Business 101 for SMEs : The role of Shareholders, Managers and Workers

SOLOMON TSHEKISHO PLAATJE (1876-1932)

Sculpture: SOLOMON TSHEKISHO PLAATJE (1876-1932)
Artist: Dina Grobler
Solomon (Sol) Plaatje was born on 9 October 1876 on the farm Doornfontein near Boshof in the then Orange- Free State. Later the family moved to Pniel, Griqualand West where Plaatje was educated at the Lutheran mission station. He remained at the school as a pupil-teachervbefore leaving for Kimberley in 1894 where he took up a job as a letter carrier (telegraph messenger) for the Post Office.

Plaatje was a skilled linguist and excelled in languages at school. Plaatje became fluent in several African and European languages. Besides his mother tongue of Setswana, he also spoke English, Dutch, German, French, Sotho, Zulu, and Xhosa. He moved to Mafeking in 1898 to work as a court interpreter. In the South African War during the siege of Mafeking from 14 October 1899 to 15 February 1900 Plaatje kept a diary of day-to-day events.

After resigning as court interpreter in 1902 he started his career as journalist and became the first editor of the Koranta ea Becoana (Bechuana Gazette) in Mafeking as well as the Tsala ea Becoana (Bechuana Friend) and Tsala ea Batho (The Friend of the People) in Kimberley. As an activist and politician, Plaatje spent much of his life in the struggle for the enfranchisement and liberation of African people. He was a founder member and first General Secretary of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) formed in 1912, which became known as the African National Congress (ANC) in 1926. Plaatje died of pneumonia at Pimville in Johannesburg on 19 June 1932. He was buried in Kimberley in the West End Cemetery.

Grinding stone from Brandfort black concentration camp

Grinding stone from Brandfort black concentration camp
Thanks to archaeological items like these, the location of the black concentration camp at Brandfort could be established. At Brandfort in the Orange Free State a black concentration camp grew alongside the white concentration camp, reaching about 1 800 people by mid-April 1901 and by August there were at least 4 000 inmates. In the early days of the camp black inmates received the same rations as the whites but the accommodation was much more haphazard, consisting of inadequate tents, which some people covered with matting to make them more waterproof. No sanitation was provided and inmates had to ‘report’ to a wooded kloof a mile above the camp ‘for the purposes of nature’.

In March 1901 there were still no paid officials to supervise the camp. The black inmates received basic medical attention but there was no hospital accommodation whilst those needing hospital care were treated in the ambulance wagons. At the end of March infant mortality was ‘rather high’. Eventually a white superintendent, Mr Meintjes and an assistant, Hendrik Khukhu, was appointed. Children attended school in the local town location. Eventually the size of the black camp was partially
reduced by returning a number of Basuto nationals to their homes in Basutoland. Around September 1901 it was decided to move the black camp from Brandfort. This meant new arrangements had to be made for the men who worked in the white camp, along with their families.

Agterryer (Attendant)

Artwork Title: Agterryer (Attendant)
Artist: Phil Minnaar
Medium: Bronze (maquette)
Date: 2012
During the South African War, black farmworkers were employed by the Boer forces in various capacities. The most important function performed by black South Africans on commando was that of an Agterryer. The word, Agterryer, is an Afrikaans word that refers to a logistical supporter, an orderly or mounted attendant. Approximately 12 000 Agterryers accompanied the Boer forces on commando at the beginning of the war, although the number declined drastically during the guerrilla phase.

The duties of an Agterryer were mainly non-combatant including tasks such as looking after horses, collecting firewood, cooking food, washing
clothes, etc. Agterryers mainly saw to it that the horses were kept out of harm’s way during battles and skirmishes, reuniting with the commando after the fighting has ended. Due to their knowledge of the terrain, mobility and the nature of their responsibilities Agterryers often excelled in scouting and tracking.

They were also an important link between the commandos and the African rural communities, acting as translators when needed. Even though it wasn’t the norm, Agterryers assisted in carrying rifles and ammunition. This important supportive role that Agterryers performed were an integral part of the commando system at the commencement of the war. The invaluable logistical support Agterryers provided contributed to the success of
the commandos as a fighting unit. Agterryers frequently came under British fire and an unknown number were killed while serving in Boer commandos.

During the latter part of the war Agterryers generally served with the Boer forces without any renumeration whatsoever. When the war ended, many commandos still had a small number of Agterryers serving with them. They preferred loyalty to the Boers over the higher salaries paid by the British military authorities.

Gravestone of “Elisa Monamoli, 1890- 1901” from the black concentration camp at Brandfort

Gravestone of “Elisa Monamoli, 1890- 1901” from the black concentration camp at Brandfort
During the South African War concentration camps and forced labour camps were also established for black civilians, who had largely come from farms, homes in villages and mission stations. Inmates of these camps had to see to their own food and shelter. British authorities reasoned that the war was not being waged against them in particular, and that they were free to earn an income by working for the British army.

