Date :

19 March 2010

Time :

13:00 – 14:00

The first commercial mobile call was placed on October 13, 1983. What has started as a simple voice call has transformed into a cultural phenomena of instant communication and broader and equal access to the world at our fingertips. From the ‘brick’ phone of the ’80s to today’s 3G broadband world, mobile communications has evolved from mere voice communication to a new era of data transmission and democratising communications that are transforming the life, commerce and culture of societies all the way.

The International Telecom Union (ITU) estimates that there are over 4.5 billion mobile users in the world and increasing day by day especially in developing and emerging markets. Future application scenarios involving mobile phones could be: to make possible remote health monitoring and accessibility to personal health records, provide opportunities for education anywhere in the world, become the electronic wallet for banking and payment services and context based sensing of the natural environment to bring us closer to global issues impacting on our world. The focus of the seminar will be on research models and collaboration beyond the boundaries of technology, social and human sciences in order to harness the mobile explosion for sustainable social and economic development, in an emerging country perspective.

The presentation from the seminar is now available for download

The audio presentation from the seminar is available for download

To reserve a seat, kindly RSVP by 9 March 2010

Venues

HSRC Cape Town: 12th Floor, Plein Park Building (Opposite Revenue Office), Plein Street, Cape Town. Contact Vuyo Ngxubaza,on +27 (0)21 466 8004 Fax +27 (0)21 461 0299 or email vngxubaza@hsrc.ac.za

HSRC Durban: First floor HSRC boardroom, 750 Francois Road, Ntuthuko Junction, PODS 5 and 6, Cato Manor, Durban. Contact Johannes Khoele on +27 (0)31 242 5400 or email jkhoele@hsrc.ac.za

HSRC Pretoria: Video Conference Room, 1st floor, HSRC Library, HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street Pretoria. Contact Arlene Grossberg on +27 (0)12 302 2811 email acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za  or Baby Twala on +27 (0)12 302 2368 email btwala@harc.ac.za