system virtually eliminates viruses and does not require bandwidth intensive online protection services.
12.Easily replaceable components – USB mouse, keyboard, standard laptop style RAM and storage memory – in case of breakage or loss.