About 140 000 black people were incarcerated in black concentration camps in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. Record keeping in the black camps was notoriously poor, but an estimated 24 000 black people are thought to have died in the 65 black camps. This gravestone of Elisa Monamoli from the black concentration camp (Nooitgedacht) at Brandfort symbolises the thousands of black children that died during the war that were never recorded.

Skull

Artwork Title: Skull
Artist: Guy du Toit
Medium: Bronze
Date: 2013
Skulls are the derelict remnants of war. Often poorly accounted for, if at all, and then deserted by their custodians they stand as the forensic evidence of the victims, in this artwork, Skull, questionable statistics are recorded and the skull is immortalised in bronze – a record of the horrors of war and tribute to the fallen.

Queen Victoria gift chocolate tin

Queen Victoria gift chocolate tin
In 1899 Queen Victoria decided to send a gift of tin boxes of chocolate to her troops serving in South Africa. It was intended that every soldier and officer should receive a box with the inscription “South Africa 1900” and in the Queen’s handwriting “I wish you a happy New Year”. In order to carry out this project, the Queen commissioned the country’s three principal chocolate manufacturers, JS Fry & Sons, Cadbury Brothers Limited and Rowntree and Company Limited, to undertake the order for what amounted, by the end of 1900, to 123 000 tins. As Quakers, all three manufacturers refused to accept payment for the order and, not wishing to profit from the War, they offered to donate the chocolate instead. The manufacture of the tin boxes themselves was funded personally by the Queen.

They were based on a design by Barclay and Fry Limited of Southwark, but since each of the chocolate manufacturers used different firms to supply the tins, there are variations in their dimensions, the shade of colouring and the printing of the portrait medallion of the Queen. The tins had rounded corners for ease of storage in a soldier’s knapsack and each contained a half-pound of vanilla chocolate.

As a gift from the Queen, many soldiers preserved their tins with the chocolate intact, even posting them back home for safe-keeping. In exceptional cases the recipients did not even dare untie the ribbon round the packaging. Mohandas K (Mahatma) Gandhi complained bitterly about the fact that the Queen’s Christmas gift of chocolates to her soldiers excluded the Indian Ambulance Corps

JOHN TENGO JABAVU (1859-1921)

Sculpture: JOHN TENGO JABAVU (1859-1921)
Artist: Dina Grobler
John Tengo Jabavu was born on 11 January in 1859 near the Methodist mission school at Healdton district. It was not long before he received his Teacher’s Certificate. From 1877 to 1881 he taught in Somerset East, working during the pre-dawn hours as a printer’s assistant on a local newspaper. In 1881 he became editor of the Isigidimi Sama Xhosa, which was printed and published at Lovedale Institution. In 1883 he passed the Matriculation Examination of the South African University.

Jabavu founded and become editor of the newspaper Imvo Zabantsundu (Black Opinion) in 1884. In 1885 he married Elda Sakuba. And in 1886, the
young Jabavu opened his office in King Williamstown. He put his whole life into his work and soon his paper was known and read throughout South Africa. He became a member of the Wesleyan Conference and took an active interest in the welfare of his people. His wife died in 1900, leaving four sons. Shortly afterwards Jabavu’s eldest son was sent to England for education, while the younger one became a teacher in the Cape Province.

Jabavu supported the Republican struggle for freedom against British Imperialism during the South African War. For that reason, he was jailed by the British military authorities during the war. He died at the home of his son at Fort Hare on 10 September 1921. Alexander Jabavu, second eldest son of the late John Tengo Jabavu, took over the editorial of the newspaper

Our world, a scorched and barren land

Artwork Title: Our world, a scorched and barren land
Artist: Naomi Klingenberg
Media: Ceramic
Date: 2013
The South African War saw the ruthless destruction and cruel killing of thousands of humans and animals. Far more value had been placed on gold and diamonds than on dignity, respect and the basic needs of humans, animals and the earth. As hard as it seems to forgive past and present pain, this frees our own souls from self-destruction. May we start to change our attitudes in words, deeds and thoughts in small steps in South Africa today. As the humanitarian Emily Hobhouse wrote: “Forgive because so only can you rise to full nobility of character…as love is more beautiful than hatred.”

DGS 10 Sara Beletsa

This grave had as its grave goods a hand axe which was retrieved and accessioned into the McGregor Museum.Headstone of Sara Baletsa, born 1890 died 1901. Hand axe found on this grave.

Area B.

DSG 10. Square E 24.

No. 20 of 2001.

Engraved: block capitals.

Sara T (?)

Beletsa

9001

DGS 1

A shale stone with a total length of 49cm, maximum breadth along the break of 35cm with a thickness of 5cm.

This fragment has moved around since 2001. Should be matched with shale

Area C.

DGS 1.

Engraving: ONS or SNO.

Stone type : Shale

Click here to view DSG1 3dmodel

No. 18 of 2001.

The headstone is partially buried into the ground and the grave footstone is a calcrete cobble. (Johanna Leo…) is a Tswana surname

Area B.

