Sharing the latest ideas, innovations and how to sustain all these through research was the key aim for DUT’s two-day Information Communication Technology and Society Conference (ICTAS2017), which took place at Coastlands Hotel, Umhlanga.
Endorsing the first international conference, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of DUT, Prof Thandwa Mthembu, said the main purpose of the event was to recognise, highlight and foster the growing role of ICT, its prevalence and value in today’s’ society.
“The conference provided a forum for academics and researchers in both academia and industry to share their latest research contribution in the field. It also provided an opportunity for networking and we (DUT) are delighted that, in recognising the importance of this field and DUT’s role in it, the IEEE had technically sponsored the conference,” said Prof Mthembu.
The conference team consisted of ICTAS 2017 Conference Chair, DUT’s Prof Richard Millham, Technical Chair, Dr Delene Heukelman, Programme Chair, Dr Alveen Singh, Publicity Chair, Dr Surendra Thakur and Treasurer, Prof Paul Edmund Green.
Topics of research presented at the conference included papers on cloud computing, e-learning, e-voting, biometrics and e-Health, to name but a few.
Delivering the keynote address on Emerging Technologies and Emerging Economies: Research Directions for Researchers in Africa was Prof Jean-Paul Van Belle in the Department of Information Systems at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Director of the Centre for IT and National Development.
His research areas are in the adoption and use of emerging technologies in developing world contexts including mobile, cloud computing as well as open and big data. “Research of and into emerging technologies tend to be dominated by the context, agendas and paradigms of researchers in developed countries. However, most emerging technologies offer radically different innovation options and implementation issues in an African context where the infrastructure, technological and social ecosystem and challenges are often dramatically different. However, perspectives in research into cloud computing, big data, crowdsourcing, to name but a few, should be modulated to Africa’s context,” added Prof Van Belle.
He also shared his thoughts into how researchers in Africa could strategise their research to have a globally unique distinctiveness and make a real-world impact.
DUT’s Prof Olugbara, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics, also spoke on his areas of interest which included data mining and mobile grid computing.
Some other topics of discussions brought to the fore during the two days, revolved around topics such as exploring energy harvesting technology for wireless charging of mobile devices and examining the evolution of mobile-bullies, to name but a few.
After a successful two-day event of talks, an announcement of the second ICTAS 2018 was made, and attendees were encouraged to make submissions of previously unpublished work which will allow attendees to recognise emerging research trends while evaluating present challenges with their proposed solutions.
For more information on the next conference, go to www.ictas2018.com
Pictured: Delegates attending the ICTAS 2017 Conference at Coastlands, Umhlanga.
—- Waheeda Peters
