Issued by: North West Communication Service
The North West Government, Vantage Multimedia Communications and IBM South Africa have joined forces in a bold move to improve communication between Government and the people.
In an exciting new initiative a pilot programme is to be launched in the Mmabatho area in which four Touch Screen Computer Kiosks will be placed in public venues.
The multimedia programmes in the system will contain the broadest spectrum of information ranging from commercial and industrial business information, general information about the Province, and a full perspective on Government with a particular emphasis on the RDP in the North West.
A spokesman for the North West Government said the pilot programme would also involve a parallel and comprehensive survey to determine the kind of information citizens of the North West wanted. The survey would assist immeasurably in determining the content of such information programmes should the project go on to cover the entire Province.
The spokesman said Government was delighted that Vantage Multimedia Communications had produced an extremely user-friendly product which only required a touch of the screen to access information.
"This form of inter-active communication is without doubt the answer to many of the communications problems experienced by Government. The prospect of on line link-ups to such kiosks for immediate updates and additions etc. means that almost every single citizen could in time have immediate access to breaking information from Government. Such a scenario is simply breathtaking in its possibilities" said the Vantage Multimedia spokesman.
The spokesman said that in addition Government Departments themselves would have access to the comprehensive and ever-growing data and statistical base in the system to assist in countless areas, not least of which would be efficiency in information accessibility and management.
"This also has the potential to vastly improve Government delivery in terms of the RDP and there is no question that it is a first for Government in Africa," the spokesman said.
Both IBM and Vantage Multimedia Communications have emphasised that a project priority will be the transfer of skills to operate and maintain the system to Government personnel and the people in order to dispense as soon as possible any reliance on external consultants. To this end training by Vantage Multimedia Communications of key personnel had already commenced in the North West Province.