The Drum Beat 459 - Solar-Powered Communication Hub: The BEE

This issue of The Drum Beat details a new tool - a solar-enabled communication hub - developed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in conjunction with their partners, to provide connectivity, information, and opportunity to people and communities in remote or emergency situations. With this issue of The Drum Beat, The Communication Initiative is supporting UNICEF in soliciting feedback from The CI network about where and in what situations this tool could best be employed. We urge you to reflect on the "where" and the "when" as they might apply to your work and your experience as you read through this issue, and to join UNICEF in discussing these issues through the Drum Beat Chat discussion forum during the month of September 2008.

The Drum Beat 459 Contents:

• COMMUNICATION HUB - details about a prototype solar-enabled communication hub from UNICEF.
• DISCUSSION: This issue of The Drum Beat will serve as the context for a discussion among the Drum Beat Chat network, beginning September 10th.
• 3 NEW POLICY BLOGS: The Accra High Level Forum, UNICEF's development policies, and community radio in Bangladesh.
• DEVELOPMENT CLASSIFIEDS: New development-related opportunities and materials.
• EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE: See The CI's Early Child Development Theme Site.
• POLL: Vote in The CI's Early Child Development and Technologies poll.
• ICT4D WEBSITE: See The CI's Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) Theme Site.

The BEE - a solar-enabled communication hub [top]

In June 2008, UNICEF's Division of Communication set out to complete a prototype of a portable solar-enabled communication hub that would (1) connect children even when there is no connectivity, (2) offer quick connectivity hubs in an emergency, and (3) provide informational, communication, and educational opportunities for children in remote and/or emergency situations.

The BEE, as the communication hub is now called, was originally envisioned as an information tool that could remain in the community/school after an emergency. However, as the prototype neared completion, it was evident that it could be used for a variety of purposes whether for information exchange, a radio station, a way to deliver curriculum, ensure business continuity, or deliver entertainment and give people, especially children, a voice.

The BEE is a package that can be easily transported - for example as checked luggage on a plane - to a location and set up by a field worker with limited technical knowledge. The BEE is designed to be transported as a set of secure flight cases, which are custom-engineered to lock together and, when assembled, to provide a kiosk-like setting for stability and safekeeping.

Please click here to access some notes on the development of the BEE on the UNIWIKI.

Also click here to view initial design sketches and photos.

The BEE can be used in situations where there is no electricity, using solar panels to power the device and charge batteries, which will provide power at night or during cloudy conditions. It can also be used at night to display video presentations and educational materials using low-power LED devices. Each "Queen BEE" station can communicate with other smaller "Worker BEE" sub-stations that are in the line of site (up to 100km away) using mast antennas–located either on physical antennas or placed high on structures or trees–providing VOIP and communications to other units. The BEE can also pull data from satellite feeds and be used to share stories and community maps, documentation, and essays with other users.

Situations in which the BEE functions

The BEE is more than an internet kiosk, it is a new way of thinking. It is an intersection of innovations. While still in the proof-of-concept phase, the BEE can be seen working in a variety of situations.

Emergency situation
In an emergency situation, a field worker can carry the unit into the affected area and set up a base of operation in a short time. The BEE will come with a bundled software package for emergency response. The unit will start-up, prompt for a login, then take the user directly to vital applications that provide up-to-date information on the situation. A survey tool will collect information from field workers or interested citizens on the status of disease, pit latrines, or number of people in a household. In refugee camps or internally displaced person (IDP) camps, the photo registration application will register lost children and project their pictures on a wall so that worried family members can easily find them. The BEE can connect with other units in the area to share data and give a layout of the overall situation.

Education Hub
The BEE can also be installed at the village school and serve a class of up to 40 children. Every night, the unit will download the curriculum for the next day. Schoolchildren in different parts of the country can talk and learn together using the videoconference application. Low-cost web-enabled mobile phones can be provided which will interact directly with the BEE unit to push out locally-stored information, such as an offline copy of Wikipedia. Even the lowest grade commercial non-WiFi enabled phones can be employed through short message service (SMS) to teach literacy to adults. As with the emergency software package, the BEE can come bundled with a standard education package. Round Box Global, a private sector business and technology consulting firm, is developing an online platform upon which diverse curricula can be uploaded, organised, and disseminated to young people with varied levels of connectivity and access to technology. Their project involves the creation and development of tailored learning management systems through which displaced teachers and students can access standards-based educational materials. This system is targeted at the world's most vulnerable populations, and initial testing and implementation would be, in coordination with UNICEF and the BEE, in areas of emergency, displacement, and dire need.