GS 29.

Engraved: block capitals.

JOH

ANN

A: LEQ

.1901 Nov.

GS 30.

The name could translate to Dorcas Petsianadi. Made from the same material as No. 14 and is the same rectangular design.

Area B.

No. 16 of 2001.

Engraved: block capitals.

DORK

AS PE

TSANI

ADI DIED

NOV 1

2 YEARS OLD 1901.

GS 9.

The top and bottom of the stone found were broken off. The top might be the remains of a cross. The bottom is cut and recessed with a fine engraved line. Lots of pieces of black shale were found in the grave when excavating the headstone. Headstone thickness is 3 cm. Height 19.5cm and the width 20cm.

Area A.

Stone type: Slate.

Engraving: Block capitals: BULLOR TOLO

GS 15.

The base of the stone was buried 21cm in the ground. The base is fragmented. Three fragments labelled GS16 probably belong with it and were kept together and reburied

Area B.

Engraved: 1902 BH

GS 21

The headstone is upright in the ground with a broken top. It was excavated and fragments found piecing name and date together with polished sections.

Area A.

Stone type : Dolomite

1902 Engraved: block letters.

Willem Motobi.

No 1 of 2001.

The measurements are 15cm x 45cm. this stone lies adjacent to the road separating Areas A and B from Area C. Found near road in two halves.

Area A.

GS 22. Grid JZ.

Engraved: Block capitals:

CCB

ALEA

OO

On JANOARY

IN 1902

GS 19. D15/2.

Areas B.

The stone was found in the soil on top of a cobbled grave mound. Three engraved lines with unclear writing.

Engraved: ALM

GS 33.

Area B.

DSG 9.

The stone is a shale piece with an incised palmate design engraved into it.

Stone type: Slate.

GS 31.

Gravestone of Sami Dami.This rectangular slab is similar to No 16.This match again relies on a phonetic interpretation of the name on the gravestone and two other stones found in BGY3, the Boshof ‘Location’ cemetery. This name could be pronounced Sarmi Darmi or Sammy Dammy – although spelt Sami Dami. The surname on the following two grave stones from Boshof could be pronounced Dammy, although spelt Damme

Area B.

GS 31.

No. 17 of 2001.

Engraved: block capitals.

SANI DAMI

BORN FEB 9 1881

DIED NOV 9 1901

GS 32.

Gravestone of Jimmy Matlakwa. 1901. The stone is a rectangular piece of dark slate or diorite. Engraving: Jim(m)y Ma. Tlakwanver

Area B.

D15/2.

No. 14 of 2001.

Engraved: block capitals.

JIMMY MATLAKWA NEVER

DIED 16 NOV 1901

Stone type : Slate or diorite.

DGS 4.

Grey slate headstone of Kosenioa Modisa. Hand axe found on this grave

AREA A

No. 9 of 2001.

Engraved block capitals: Kosenioa Madisa.

Stone: grey slate.

GS 8

The base is anchored upright in the ground. The top is broken off and lying next to the stone. There is very indistinct cursive writing which is illegible on the left and right of the central column of the cross. In two pieces with base anchored in the ground.

Cross on top of stone. Very indistinct cursive illegible writing.

GS 8. D8/9 of 2008. No. 7 of 2001.

GS 10

The headstone is a long thin slab of slate, buried upright and protruding above ground level. The top of the stone is broken off and was excavated on 27 June 2008. The excavated stone is 16cm long and 15cm and the complete headstone would have been 70 cm long. Engraved in the centre of the top is an upside down cross with possibly another cross in the middle. One other large fragment, plus a small one with “O” on it were uncovered. One other large piece with a raised ridge fits on the left side of the headstone.

Area A.

GS 10. No. 4 of 2001. Square D6.

Engraved: cursive writing.

Stone type : Slate.

Lesi Moremo

1902 Saller 3.

Our Core Values

Our first responsibility is to all those that use our products and services

To meet our clients’ needs, everything we do must be of a high quality
We shall meet our clients’ needs ON TIME and in a friendly and efficient manner
We must work efficiently and minimize re-work to maintain reasonable fees
In this way – we will not only satisfy client expectations – but exceed them
All our efforts should go towards building and enhancing our reputation as well as that of our clients

We are responsible to all in our team

Who must be recognized for their merit, worth and contribution as individuals
We shall respect everyone’s dignity and diverse backgrounds and support each other in working as a professional team
We handle debate constructively but be free to make suggestions and complaints
As part of our work together, compensation must be fair
Our working environment should be kept clean, orderly, and safe and
There must be opportunities for personal growth and skills development according to experience and business needs
We place a high premium on our creativity and the excellence of our craft
But keeping in mind customer needs

We are responsible to our communities

In which we live and work; we will bear our fair share of taxes and also increase our impact on society through the work that we do
We shall protect our environment
According to business needs, we must constantly evaluate new ideas and experiment withnew concepts – our customers expect no less

Our final responsibility is to our future

We must build on a culture of growth
When we operate according to these principles, our future is assured

Dave Lockwood has a professional background in both transport engineering and ICT.

