2024-10-21 22:15:00
Initiatives in the field of artificial intelligence and robotization are growing in Africa. The Glappy Foundation was created in the United States by two Cameroonians. Their goal: to make Cameroon one of the leading countries in terms of robotization. To do this, they train children.
During their presentation, a humanoid robot that resembles a child begins to move and communicate. “ It has hands, a torso, a head, there are cameras in the eyes to be able to orient itself », Explains Christian Ntienou, who is part of Glappy. This foundation is at the origin of this prototype whose plastic parts were 3D printed in the United States. “ We often hear that in a village a child who has nothing has created an entire electrical ecosystem. So if there are people like that in a rural area, why not give the rest of the village a chance to support this young man? ? »
Educate the technology leaders of tomorrow
The goal is that, in the future, everything will be produced in Cameroon with recycled plastic. To achieve this goal, Glappy trains the new generation in computer languages in rural villages.
« We have more than 10 000 students, we give them equipment, we teach them scratch, a code language, and we want them to learn joss, which is code for robots » specifies Christian Ntienou. The Glappy foundation has been open since the beginning of October a university in Yaoundéwhere he teaches robotics and technologyartificial intelligence and the drone. Wants to open a partner campus UNITED STATES with the help of investors from the diaspora and Cameroon.
Robot language in Swahili and Hausa
Russell Avre, the entrepreneur behind Glappy, explains: “ We focus on young people from 8 to 13-14 years old. We stimulate their interest in artificial intelligence and robotics through gamification ; they play and learn. These are school books to teach them the elements of robotics. We are translating the language of robotics into Swahili, into Hausa, so that people can read and understand robotics concepts in their dialect. »
For Jacques Eone, president of the Cameroon Robotics Association, based in Douala, there is indeed a Robotics boom in the country: In the field of infrastructure, Cameroon robotics is among the top 10. In terms of ambition, we can reach the top 5. » Today the leader of robotics on the continent remains theSouth Africafollowed by Nigeriaahead of North African countries likeEgypt and the Morocco.
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