Life without the internet is almost unimaginable. The wealth of information that is available on the internet and the speed at which it lets us live our lives, regardless of time or space, are some of the benefits that we have quickly grown to accept and expect.
Students are one group that can testify to the benefits of the internet, they use it to find information, but with the advent of social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, networking is one of the major reasons why young people flock to the internet. The networking sites have even become a recruiting tool for companies.
Unfortunately, not every student has access to the internet and is isolated from this virtual world. It is for this reason that the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is endorsing the howzit project, an interactive web based application for digital advertising. Initiated by Wintelligent, a company co-owned by James Zwane (23), Samuel Tsolo (26), Fikile Msamane (26) and Bongukuthiwa Mbatha (24), the howzit software runs on 32" and 42" touch screen which have an internet browser in the centre and advertising space on the sides. Young people will be able to access internet sites and networking sites for free.
The University of Johannesburg will serve as a pilot project when two touch screens are launched on the 15 September 2009. "We are planning to roll out the touch screens in all the major tertiary institutions around the country," Zwane explained.
According to Andile Lungisa, Chairperson of the NYDA who will be the keynote speaker at the event, these touch screens will be particularly useful for previously disadvantaged tertiary institutions that still have challenges accessing resources.
"Part of the endorsement agreement was that the NYDA will get permanent space to advertise its programmes and services. This is really important to us because we can disseminate information about or skills development programmes, entrepreneurship programmes, volunteerships, internships and many more," said Lungisa.
"It’s great that the NYDA was willing to listen to our idea because young people are often not taken seriously. We are hoping to get more companies on board to advertise but otherwise the future looks bright," Zwane concluded.
For more information, please contact:
Refilwe Mphane
Tel: 011 651 7175
Cell: 084 308 5860
Siyabonga Magadla
Cell: 083 686 9016
Issued by: National Youth Development Agency
15 September 2009
