A South African is to stay a house with just a bed and a computer for three months in an experiment to prove that one need not leave home to survive if one has access to the Internet.
The subject, who will be allowed to take only the clothes on his back, will be monitored 24 hours a day by means of cameras broadcasting his movements live on the Internet, Andersen Consulting said from Bloemfontein.
The subject, to be known as Dotcoza, will not be allowed to leave the house for the research period, but will be allowed to receive visitors.
"Nobody will be allowed to bring in any supplies unless they have been ordered on the Internet.
"Dotcoza will live entirely via e-commerce to demonstrate that it is possible to live and thrive without having to make physical trips to obtain real-life products and services.
"Dotcoza will demonstrate how a quantum change in business and social interactions is already possible."
Cameras would be set up around the subject's home, and internet users would be able to follow his movements on the website www.dotcoza.co.za.
"While he will be living on an e-commerce island, he will not be alone," the company said.
The project would be launched on February 22 with an announcement of the identity of Dotcoza and his address for the duration of the project.
Items purchased over the Internet by Dotcoza will be donated to charity.
Andersen Consulting said the e-commerce industry has not yet attracted much attention in South Africa. He described the sector as a ticking bomb waiting to explode.
This project, it said, would serve to analyse to what extent the Internet was able to fulfil an individual's needs.
The results would be published on Dotcoza's website on a regular basis. - Sapa