He joined the CSIR from the UK in 1981 (on a 3-year contract) as a traffic Engineer. Still, he slowly migrated into the computing and IT side of roads and transport through the 80s and into the ’90s,

During this period, IT transformed into ICT, which also encompassed the management of information itself. This translated into managing the Division’s Library Services in Dave’s case. At the time, libraries were also transitioning from paper to online services and digital content, a process that he led and managed and was a time of inspiration.

He ended his CSIR service as Co-Director of a CSIR VR Centre between 1998 and 2000.

Dave founded the Naledi3d Factory in 2000.

He holds an MSc in Transportation Engineering and BA (Hons.) Geography and has over thirty years of experience in the ICT field.

He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Transport, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and a Senior Member of the Association of Computer Mechanics and The Institute of IT Professionals South Africa (IITPSA).

He worked at CSIR for almost 20 years. During his time as co-Director of the CSIR VR Centre from 1998 to 2000, his passion for VR grew after starting to develop his ideas on how powerful VR could be for training and education in Africa – and especially it’s potential for the development of our poorer communities – thinking that was unique worldwide at the time.

He describes himself as a “social entrepreneur”. He rails against the still prevalent “industrial paradigm” that still seems to dominate our economy and dreams of the day when an actual “knowledge-based society” comes into its own.

Other industries include:

Dave Lockwood

1998 – 2002: CSIR VR Centre

A time spent introducing VR to both industry and state organisations across South and Southern Africa, working through the ten CSIR Divisions. This was also a time of musing and reflection, looking at how could VR, impact on education, training and learning, and especially so in Africa. Delving into this was truly innovative at the time, with acknowledgement also being given to the inputs of Dr RS Day, then of the CSIR Meraka Institute.
https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/the-digital-factory-2000-01-28

shego studied IT at the TUT, specialising in Multimedia. He also holds a certificate in The Fundamentals of Digital Marketing through Google Digital Skills for Africa. He joined Naledi3d in 2015 as an intern, leaving in 2019 to spread his wings and explore other opportunities, returning to Naledi3d in 2020.

Tshego is a very passionate coder. He started having a strong passion for VR when he realised how much of an impact it can have, especially in education. He strongly believes in harnessing 4IR technologies to enrich the way our children learn. Besides coding, Tshego spends his time reading and, these days, upskilling on Udemy.

With over 12 years of experience in VR content development, Ofentse completed his Information Technology qualification at the Tshwane University of Technology. In 2012 He specialised in Multimedia design, Multimedia Programming and Software Development.

He displays creativity and attention to detail in his work that is hard to match. Ofentse is one of our star VR Developers, creating and programming innovative content for interactive 3D simulations. He has a good grounding in both hardware as well as software tools required.

Lesego is a VR developer with Naledi3d Factory and holds a BSc degree specialising in Software Engineering. Following a post-degree 11-month course in VR development at the Tshwane Interactive Digital Centre (T-IDC) in 2016, she was employed the following year at the Centre as a VR Developer.

Following the move of the IDC to the City of Tshwane in 2019, she moved to the Naledi3d Factory. She believes the world of 3D/VR/AR has not yet caught on in South Africa, but as it does, it will revolutionise how things are done in our country, especially in the education and TVET training spaces – which is where her passion starts.

Henri studied software development at the Tshwane University of Technology. Joining us in 2008, he specialises in accurate, low polygon 3D modelling and inspirational 3D animated stories. Low-polygon modelling is essential to keep real-time interactive simulations as small and efficient as possible, which is a special skill, and Henry has indeed honed these skills over time.

Henry’s skills and knowledge will be crucial to this project in building the 3D platform upon which the AR and VR simulations will stand.

Lucett is COO and Business Development Director at the Naledi3d Factory.

She is a transport and logistics professional by background. She has extensive practical experience in “complex” project and contract management, construction and infrastructure, and business development experience, having previously served as Project Coordinator for the Rustenburg 2010 FWC and as former Director at Limpopo Department of Roads and Transport, as well as and the National Department of Transport, and as an Infrastructure and transport researcher at the CSIR between 2000 and 2007.

She became involved in the potential impacts that VR and AR can offer “African” training and education in the company part-time as early as 2004. She joined the Naledi3d team full-time in 2016.

She was invited to speak about the impact of AR/VR in Africa at the UNIDO General Conference Plenary Session in Vienna in 2017.

2017: UNIDO General Conference – Plenary Session

We were invited by UNIDO to present at the 2017 UNIDO General Conference Plenary session in Vienna, and to also participate parallel UNIDO LKDF 4th Donor Conference.
Interview here

Together with UNIDO, we had previously worked on a project to address chainsaw operations and use, as part of a broader training programme in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

UNIDO asked us to showcase this work during the Plenary session, as a part of a presentation on the project

2015 – 2019: Tshwane Interactive Digital Centre (IDC)

In late 2014, the City of Tshwane and EON Reality (a leading US VR Company) signed an “IDC Agreement” to establish the Tshwane Interactive Digital Centre, one in a global network of other IDC’s.

