Background
Computing for Communities (C4C) is the official community engagement (CE) project in the School of Computing (SoC). C4C came into being in 2019 when the previous CE projects in SoC were merged into one project. The main reason for this exercise was to ease budgeting. Initially C4C consisted of the following four projects: (1) ICT in the Classroom, (2) Cyber Security, (3) Socially Relevant Computing, and (4) Computer Literacy in Communities (CLiC). The ICT in the Classroom project, however, came to an end at the end of 2019 and was replaced with a new project in 2022 called Greenhouse Computing. In addition, Professor Mnkandla started a new centre called the Centre for Augmented Intelligence and Data Science (CAIDS) that also perform community engagement activities. Some academic staff participate in other community engagement activities (e.g., Chance 2 Advance), while others integrate community engagement in tuition and learning.
Objectives
The main objective of the C4C project is to ensure that relevant computing and research expertise are utilized strategically and effectively to address challenges (social and humanitarian) that affect our local communities. To this end, the project has the following objectives:
C4C Projects
Project 1: Cyber Security Awareness
Project leader: Prof Elmarie Kritzinger
The goal of the Cyber Security Awareness project is to educate children and non-informed Information Communication Technologists (ICTs) about cyber risks and threats. The aim of the project is to ensure that children and ICT users are able to protect themselves, their children and their community against cyber risks. The primary objective of the project is to contribute to the overall growth of a cyber-security awareness culture in South Africa.
Project 2: Socially Relevant Computing
Project leader: Mr Siphe Mhlana
The main purpose of this project is to develop information technology entrepreneurs to help address social problems that exist in different communities. Through industry partnership and hackathons, current and graduate students are initiated to recent technologies. Through this project, school of computing academics collaborate with industry expects and provide participants an opportunity to work with experts in developing mobile applications. This helps students and graduates get practical experience and make use of the education and skills acquired in their qualifications.
Project 3: CLiC
Project leader: Prof Mac Van der Merwe
The aim is to train the elders to become familiar with computer technology to ensure that they are not excluded from the enormous potential that computers are benefitting lives. Without access, older citizens are rapidly becoming disenfranchised. Perceived barriers to e-literacy include lack of interest, feeling too old, fear of new technology, lack of access to IT, lack of IT skills and experience, cost, concerns about security, and problems associated with disability. In 2024, a computer literacy website that targets the elderly is being developed.
Project 4: Greenhouse
Project leader: Prof Etienne Van der Poel
Food security is a potential threat in SA, more so to low-income earners. People living in informal housing are more exposed in this sense since they rely on retail infrastructure to obtain food. Many people in this situation grow what they can on the little land they can access. Here is a potential application for high-intensity food cultivation such as hydroponics and greenhouses but cost and space are huge hurdles. The availability of smartphones, low-cost sensors and internet of things (IoT) technology opens the possibility to put down very small footprint greenhouses, using relatively cheap technology, combined with machine learning to provide an automated tutor to teach the user to grow high-yield crops at little cost. This can then either be consumed by the grower or used to supplement their income, especially if the crops are difficult or expensive to obtain normally. This project is incorporated into teaching and learning through the honours research Project (HRCOS82) module.
Other projects
We have colleagues who are involved in the End User Computing wing of the Chance 2 Advance project. Dr Patricia Gouws leads ISET Robotics which is a project in the Unisa Science Engagement Centre.