Minibus taxis is the main mode of the public transport for many commuters in South Africa, and constitutes 65 percent of all passengers journeys. In fact, taxis provide transport to five to 10 million people on a daily basis nationally.
One only need to travel down the street to see people making various hand signals, South Africa’s unofficial sign language. Hands wide open with fingers spread open, a cupped hand with index finger pointing upwards or downwards and some have various forms only understood and known to the commuters and taxi operators indicating the destination where the taxi is heading to.
Tokelo Technologies initiated an idea to make commuting simple and understandable for all. After a year and half of development it has launched a unique electronic sign board displaying different hand signals that can be fitted to taxis that link them to different routes, makes it safer and more convenient for commuters to get to their destinations.
‘This unique product was developed by our Technology Station, in conjunction with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). It first started as a potential business idea and we explored the viability of such a device. After some brainstorming we realised that this product can be taken into Africa, in fact, to the world,” says Prof. Deon de Beer, Executive Director: Technology Transfer and Innovation (TTI) Division.
This article originally appeared in the Mail & Guardian newspaper as an advertorial supplement