BluPoint Off Grid Digital Content

Low cost and low energy, self sustaining wireless pop-up infrastructure for off grid communities.

The majority of the next 3 billion Internet users will only use mobile phones and live in least economically developed countries. Access to relevant information about health, education, produce prices, weather, news and entertainment can lead to a better life and a route out of poverty. However many people are unable to harness the power of the internet due to both the availability/cost of data services and the type of handsets that they own being too basic. BluPoint is a disruptive concept that provides a physical access point to enable these people in off-grid low resources communities to both access free digital materials on their basic and smart mobile phones and create/share their own digital content within their community Smart Space.

Technical advantages

• BluPoint is a smart-space solution that can be set up as a single unit or a network
• solar powered
• content provided to the users’ mobile phone by Bluetooth, WiFi or FM radio from the BluPoint cloud
• wide variety of mobile devices can connect to BluPoint

Combined technologies of active control and energy harvesting

• Prototype demonstrable [Feb 2014]
• ITaaU Workshops in India and Africa rural communities [Mar/Apr/May 2014]
• 1st round funding [June 2014]:
• 12 month pilot to prove the concept
• Executive team on board ( IT, Operations/HR, marketing, sales,digital entrepreneurship)
• Advisory board together to influence the strategy
• 2nd round of funding for ramp up and deployment [Jan 2015]

Collaboration opportunity
BluPoint requires funding to “production-ise” the Hardware and Software and run two pilot projects in health and education markets. It is anticipated that £1,000,000 is required to achieve a scalable, robust, tested solution within 10 months. Grant and commercial funding opportunities are welcomed.

If you would like to know more please contact Dr. Mike Santer, mhds@ecs.soton.ac.uk