Naledi3d Factory was tasked in the Agreement as the local, experienced entity to establish, and to manage the Centre.

The Centre launched in April 2016 in Hatfield and was a first for Africa. It comprised a training centre (Virtual Reality Innovation Academy – VRIA) and that enrolled 50 young interns a year and offered training in the art of VR content development and entrepreneurial skills – a eleven-month programme. Around 85% of those that completed the programme found employment within weeks of completion.

The Development Studio created new VR content to address local needs. The 500m2 showroom showcased all VR technologies available at the time – from mobile to Cube and all points inbetween.

In mid-2019, the Centre was handed over to the City of Tshwane as a working Centre and the Centre was moved to TLMA (Tshwane Leadership and Management Centre) in Pretoria West.

2015: Addis Ababa – Volvo Selam Vocational Training College

Asked by UNIDO to evaluate the impact of a diesel engine training App – “LKDF Interact” – used at the Volvo Selam Vocational Training College in Addis Ababa).

In the same way that both learners and educators in 2004 came out very strongly for VR in the classroom, so too with the technical students at the TVET College in Addis Ababa.

100% of the students, and lecturers wanted more content, and in a wider range of subject areas.

Once again, as in 2004, learners and students in Africa, irrespective of social backgrounds have spoken up for more VR content to support their curricula.

2013: Fun and engaging 3D animated videos

Building on 15 years of VR experience, and the learning insights that we had gained, we created a “funky” style for short, fun, and engaging 3D animated videos. This medium and style is also be a powerful way to get important messaging across, as it is designed to capture the audience’s interest, and keep them engaged.

The base-premise was that if you can keep an audience engaged, whatever the medium used, then the messaging is not only easily internalised, but also easily memorised – and that is after all the end goal.

By using a video format, it also means that the messaging can be distributed far and wide, using devices from phones to TV and harnessing the reach of today’s social media.

We’ve since created several stories, ranging from how a business works and the roles of shareholders, managers and workers; the role of innovation in a municipality; to explaining the SI measurement system for kids; explaining the importance of the Quality Infrastructure (QI) for SME owners across Africa; to the importance of accurate measurement (working with NMISA).

Our latest work, with UNESCO, is looking at the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of how do we safely return to work, how do address stigma, and looking at ways to get the messaging out in not only the minority languages across Africa, but also in sign language.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Naledi3d/videos

2010: Registration of I3dlo’s (Interactive3d learning objects) as a learning concept, and as an international trademark

Registration of I3dlo’s (Interactive3d learning objects) as a learning concept, and as an international trademark, with help from SAFIPA (South African Finish Partnership SA).

The learning concept of the “learning object”. A Reusable Learning Object is the chameleon of eLearning and can be reused time and again in a variety of different eLearning activities, modules, and courses. Each has its own learning objective.

Our big breakthrough with i3dlo’s was in fact to also develop a process to localise VR content – not only to localise, but in a way that anyone can change the language, without having to use the base proprietary VR software – and only using a tool like WINZIP.

2007 & 2008: We were invited by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to write a paper on our VR work in Africa

We were invited by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to write a paper on our VR work in Africa – a paper that is still referenced by researchers worldwide. We are also proud of this one…
“Using VR for Human Development in Africa”. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications ( Volume: 28 , Issue: 3 , May-June 2008 Link to IEEE.org Computer Graphics digital library .

2007 & 2008: SciFest – Showcasing our work in VR in Grahamstown

SciFest is South Africa’s biggest youth science event with tens of thousands of young people attending every year.

It was extremely rewarding to be able to have an opportunity to open so many young minds to what is possible…

2007: Three lady Vice-Presidents in the office

Hon. Joyce Mujuru Vice-President, Zimbabwe
HE Phumzile Mlambo-Ncguka Deputy-President SA
HE Luìsa Diogo Vice-President Mozambique

As part of their visit to The Innovation Hub, we had the pleasure of hosting three Southern African Vice Presidents in our office to present our work. A big thumbs up for Southern Africa as not only were we hosting three VP’s, but three female VP’s nogal. This was yet another proud moment on our journey.

2004: An Evaluation of Virtual Reality in Africa UNESCO

Funded by UNESCO, this empirical study looked at the reaction to VR in schools (both educators and scholars), in Ugandan and South African schools. This research study is documented in a research report that can be downloaded from UNESCO’s library.
“Evaluation of Virtual Reality In Africa, An Educational Perspective”, UNESCO, Paris, 2004. (CI-2004/WS/1)

The study drew on VR acceptability and usability surveys in schools in South Africa (Mamelodi and Soshanguve) and Uganda (Buwama, Makerere College, Nakaseke, Ndejje, Saint Henry’s schools).

For the first time, the potential for VR in African schools and colleges was tested and proven. More so, because the learners only complaint was that there needs to be much more content, and over many more subject areas.

