Forge Academy, South Africa’s first fully inclusive 4IR laboratory, is partnering with the Waterberg Welfare Society to host a 4IR hackathon on the 22 and 23 March 2022. Forge Academy, in association with Nokia, the Presidency, We Code Academy and Ozone Connect, will host the two-day event to impart knowledge and skills related to 4IR.
Small business owners, youth from local schools, and other community members with passion for technology will participate in the hackathon challenge to encourage using technology to tackle food scarcity problems in the Waterberg and Vaalwater areas.
A hackathon, is a sprint-like brainstorming and design event in which participants collaborate intensively on the development of software projects.“The hackathon is a great opportunity for anyone in the community interested in developing their ICT skills. We welcome and look forward to hosting those with the passion and drive to be proactively involved in this important cause,” says CEO of Forge Academy, Arthur Wade Anderson.
Hackathon participants will be divided into teams and provided with two low cost but high nutrition food packs. Then teams will brainstorm how businesses can use technology to distribute, market and sell the packs. Technology can connect food producers to consumers through automation and improve efficiencies in the food supply-chain. The ideas need to be affordable and sustainable for the community in need.
Ozone Connect will display cutting-edge technologies in 3-D printing, Augmented and Virtual Reality and Temi Robots. Temi is a robot that interacts with humans using autonomous navigation, dynamic video and audio experiences and advanced AI. Visitors will also practice and develop their coding skills with guidance from We Code Academy using robotics and be introduced to Drone Training with a live demonstration.
“South Africa, like the rest of the world, is in the middle of a new and exciting revolution. 4IR is creating opportunities [like this hackathon] to harness converging technologies that bridge the digital divide and build an all-inclusive future”, said Anderson.
Forge Academy prepares students with theoretical, laboratory and on-the-job training for participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Forge Academy is privileged to extend this invitation to residents and businesses in and around the Vaalwater area.
Covid regulations.
For the safety of all participants and staff, strict COVID-19 protocols will be implemented and adhered to during the event.
Sanitisation stations will be around the venue with clear signage. The wearing of masks will be mandatory for the duration of the event.
