Cape Town - The misery of being last in line for the shower and being forced to bathe in ice-cold water is something with which most people sharing a home with others can sympathise. Borne out of necessity, two Simon’s Town boys have come up with a solution to this everyday hassle.
Thami Hoza, 15, and Bokamoso Molale, 16, are Grade 10 pupils at Simon’s Town High School, and both live in the school’s hostel.
“Because we’re juniors at the hostel, we shower last. And the water is always cold,” says Thami.
After one too many cold showers, the boys decided to use science and innovation to come up with a solution: a water-heating shower device.
The idea was entered into the HIP2B2 3M Innovation Challenge – and came out tops in the Western province. On Thursday, the pair will go head to head with teams from KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, competing for the title of South African Innovator of the Year.
Thami and Bokamoso, along with the other finalists, have spent this week in Joburg in training workshops at the Vaal University of Technology’s innovation laboratory.
They are busy creating a prototype of their device using 3D printers.
This is expected to be ready in time for the finals on Thursday.
Thami explains that their device not only warms water within five minutes, but also reduces water use.
The device is a battery-powered nozzle with a heating element, attached to a five-litre water tank.
While researching their project, the boys found that people who worked on ships and in mines, had to contend with limited – and cold – water. And then there were, of course, large families.
The device could be revolutionary in many informal settlements where access to hot running water is not the norm. As long as the device is charged, and can be attached to a shower system, it will work to heat water, say the boys.
They’re hoping that in the future, their device can be put to practical use.
“I would encourage more children to take part because science and innovation can lead to solving everyday problems,” says Thami.
HIP2B2, an NPO started by Mark Shuttleworth, encourages pupils to study maths, science, and technology-related subjects until matric.
The Innovation Challenge was open to Grade 10 pupils following regional innovation workshops around the country earlier this year.
The children were asked to find solutions to real problems affecting their communities, and use science and maths applications.
The Gauteng team has been selected for their pothole filler idea and the Durban High School team for an apparatus that transforms toxic gases into harmless gas and fuel.
Cape Argus