Virtual tours can provide several advantages in a marketing strategy for a company or non-profit organization. These include:

Increased accessibility:

Virtual tours allow potential customers or donors to explore a facility or location from the comfort of their own home. This can be particularly useful for organizations with limited physical locations or those that are not easily accessible.

Cost savings:

Virtual tours can be less expensive to produce and maintain than traditional in-person tours, and do not require travel expenses for potential customers or donors.

Improved engagement:

Virtual tours can be interactive and allow users to explore a location at their own pace, potentially increasing engagement and interest.

Increased visibility:

Virtual tours can be shared on social media, the company’s website and other platforms, increasing visibility and reach.

Accessibility for people with disabilities:

Virtual tours can be a great way to provide accessibility for people with disabilities who might not be able to visit the location in person.

There are several reasons to use virtual tours and digital twins in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC):

Visualization and communication:

Virtual tours and digital twins allow architects, engineers, and construction professionals to visualize and communicate project designs and plans in a highly interactive and immersive way.

Planning and collaboration:

Virtual tours and digital twins can be used to plan and coordinate complex projects, and to facilitate collaboration among project stakeholders.

Quality control and safety:

Virtual tours and digital twins can be used to ensure quality control and safety on construction sites, by providing a virtual representation of the site and the work that needs to be done.

Training and education:

Virtual tours and digital twins can be used to train and educate construction workers and other professionals, by providing a realistic and detailed representation of the project and the work that needs to be done.

Cost and Time Savings:

Virtual tours and digital twins can be used to identify potential issues, conflicts and errors early on in the design and construction process, which can lead to cost and time savings.

Asset Management:

Digital twins can be used for asset management and maintenance to optimize operations and reduce costs.

There are several reasons for using 360-degree virtual tours in facilities management, including:

Remote access:

Virtual tours allow facilities managers to access and inspect buildings remotely, reducing the need for in-person visits and minimizing disruptions to building occupants.

Cost savings:

Virtual tours can help facilities managers identify and prioritize maintenance needs, reducing the cost of repairs and minimizing the risk of equipment failure.

Improved communication:

Virtual tours can communicate information about a building’s layout and features to occupants, contractors, and other stakeholders.

Safety:

Virtual tours can help identify potential safety hazards and help facilities managers plan for emergency situations.

Documenting:

Virtual tours can document a building’s condition over time, which can help track changes and identify patterns.

Marketing:

Virtual tours can showcase a building’s features and amenities to potential tenants, buyers, or investors.

There are several reasons for using 360-degree virtual tours in tourism, travel, and hospitality:

Showcasing destinations:

Virtual tours allow potential travellers to see tourist destinations, hotels, and other properties from all angles, giving them a better understanding of the location, features and details.

Improving customer experience:

Virtual tours can create a more engaging and interactive experience for potential travellers, allowing them to explore the destination, hotel or property at their own pace and in greater detail.

Enhancing online travel planning:

Virtual tours can help to bridge the gap between online and in-person travel planning by providing potential travellers with a more realistic view of the destination, hotel or property.

Cost-effective:

Virtual tours can be a cost-effective way to showcase tourist destinations, hotels and other properties and attract more potential travellers.

Accessibility:

Virtual tours can allow potential travellers to view destinations, hotels and other properties from any location and also help increase accessibility for travellers with mobility issues.

Convenience:

Virtual tours can save potential travellers time and effort by allowing them to view destinations, hotels and other properties without visiting them physically.

Increased visibility:

Virtual tours can help to increase the visibility of tourist destinations, hotels and other properties to a broader audience, as they can be easily shared online and viewed on different devices.

Marketing tool:

Virtual tours can be a marketing tool for travel agencies, hotels and other tourism-related businesses to showcase their properties and attract more customers.

Decision making:

Virtual tours allow travellers to make informed decisions on whether a destination, hotel or property is suitable for them before arranging a physical visit.

There are several reasons for using 360-degree virtual tours in insurance, claims management and restoration, including:

Remote assessment:

Virtual tours allow insurance adjusters and claims managers to assess damage to a property remotely, reducing the need for in-person inspections and minimizing disruptions to policyholders.

Improved accuracy:

Virtual tours can provide a detailed and accurate record of a property’s condition, which can help insurance adjusters and claims managers make more accurate assessments of damage and determine the cost of repairs.

Faster claims processing:

Virtual tours can help streamline the claims process, reducing the time and cost of inspections and allowing claims to be processed more quickly.

Communication:

Virtual tours can communicate information about a property’s condition to policyholders, contractors, and other stakeholders, improving transparency and trust.

Safety:

Virtual tours can help identify potential safety hazards and help insurance adjusters and claims managers plan for emergency situations.

Documenting:

Virtual tours can be used to document a property’s condition over time, which can help track changes and identify patterns.

Restoration:

Virtual tours can be used to plan and document the progress of restoration work and to ensure that the work is completed according to the insurance adjuster’s specifications.

