Africa: The next generation innovation capital of the world

Here are ABC’S top four picks for of tech advancements on the continent.

Aerobotics

Aerobotics is a South African data analytics company which uses aerial imagery and machine learning algorithms to monitor the performance of crops around the world through their Areoview web application. Last year, the company introduced their mobile app, called Aeroview Scout, giving farmers a bird’s eye view of their crops at the touch of their fingertips.

How it works

A drone and satellite captures images of farmers’ orchards, which is transferred using artificial intelligence and algorithms via the app or mobile site. This allows farmers to identify problem areas among their crops.

Areobotics is available in South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Mobius Motors

Mobius Motors manufactures vehicles designed in Africa for African terrain. Founded in 2011, the Kenyan-based company produced it’s first generation vehicle, the Mobius II, in 2015.

Why Mobius

The majority of vehicles in Africa are imported and come with high import costs. Mobius Motors designs their SUV’s specifically for the Kenyan market, with the Mobius II ruggedized specifically made for challenging rural road terrain and, simplified to reduce unnecessary costs and weight.

Mobius vehicles are designed and manufactured in Nairobi.

Africa has seen a spike in technological enhancements over the past five years, with the World Bank reporting in 2015 that 11 African countries had the fastest growing economies.

MAMA-OPE

With pneumonia being a common in Africa, Ugandan inventor, Brian Turyabagye saw the need to tackle the issue. He designed the MAMA-OPE biomedical application, which is used for early diagnosis and continuous monitoring of pneumonia patients.

What it does

Dubbed the life-saving jacket, MAMA-OPE can distinguish pneumonia’s symptoms up to four times faster than a doctor. Using temperature, breathing rate and the sound of the lungs the jacket is specifically been designed for children between the ages of 0-5 years old, as they are more prone to the disease.

Usalama

Usalama Tech Group is a Kenyan IT company, which saw the need for the increase in emergency services responses in Kenya. The group’s app works through connecting people with emergency services providers.

How it works

The panic button app allows users to send a distress signal when they shake their phones. After shaking the phone three times, a distress signal, as well as the users exact location, is sent to emergency services. The app goes further by alerting the users family members and other Usalama users within 200 meters.

The company is looking to expand further in Africa in the coming years.