Product category:
Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: VIA Technologies
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 06 October 2006
Solar computing supports islander
education
VIA Technologies has set up the first ever solar-powered cyber community centre in the South Pacific.
VIA Technologies has set up the first ever solar-powered cyber community centre in the South Pacific Developed with the Samoan ICT Secretariat, the centre is a proof of concept implementation of VIA Solar Computing, a key element of the VIA Clean Computing Initiative to drive environment-conscious computing
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 24 Aug 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The South Pacific has been largely ignored by global ICT deployment initiatives, and is only now taking the steps needed to build the infrastructure to raise the region's e-readiness.
The remote Samoan village of Ulutogia, Aleipata District was selected for its multiple local user communities and, like most of the South Pacific, its abundance of sunshine, making solar the logical source of power.
Accessible to all, the VIA pc-1 Information Community Centre in Samoa will help address issues of e-education, e-health and e-governance for local residents, and provide business opportunities for the recipient and surrounding communities, as well as offer Internet access to tourists.
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Following its successful launch, it is set to act as a working template for similar IT centres around the world to help bridge the digital divide, especially in rural and remote locations, and VIA is working with major international organisations and governments to facilitate further such deployments.
"We were delighted to collaborate with VIA on the centre, which provides a practical computing solution for remote areas of Samoa and beyond", said Gisa Fuatai Purcell, Samoan ICT Secretariat Manager.
"VIA has the capacity and committed staff to provide solar powered computers, a big step towards reducing poverty".
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Soliai Sailele Malielegaoi echoed the sentiment, saying that: "For our next ten infocentres, I want the VIA solar powered computers, monitors etc I want anything solar as we have so much sun here in Samoa".
"The Samoa solar-powered centre is the perfect example of what is possible when combining responsible technologies and energy supplies", said Richard Brown, Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies.
"As the clear leader in power efficient computing, VIA can help others work towards fostering sustainable approaches to growth and empowerment in remote and urban areas alike, and our VIA Solar Computing is another important step towards making this happen".
The VIA pc-1 Information Community Centre in Samoa involved the installation of three VIA pc-1 power saving PCs and a VIA pc-1 server, plus an external fax/scanner/copier/printer, all powered by a complete dual 175W photovoltaic solar panel solution from leading solar supplier, Motech Industries.
Through this implementation, the centre addressed the largest obstacles facing ICT access in the developing world: the design of appropriate technologies; reliable power supplies; Internet access; sustainability through proper training and business opportunities; and closing the gap that exists between the different sectors working towards solving the digital divide dilemma, specifically private, public, civil society, academic and international organisation.
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