There are several reasons for using 360-degree virtual tours in commercial letting:

Showcasing spaces:

Virtual tours allow potential tenants to see commercial spaces from all angles, giving them a better understanding of the space’s layout, features, and details.

Improving customer experience:

Virtual tours can create a more engaging and interactive experience for potential tenants, allowing them to explore the space at their own pace and in greater detail.

Enhancing online property viewing:

Virtual tours can help to bridge the gap between online and in-person property viewing by providing potential tenants with a more realistic view of the space.

Cost-effective:

Virtual tours can be a cost-effective way to showcase commercial spaces and attract more potential tenants.

Accessibility:

Virtual tours can allow potential tenants to view commercial spaces from any location and help increase accessibility for tenants with mobility issues.

Convenience:

Virtual tours can save potential tenants time and effort by allowing them to view commercial spaces without physically visiting them.

Increased visibility:

Virtual tours can help increase commercial spaces’ visibility to a broader audience, as they can be easily shared online and viewed on different devices.

Visualizing space usage:

Virtual tours can help potential tenants visualize how they will use the space and ensure it meets their needs.

Flexibility in decision-making:

Virtual tours allow potential tenants to make informed decisions on whether a space suits them before arranging a physical visit.

There are several reasons for using 360-degree virtual tours in real estate:

Showcasing properties:

Virtual tours allow potential buyers to see properties from all angles, giving them a better understanding of the layout, features, and details of the property.

Improving customer experience:

Virtual tours can create a more engaging and interactive experience for potential buyers, allowing them to explore the property at their own pace and in greater detail.

Enhancing online property viewing:

Virtual tours can help to bridge the gap between online and in-person property viewing by providing potential buyers with a more realistic view of the property.

Cost-effective:

Virtual tours can be a cost-effective way to showcase properties and attract more potential buyers.

Accessibility:

Virtual tours can allow potential buyers to view properties from any location and help increase accessibility for buyers with mobility issues.

Convenience:

Virtual tours can save potential buyers time and effort by allowing them to view properties without physically visiting them.

Increased visibility:

Virtual tours can help increase properties’ visibility to a broader audience, as they can be easily shared online and viewed on different devices.

There are several reasons for using 360-degree virtual tours in museums and heritage sites:

Accessibility:

Virtual tours allow people unable to visit the physical location to experience the museum or heritage site from the comfort of their homes.

Preservation:

Virtual tours can help to preserve fragile artefacts and historic sites by reducing the need for visitors to handle or disturb them physically.

Education:

Virtual tours can provide additional information and context for visitors, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of the exhibits.

Engagement:

Virtual tours can create a more engaging and interactive experience for visitors, allowing them to explore the museum or heritage site at their own pace and in greater detail.

Cost-effective:

Virtual tours can be a cost-effective way to promote a museum or heritage site and attract more visitors

There are several reasons for using 360-degree virtual tours in retail and e-commerce:

Showcasing products:

Virtual tours allow customers to see products from all angles, giving them a better understanding of the product’s features and details.

Improving customer experience:

Virtual tours can create a more engaging and interactive shopping experience for customers, allowing them to explore the store or product in greater detail.

Enhancing online shopping:

Virtual tours can help to bridge the gap between online and in-store shopping by providing customers with a more realistic view of the products and store.

Cost-effective:

Virtual tours can be a cost-effective way to showcase products and stores to potential customers and increase sales.

Accessibility:

Virtual tours can allow customers to view the products from any location and help increase accessibility for customers with mobility issues.

Convenience:

Virtual tours can save customers time and effort by allowing them to view the store and its products without having to visit the store physically.

2004 – 2010: Farming in Zimbabwe – beekeeping and much more

Together with World Links Zimbabwe and WK Kellogg Foundation, we worked with farmers in 5 districts on agricultural skills development (Mutoko, Mandedza, Rio Tinto, Rio Mubira and Rusike) – starting with beekeeping, expanding into soil conversation, plough settings, pests, sorghum – and “growing” from there…

The most important part of our work is impact; and in this project, this was our best and most rewarding project at the time.

Because of the visual nature of VR, after the 2-day workshops with local farmers, the impact was immediate (the next day) as farmers effected a change in their farming practices.

Seeing is, it seems, is truly believing.

2002 – 2006: UNESCO- IICBA

Working with Dr Fay Chung (IICBA Director, past Minister of Education in Zimbabwe, Dr Fay Chung and a well-known champion of education and didactic principles during the Zimbabwe liberation struggle / second Chimurenga in the 1970’s).

Individual projects with Fay and IICBA focussed on addressing issues around HIV-AIDS, and on empowering educators in Ethiopia to better understand the issues around the disease, including stigma.

Follow-on projects looked at the connections between maths and science and HIV. This was a great opportunity to make STEM and HIV relevant to everyday life.

Despite having few IT resources in the classroom, educators had a better understanding of the underlying issues around HIV and the AIDS syndrome, and thus were better equipped to teach their young learners in class.