Community Support
The BEE can also function as an information hub for an entire community. With the Rosco software developed by UNICEF, the BEE can turn into a radio station on the go. Rosco is a fully functional radio station that runs on the free, open source Linux operating system. With its FM transmitter, the BEE can turn into a community radio station on-the-fly and broadcast stories recorded on the unit. With the RapidSMS software, the BEE can take the pulse of the community. RapidSMS is a SMS/audio system that allows for mass-scale SMS/audio output and input from a simple web-interface. The system can be used to send out SMSs to many users and groups with ease, as well as monitor and respond user's feedback in the form of responding SMSs or phone calls. Additionally, the system provides the ability to setup "forms" with various questions on it. One can then notify people who are collecting data for you and they can begin to send in data responses via SMS. Any trusted partner with an internet connection can watch the data come in, view it, and work with it immediately. This can tie the user in to the community via simple opinion polls as well as provide useful information about various indicators in the community. While the BEE can function as an individual unit, it also has the ability to sync with a central server. A community could put a Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) tower on the tallest hill or tree in the community, and have the ability to link up any small device - a BEE, an ipaq Hewlett-Packard phone, or any device with web-based applications - to the local network. A central server could keep content offline and upload and download content whenever a dedicated internet connection is available. This central server could be anything from a laptop, to another BEE, to a dedicated server unit with battery backup in case the power fails.

The BEE Partners

The idea for the BEE was inspired by the work of some of UNICEF's partners, including the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa (CSIR) and its subsidiary the Meraka Institute, Inveneo, and Round Box Global.

UNICEF and CSIR have a longstanding collaboration, working on such projects as MobilED. MobilED, a tool to access and participate in the internet via a normal mobile phone, was developed by CSIR, and then evolved into RapidSMS at UNICEF. With the Digital Doorway, CSIR is also a pioneer in internet-enabled information kiosks. Their knowledge of the field will be evidenced in the next revision of the BEE as UNICEF and CSIR collaborate again on a production model.

Inveneo is doing great work in the field, and partnered with BOSCO Uganda Relief Project (Battery Operated Systems for Community Outreach) to provide access to computers, internet, and voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) telephony for IDP camps in Northern Uganda (reported in the Drum Beat #427; also click here for further details). The BEE prototype uses an Inveneo flatpanel LCD.

AMD has also provided UNICEF with the computer motherboard and central processing unit (CPU) for the first BEE prototype.

Moving Forward

By early September 2008, UNICEF will have built a production-ready model with CSIR. This model will be more ruggedised, compact, and flexible. The Operation System and the user experience will also be improved over the working prototype. After the production-ready model is created, it will be tested in remote areas in South Africa. The goal is to test the BEE in five field locations that each pose unique climate, security, and remote location constraints.

The BEE will feature many of the software endeavours of UNICEF’s Division of Communication, the testing of which will accelerate the development process. All of the applications are lightweight, which means the applications favour small data transfers from the internet. RapidSMS and Rosco, explained above, are only two of the main applications on the BEE. It will also feature the Mizizi and OurStories applications, which will allow the user to upload his or her story and metadata to a Google Maps type interface. His or her story will appear as a point on that map and be available to everyone in the world. The next prototype of the BEE will also support a videoconference application that will be lightweight and easily allow people to communicate in a way they might not have been able to before.

UNICEF is looking forward to bringing the strengths from different sectors and locations together in order to create the BEE for application in real situations. The specifications and designs will be open source and creative commons.

With this issue of The Drum Beat, UNICEF is looking for feedback about where and in what situations the BEE could best be employed.

The BEE is not intended to replace the long-standing UNICEF standard educational response, but rather to supplement the learning environment and expand the opportunities for access to information of children and communities whether in post-emergency or remote settings. After rounds of testing, it remains to be seen how the BEE will fit in with current UNICEF projects, as well as allowing UNICEF's Division of Communication to expand into previously uncharted areas.

The minimum specifications for each BEE unit:

Note: "server" units serve client units if there is more than one BEE in the area, and have a greater hardware configuration (see parts lists for "Queen Bee" and "Worker Bee").

• Completely self powered (solar, wind, etc.) and able to provide 12 hours of continuous operation for all functions during a 24 hour period.
• All sensitive components sealed against dust, moisture, animals, and other possible environmental factors.
• Able to communicate with other units using TCP/IP at 1+ mega-bytes per second (Mbps).
• Able to provide FM transmission for 5+ kilometre (km) range.
• Able to provide web-browsing capability for at least one person at a time.
• Able to provide audio broadcast to an audience of 40 students at a time.
• Has a camera to capture both still and moving images.
• Has a microphone to record audio from near-range (within 2 meters).
• Has auxiliary audio inputs and outputs.
• Able to accept external storage devices (USB and SD).
• Requires authorisation from the administrator to boot from external device.
• Hardware-compatible with Linux and other Open Source operating systems.
• Has a reset function to either a server-unit defined configuration as well as a default configuration that can be activated both remotely and onsite.
• Has hardware watchdog to reset any sub-systems that lock up.
• Remotely monitor-able.
• Can operate within temperature and humidity extremes (-30 to 50 degrees Celsius and 5% to 95% condensing humidity).
• Modularised as to allow replacement or upgrade of components by non-technical users.
• The "server" unit is able to communicate with other systems on the internet via satellite and/or cellular (GSM, GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, etc).
• The "server" unit is able to cache and store websites and serve them to other units.
• The "server" unit is able to push content and configurations to other units.
• The mast has provisions for mounting of antennas at least 6.5 meters above ground.
• The mast is self-supporting and able to maintain antenna direction in 25km/h wind gusts without guying.
• The mast has provisions for mounting solar panels or other means of powering the unit.
• The mast is connected to unit by a replaceable tether, which allows for power, radio signal, and data transmission to and from all mast-mounted hardware. The replaceable tether can be up to 7 meters long. Between the unit and the tower base.
• All exterior surfaces of unit and mast are composed of material that is highly resistant to rot, fungus, mold, termites, oxidation, and any other long-term decay.
• Include pictorial assembly and setup instructions attached to an internal surface.

