Spark Africa - Kenyan solution for charging mobile phones - Episode 2

It is estimated that in Kenya about 17,5 million of the total 38,5 million inhabitants own a mobile phone. But in rural areas electricity is a problem. Students of the university of Nairobi came up with the solution: the 'Smart Charger'.

The charger works quite simple: one connects it to the dynamo of a bicycle. The device transforms the power into electricity that can charge the mobile phone. After about one hour the phone will be charged.

News about Africa is very often filled with stereotyped images of famine, war and disease. But there is also another side to the continent. Fast-growing economies and investment opportunities. The Dutch production company Interactive Africa focuses its lens precisely on the innovative side of Africa with its online video reports Spark Africa.



Also visit: www.africa-interactive.net

Spark Africa is about innovative developments you hear little about. All the items are produced by African journalists and cameramen which creates a different dynamics compared to when a white European crew is used.

Among other fascinating reports comprising this 30-part video series, we take a look at how for example an entrepreneur from Friesland in the Netherlands has established a successful dairy business in Tanzania and how students from the University of Nairobi, Kenia, came about to invent a bicycle charger for mobile phones.



The video reportages are a mix of portraits of Dutch entrepreneurs in Africa, African inventors and reports on fast-growing industries like the outsourcing of ICT work in Africa.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Spark Kenya smart charger
• electricity
• bicycle

[simplemonkey]

What kind of butthole dislikes this?

[jessica507]

That's genius!

[donyunger]

@rhagesolace I'm not sure that an international patent office exists. Any patent is as only as good as the depth patent holders pockets, to be able file lawsuits. This most likely has been done so many times over, it may not be eligible for patent.

[noiseache]

@rhagesolace You could make one from a standard dynamo an appropriate connector and some regulating circuitry in about 10 mins.

[BennyUK7]

Surname 'Katana' - win!

[moomeraver]

@rhagesolace

Nobody will ever be able to patent a dynamo and tramsformer. They're far too common already.

[rhagesolace]

I would totally buy one here in the U.S. They'd better work fast to get an international patent for it before one of the mega-corporations snatch it up.

[Kom3tBrawl]

This guy is a pretty smart guy. A useful and green invention.

[pejeno]

Awesome. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. Here's hoping they can sucessfully market it worldwide.