Happening @ the Hub

Burning box-cart 'rubber' at The Innovation Hub

Gifted technical specialists (sometimes affectionately referred to as geeks or nerds) proved that a good dose of burning rubber can produce an extremely invigorating experience on a Friday afternoon. After all, what could be more exciting than feeling the wind rushing through your hair, surrounded by beautiful scenery, screaming crowds, and free-wheeling it in a home-made box cart with temperamental brakes? Oh, and did we mention the 30 degree downhill which, if taken correctly, can allow you to reach speeds of up to 60km/h? Hub resident teams Sappi, BPS and Flexispace, LUUK and Global Image, Europa, and The Innovation Hub Management Company all built their own box carts for the first box cart race at the precinct. Prizes for the look and perceived functionality of the box carts were awarded as follows:

• Sappi - best looking and best example of engineering excellence
• LUUK & Global Image - most likely to win
• The Innovation Hub - least likely to finish, most likely to cause bodily injury and least likely to pick up a girl (although we are still of the opinion that all these nominations were a simple case of resident rivalry due to our outstanding vehicle).

Overall, 1st place went to the LUUK-Global Image team, 2nd place to SAPPI and 3rd place to The Innovation Hub.

In addition to the downhill races in the homemade box carts, more carts where brought in for the other residents to also take part in the festivities, which included numerous laps around the Innovation Centre and Enterprise Building.

All in all, fun and camaraderie were the themes of the day and the event is likely to become an annual one at The Innovation Hub.

Residents make a mad dash to their carts to get the race underway.	TIH CEO, Dr Neville Comins, tries out the brakes on Hub's cart.	The LUUK-Global Image team overtakes Sappi - suit and all.
BPS show off their innovative steering mechanism.	Sappi takes the lead.	The LUUK-Global Image team in action.

INNOV8 community gains insight into the impact of Web2.0

Earlier in September, INNOV8 members where invited to attend a collaborative Pub@Hub event with Blue Catalyst on the topic of Web2.0.

"Although the term (Web2.0) suggests a new version of the World Wide Web, it does not refer to an update to Web technical specifications, but to changes in the ways software developers and end users use the web as a platform. According to Tim O'Reilly, 'Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform.'" (Wikipedia)

Arthur Goldstuck, CEO of World Wide Worx, cited inspirational examples of the kinds of innovation and commercial advantage that can be achieved in the mobile, collaborative Web 2.0 environment. He also discussed the technological capabilities and latent potential of this new transactional environment.

Goldstuck is keen to explore how businesses can profit from the emerging possibilities. "It's an exciting, inspirational subject that usually sparks plenty of ideas and debate," he enthuses. He has recently finished his new book 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to Going Mobile', and INNOV8'ees where treated to an overview and summary of the research conducted for the book.

Part of his presentation was dedicated to examples of local and international Web2.0 platforms. He also highlighted South African equivalents to numerous international examples of Web2.0 implementation.

His concise list of the "4 beginner rules for Web 2.0 in the emerging broadband world" is:

• be aware
• be responsive
• position yourself, and
• engage before you get engaged.

Should you be interested in attending similar future events, please join our INNOV8 community by e-mailing your details to innov8@theinnovationhub.com.

Ltr - Paul Bisogno, The Innovation Hub; Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx; Doug Vining, Blue Catalyst; Steven Ambrose, World Wide Worx.

INNOV8'ees listen attentively to the presentation on Web2.0.

INNOV8'ees networking before the event.

Rwandan S&T delegation visits maxum On 28 September, Dr Jill Sawers - manager of the maxum Business Incubator - hosted a delegation from the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) in Rwanda. The purpose of the visit was to find out how South African incubators operate.

Ltr - Mrs Kevin Bajeneza, IT officer; Mrs Cecile M, Administrative officer; Mr Muda Bahati, IT Technician; Mr James Kainamura, Loan Monitoring officer (all from the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, Rwanda); Dr Jill Sawers, Manager, maxum Business Incubator.