2002: World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)

Another proud moment for us was the fact that after less than two years in operation, we were showcasing innovative VR content on three exhibition stands at the Ubuntu Village, a part of the prestigious Summit held in 2002 in Johannesburg. These were:

• City of Johannesburg – Moroka Dam rehabilitation
• ESKOM stand – sustainable energy technologies
• Hewlett Packard stand – showcasing our UNESCO basic hygiene simulation – with Virtual Nakaseke

Ubuntu Village was one of the venues established to host the 40 000 plus visitors to the Summit. Sited at Wanderers Stadium, Ubuntu Village included the erection of “Tensile 1” – the world’s biggest tent structure at the time.
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2001 – 2008: AngloGold Ashanti – mine safety / OHS

Working with AngloGold Ashanti, we worked on several projects addressing safety related issuescontent – which led to saving lives. We showed many hazards, such as fall of ground, travel way vs non-travel way, mud rush, triangle of death, safe offloading of ammonia the impact of the various forms of energy on safety, for example.

It was while working on this programme that we came to understand the true value of SHOWING what can happen if you do something wrong or take shortcuts in a deep mine.

Showing someone how they could die does tend to lead to an immediate change in behaviour.

2001 – 2006:Working With ESKOM TSI And SANERI/ SANEDI

Visualising new and innovative sustainable community power generation technologies – and also larger solar, wind turbines, concentrated solar power (all now a reality in SA) as well as hydro power generation (using disused mines).

We also visualised the visual impacts of using proposed wind and solar power generation on Robben Island as a replacement for imported diesel fuel.

2000 – 2002: Nakaseke, Uganda

In our first project with UNESCO, we addressed basic hygiene in the District of Nakaseke / Luwero, in Northern Uganda.

The project ran through the local multi- purpose community centre in the village of Nakaseke, which had electricity, but no running water. The VR content was later taken by the Centre to outlying communities, where there was neither water nor electricity…. And it was well received.

This work led to a significant drop in reported dysentery rates in the district and was still being used fifteen years later by the Nakaseke Centre.

This is a project that we are still immensely proud of, but also a project that shows the power of visual and interactive communication.

2000: Sun City, ACT 2000 – The African Computing & Telecommunications Summit

Afternoon workshop – “Virtual Reality – An opportunity for education in Africa”.

Supported by UNESCO, this was the first time that we had an opportunity to put our ideas and vision forward to an audience in Africa. The response was inspirational. As the workshop finished, we were interviewed by CNN for the weekly CNN Africa in Focus slot.

2000: the Naledi3d Factory (Pty) ltd was formally registered.

We opened our doors on 1st November 2000 and the second new SME company to join the new Innovation Hub, which was at the time starting up, based at CSIR Building 43.

1999: St Johns College, University Of Cambridge IST Africa

Paper presented “the potential for VR in Africa, and in particular, on learning and education”.

It was at this conference that we caught the attention of UNESCO (John Rose, CI Division. Paris); and was the start of a long-term relationship with UNESCO that continues to this day.

1998 CSIR VR Centre

A time spent introducing VR to both industry and state organisations across South and Southern Africa, working through the ten CSIR Divisions.

This was also a time of musing and reflection, looking at how could VR, impact on education, training and learning, and especially so in Africa. Delving into this was truly innovative at the time, with acknowledgement also being given to the inputs of Dr RS Day, then of the CSIR Meraka Institute.

https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/the-digital-factory-2000-01-28

2010: IST-Africa 2010 Conference and Exhibition Durban, Digital Education and Open Education solutions

Paper presented – “Interactive Virtual Reality (IVR) methodology for community education”

2012: California, USA, EON Experience Fest

Virtual Reality in practice – Safety Awareness in Mining… (Virtual Presentation)

2013: Birmingham National Exhibition centre. WorldSkills Foundation UK Skills Show and Competition

Naledi3d / EON joint Reality presentation at Skills Show, UK: 14-16 Nov 2013.

2015: Mauritius Interactive Digital Centre (IDC) Inauguration

Paper presented – “VR / AR in Education and Training – An African dream, enigma or reality?”

2016: Pretoria. Test and Measurement Conference

Paper presented “VR / AR and Metrology in Africa – Is it imagined, or a reality?”. Keynote address with NIST Director, Dr Willie E. May (US)

2017: Vienna, Austria. 2017 UNIDO General Conference

Vienna, Austria. 2017 UNIDO General Conference (plenary), and parallel UNIDO LKDF 4th Donor Conference.
Presentation and demonstration of chainsaw operations Apps.
Interview here

2018: University of the Western Cape: Immersive Technologies Seminar

Paper presented “VR / AR in Africa, is it imagined, or is it a reality?”

2019: Pretoria. NMISA Industry 4.0 Conference

Paper presented – “Virtual reality, to be or not to be” May 2019

2019: Pretoria NMISA Revised SI conference

Paper presented – “Virtual Reality as a training tool” May 2019

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