Parts list of the BEE - Prototype 1:
Prototype 1 cost roughly US$6,000 to build, but costs will likely drop as the production process is streamlined.

"Queen Bee"

1. AMD Geode LX800 ION A603 500Mhz embedded low power motherboard w/ 1GB ram and 2GB PQI Disk-on-Module
2. 15" TFT monitor - supplied by Inveneo Technologies along with ION motherboard, this is a "no-name" panel.
3. Ramsey electronics UAM2 20W amp for audio
4. 3" waterproof marine speaker
5. Samsung SP-P310ME LED based DLP projector
6. Ubiquiti Networks Powerstation2 Access Point
7. Radio Communication Lab RC2547T-FM PLL FM Transmitter
8. BP Solar SX-320J Modules x6
9. Morningstar ProStar PS-30 Charge controller w / remote battery temperature probe
10. Deka /MK S27 SLD G Gel Cell battery x2
11. Logitech QuickCam Pro9000

"Worker Bee"

1. AMD Geode LX800 ION A603 500Mhz embedded low power motherboard w/ 1GB ram and 2GB PQI Disk-on-Module
2. 15" TFT monitor
3. Ramsey electronics UAM2 20W amp for audio
4. 3" waterproof marine speaker
5. Ubiquiti Networks Powerstation2 Access Point
6. BP Solar SX-320J Modules (x6)
7. Morningstar ProStar PS-30 Charge controller w/remote battery temperature probe
8. Deka /MK S27 SLD G Gel Cell battery (x2)
9. Logitech QuickCam Pro9000

Click here for a full online list of parts with links.

For more information on the BEE, please contact:

Erica Kochi
+1 646 226 6361
ekochi@unicef.org

Christopher Fabian
+1 646 410 5122
cfabian@unicef.org

This issue of The Drum Beat is provided by UNICEF for discussion within the Drum Beat network. The views expressed herein are the perspective of UNICEF and are not necessarily reflective of the views or opinions of The Communication Initiative or any of the other Communication Initiative Partners.

DISCUSSION

This issue of The Drum Beat will serve as the context for an upcoming discussion among the Drum Beat Chat network.

Please register (if you are not already registered) and engage in dialogue, beginning September 10th, through the DrumBeatChat forum. Register by clicking here, and either participate online or send your contributions via email to drumbeatchat@comminit.com (you must be registered to participate). If connectivity is an issue for you, you may also send your contact information via email to the moderator, Deborah Heimann - dheimann@comminit.com - who can assist you with the registration process. [top]

3 NEW BLOGS AVAILABLE! - click here for Policy Commentaries

• Accra: The big tent approach to development ends in agreement – but information is one of the big winners, by James Deane
• Re-vamping UNICEF's Africa Communication for Development Strategy, by Neil Ford
• Community Radio Initiators Ready to Run the Stations Soon in Bangladesh, by AHM. Bazlur Rahman, BNNRC

Please take this opportunity to insert comments and questions into the above-linked blogs.

The blog space serves as a focal point for communication and media perspectives and analysis for more effective and relevant development policies.

If you are interested in contributing a blog to this space, please contact Deborah Heimann at dheimann@comminit.com [top]

DEVELOPMENT CLASSIFIEDS

Development Classifieds is a NEW initiative of The Communication Initiative which includes listings of any development-related jobs, consultants, requests for proposals (RFPs), events, training opportunities, and books, journals, or videos for sale. Please click here.

The next issue of the Development Classifieds E-magazine will be published September 17th 2008.

Please submit open vacancies from within your organisation, event information, training opportunities, upcoming RFPs, details about your consultancy skills, and information about books, journals, or videos for sale as soon as possible to ensure inclusion. [top]

Please see Early Child Development Theme Site - where communication and media are central to early childhood development. [top]

Please VOTE in The CI's Poll on Early Child Development and Technologies:

Introducing very young children to technologies such as computers is...

• Advisable: technology can be a powerful learning tool, and early use may facilitate development of skills for use later in life.
• Promising, with the caveat that parents must closely supervise young children's use of the internet.
• Unwise: children should be encouraged to learn from, and interact with, peers rather than adopt sedentary modes of learning.

VOTE (see "Poll" heading on the top right side). [top]

Please see The CI's ICT4D Theme Site - where information and communication technologies are central to social and economic development. [top]

The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.

Please send material for The Drum Beat to the Editor - Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com

To reproduce any portion of The Drum Beat, see our policy.

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