Kytabu is a software that delivers learning content from digital text books to Kenyan students. The content is moderated by Kenya Publishers Association and there is some 177 books condensed into a 1GB file that is then served in microSDs. The model of delivery can be either an app on Android in a low cost tablet or in a microSD that is fitted inside an internet dongle that also has a SIM card for internet access. The Price for the tablet is $80 (Kshs 7000) while the internet dongle is $16(Kshs 1400), so this brings down the cost of content delivery to the low income earner for their student.
Kytabu was one of the finalists at Pivot East 2013 in the Mobil Society Category and they have already pitched their presentation and request for funding. They aim to make learning more interactive by introducing the e-reader into mainstream learning. The end- game is making access to learning material go down 60% to 80% cheaper, faster and more reliable, while at the same time making learning synthesizing faster for students.
Asked by judges how the Kytabu application blends in with the Kenya government plan to introduce laptops in schools, Tony Ndungu of Kytabu says that they are working with Microsoft to bundle the Kytabu desktop application among the software bundled in by Microsoft during delivery of school-focused software.
Kytabu seeks some Kshs 7 million to enable them scale this content delivery, they have partners IBM that provide the back-end support for the content, Microsoft is providing the Biz Spark solution, so they are able to develop the desktop application through them and Intel though the Intel Education Association, a group that supports E-learning solutions to help them grow and be visible.
Kytabu is the only software that kenya Publishers Association has presented to the government as a software they wish to work with in the delivery of text book material. The model of delivery is micro-leasing in a subscription model that delivers only what the student needs to learn when they need it and pay for just that content they require access for.
The content is encrypted, so when the student accesses the content, they cannot share this with others, something that content publishers are usually afraid of when selling digital content. This makes text book publishers, and the Kenya Publishers Association quite easy with the software and move for more digital content as a standard of learning content delivery.
