Guest gets explanations on how a mobile phone starts a car
Sylver Shyaka is now the most talked about technician in modern Rwandan technology. He has unlocked the high-tech World with his innovations. A teacher at the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC West) in Karongi District, Western Province, Shyaka’s increasing popularity is a result of the system he built that starts and stops the car’s engine using a mobile phone.
Shyaka, who teaches at the Centre’s department of automobile technology, explains what many would want to know about this new expertise.
“This is a system we introduced that starts and stops a car’s engine using a mobile phone. We installed a system where a mobile phone operates as an electronic contactor. The car owner simply dials a number in his/her mobile phone and the car starts immediately.
I came up with this new system to help people who normally run short of time warming their car engines before set off. For instance, someone may be rushing to work and drives the car without warming the engine first, which affects the vehicle. The system can help that person to start the car wherever he/she is,” says Shyaka.
According to Shyaka, this new high-tech system helps owners to monitor their vehicles wherever they may be around the World. He adds that this system doesn’t interfere with the normal way of starting a car using the key. More so, the vehicle still operates in its original way.
“My new technology is friendly with the original operating system of every vehicle. I designed it in a way that works with other operating systems in vehicles. People tend to pack their cars with the first gear in…this system works in a way that unlocks the gear before starting the car,” Shyaka explains.
Since this new invention at IPRC-Karongi, a big number of people have been visiting the Centre to witness the system.
Negotiations underway to start selling the new technology
As this new automobile technology gains momentum, people are flocking the Centre asking for the new system to be installed in their vehicles. However, according to Fredric Mugiraneza, the Centre’s Deputy Principal, the system is under trial and negotiations with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) are under way to put the new technology on the market.
“We are in contact with RDB so that our services are registered so we can start cashing in on it. I cannot be held by the fact that we haven’t yet started generating revenues from this system. We have a big clientele. Many people can’t wait to see it on the market. This technology of ours is new. We need to market our technology globally and ensure that we obtain a copyright,” he said.
Apart from this new automobile technology, students at IPRC-Karongi invented other electronic devices, machines used for construction and farming, among others. Some of the devices they invented include an electrical device used for switching on and off the lights by clapping hands.
Robert Kazungu is one of the students who invented the new device.
“Sometimes people enter their houses late in the night and find it hard placing hands on the light switch. We came up with the idea of making a device that censes sound. What you only need to do is clap hands and the house automatically lights, same as switching off.
We made an installation that senses the sound. It works in an amplification design to increase the sound signal. It transfers the sound to the system that immediately operates from the sound server. There is nothing big added to this device. It’s just a sound sensor,” he said.
The other device Kazungu and his team invented electricity control system that uses a door key.
“There are times when people leave their homes and forget to switch off lights and other electrical devices connected which consumes power. We designed a system where a door key controls everything that is connected to electricity in the house. The key switches on power when you open the house and switches off when you close it,” says Kazungu.
The Hand Dryer, another of the numerous inventions by IPRC – West students
Water accidents alert device
Another on the list of invented devices by IPRC-Karongi is a device that alerts security personnel once an accident occurs in the Lake. For this device, according to Kazungu, a vessel will itself be alerting security organs once it is involved in an accident. It won’t require people on board to call the marine brigade.
“When a boat is involved in an accident, people on board may not be able to call the Police for rescue. It’s from this experience that we designed another device connected on the vessel which will be alerting security in case of an accident,” said Kazungu.
The rebirth of IPRC-West
Started as a Technical Secondary School in 1989 by the Government of Rwanda in conjunction with the World Bank, the School began operations in September 1990 with the first batch of 160 students. The school only had four Trainers including a Director. At that time, it had two Workshops, six classrooms, four dormitories, a kitchen; a dining room, an administrative block and fifteen houses for trainers.
In April 1994, the Genocide against the Tutsi started three Months before the first batch was about to graduate in July. The Genocide forced the School to close shop. Everything was destroyed and many of its Tutsi students and staff were killed. The School’s entire automobile mechanics department was left into ashes despite the presence of the United Nations Mission to Rwanda under its infamous “Zone Turquoise” operation, according to those who survived at the School.
Despite remarkable consequences of the Genocide, the government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Education and Germany International Development Cooperation (GTZ) joined hands for the rebirth of the School, a year after the Genocide.
On 23rd October 1995, classes resumed. The reopening started with two trades: General and Motor Vehicle mechanics ordinary level (A3) with six classes from senior one to four with a total number of 182 boarding students (181 boys and one girl) with only five administrators, three permanent trainers and three visiting trainers.
Today, under the stewardship of the government’s Workforce Development Authority (WDA), the School is excelling in the World of technology. It has also contributed to social economic welfare of both students and their families.
According to Karongi District officials, about 68% of youth in the District are unemployed and the only way to sustain their lives is through the acquisition of vocational and technical skills. However, with the presence of the School that offers skills in customer care under Hospitality training, the number is expected to be trimmed
Henriette Kayitesi is a senior six student at the School in Motor Vehicle Mechanics department. She says that given the skills she has already acquired at IPRC West, the sky is the limit.
“The skills I got from here are just the beginning of my ‘Self- employment’ dream. I have a plan to form an association that will own a registered mechanical garage with a mission of encouraging more females to join this career,” says a jubilant Kayitesi.
In the recently announced results for the 2013 A- level technical and professional examinations, students’ performance at IPRC West was excellent, standing at 100%. In the department of electricity, for instance, the School had the 8th best student in the whole country. In General Mechanics they took the 7th, 10th and 11th positions Countrywide.