We’ve recently launched the South Coast Writers Trail, developed with KZN Literary Tourism, designed by Disturbance and funded by the National Arts Council. The trail includes writers such as Michael Cawood Green, Es’kia Mphahlele, Mazisi Kunene, Daphne Rooke and the editors of Voorslag (Roy Campbell, William Plomer and Laurens van der Post). Stops on the trail include Adams College, Sezela, Isipingo, and the Marisstella and St Michael’s Mission (see map below).
Although quite different from the work we do, I was interested to come across a project that is creating 3D digital scans of historic buildings and monument. Details as follows:
Using state-of-the-art digital mapping and the latest 3D laser scanning technology, this R8.8million National Lottery-funded project aims to preserve KwaZulu-Natal’s rich cultural and historical heritage, by creating computerised visual records of the province’s historic buildings and monuments.
ACT is project managing the project in conjunction with UKZN’s Programme of Geomatics and Continue reading “Preserving KZN’s historical buildings”
Niall McNulty and Ulwazi project leader Betsie Greyling presented a poster at the The Third International m-libraries Conference (https://www.usq.edu.au/m-libraries) in Brisbane, Australia recently. The poster outlined the Ulwazi Programme’s plans for developing a system to collect indigenous knowledge via mobiles phones in the eThekwini Municipality.
A couple of weeks back we helped the Ulwazi Programme put on a display for a Library Week event held for eThekwini Municipality schoolchildren. As part of the display, we had a big-screen TV playing oral history interviews we had done over the past few years, as well as a few computers where the schoolchildren could access the Ulwazi Community Memory Programme. Along one side of the hall, we created an ‘Internet cafe’ with computers the children could use to surf the Internet, or whatever else they wanted to do. Not surprising, all they wanted to do was play games.
We’ve been pushing the idea of using games as a way to increase digital literacy for a while now, and even developed some Zulu-language online games last year. It seems like the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation has now also cottoned on to the idea. The department intends rolling out the Gaming and Wii @ Your Library project. A pilot will be run in 20 libraries, targeting those in previously disadvantaged communities.
