By Emmanuel Owusu Addai
Since we started the training, I have been so eager to know more about Mobile technologies, even more that I was when I read the Mobile Web Ghana advert in my email last month.
I am Emmanuel Owusu Addai, a graduate from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. At my leisure periods, I love to challenge myself with programming. I have done mini technical projects using visual studio.net (VB, C#), NetBeans (Java), and web technologies (php, HTML, CSS, JavaScript). I also love to play around technologies that I can implement in my field of study, i.e., Geographic Information System (GIS) development, GPS Positioning and Navigation.
Developing mobile apps, however, was the last thing I’d ever think of. I thought they did not concern me (a Geomatic engineer/surveyor), and most of all, I thought it would be a very difficult venture to tread. But, I can confidently tell you that this has been one of the best decisions I’ve taken in my educational life – being part of this workshop training.
It is now 11 days into the Mobile Web Ghana training program, and by the 5th day, I had already developed a library SMS application that provides a platform for users to query the library system if there exists their book of choice. This application has given me more practicable ideas that could solve the very problems we face in our everyday movements – talk about transportation, medicine, engineering, education, and in the corporate world. Look, if Ghanaian programmers cannot use their skills to solve the pertinent problems bedevilling us, then who are we (they)?
The most insightful session has been the Business track where our minds were challenged with questions like: who is an entrepreneur? Are you an entrepreneur? Who is a businessman? It was clear that it is not only having the ability to write that “killer” application, but also that application must be relevant to its targeted users. And also, the business model of your idea must be apt.
I believe by the time I leave here, I would be motivated enough to improve my already existing business, iCottage Networks (www.icottagenetworks.com). I would take this opportunity to commend the organisers of this platform.