Browsing by Author "Ikoha, Anselemo Peters"

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Assessing ICT Infrastructure Requirements for AI-Powered Virtual Assistants in Delivering ICT Technical Support to Kenyan Public Universities
(International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering, 2023-08-14) Oyile, Paul Oduor; Ongare, Roselida Maroko; Ikoha, Anselemo Peters
In recent years, the global landscape has witnessed a significant surge in the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) for devising intelligent solutions across corporate entities and institutions of higher education. This paper underscores the profound impact of AI in shaping the landscape of smart solutions and particularly emphasizes the deployment of AI-powered virtual assistants. These virtual assistants hold the potential to revolutionize ICT technical support provision in public universities by expediting the resolution of routine technical issues faced by students and potentially reducing dependency on dedicated ICT support personnel. However, the successful implementation of such transformative technology necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the requisite ICT infrastructure. This study aims to meticulously analyze the essential ICT infrastructure components crucial for the effective deployment of AIpowered virtual assistants. Employing a content analysis approach, the study gathered pertinent data from a corpus of 20 peer-reviewed journal articles centered on the themes of "ICT infrastructure" and "AI-powered Virtual Assistant." The investigation disclosed prominent AI platforms such as IBM Watson, Google Dialogflow, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Lex as prevalent choices for Natural Language Processing in constructing AI-powered virtual assistants. These platforms exhibited inherent capabilities encompassing natural language comprehension, processing, and generation. Programming languages such as JavaScript, Java, C#, SQL, Python, and Php emerged as popular choices for coding the AI-driven chatbot. Core hardware requirements included servers, smartphones, routers, and PCs. Pertinent software components encompassed Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Operating Systems (OS), and Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). Furthermore, Facebook and WhatsApp emerged as prevalent messaging platforms for the testing, deployment, and user interaction aspects of the AI-powered chatbot. The outcomes of this study are anticipated to provide valuable insights for policy makers, IT practitioners, and university administrators, facilitating informed decision-making on the strategic integration of AI-powered virtual assistants to bolster ICT technical support for students.
ICT personnel maturity towards green ICT in Kenya
(Journal of Information Engineering and Applications, 2014) Wabwoba, Franklin; Mbuguah, Samuel Mungai; Ikoha, Anselemo Peters; Shisoka, Dorcus Arshley
Though ICT is contributing to the economy associated with innovations, inventions and rapid development in almost all aspects of human life, is responsible for climatic degradation. The rapid increase of ICT usage means more costs of doing business, energy consumption, and more environmental challenges. The rapid changing technology reaching Kenya and lack of their understanding has put a lot of pressure on both management and ICT personnel to implement them on a trial and error manner. This has limited the gains meant to be obtained from green ICT despite its technologies availability. The lack of ICT personnel capacity readiness challenges the reaping of green ICT benefits. The study was informed by the G-readiness model and the enhanced G-readiness model. This study purposed to determine the personnel capacities readiness towards green ICT in Kenya. The study was undertaken using the interpretive, inductive multi-case survey study on a population of four data centres and 116 ICT managerial, technical and user personnel that were purposively sampled. Interview, observation, questionnaire and document analysis methods were used to gather data that was triangulated to increase the reliability and validity. The study established the ICT personnel’s G-readiness was very low on both training and professional development perspectives in Kenya. The study’s findings are useful towards the strategic planning for green ICT implementation, cutting down running costs, improving environmental performance of organisations and contribution to the world of knowledge. The findings provide data for informed ICT personnel and workplace readiness alignment, decision making and ICT curriculum development. The study recommends application of green ICT based on established ICT personnel capacity, inclusion of green ICT training in the curriculum, creation of green ICT responsibilities, provision for a green ICT budget and investment into the development of green ICT personnel.
Social Media Platforms Usage for Entrepreneurship Sustainability: A Study of Selected Rural Women Entrepreneurs of Small Businesses
(International Journal of Computer Science and Information Technologies, 2021-07-14) Ongare, Roselida Maroko; Wabwoba, Franklin; Ikoha, Anselemo Peters
Social media platforms are sustaining technologies that are currently altering the economic and social landscapes by changing the way people live, do business and work. Social media platforms if used properly can provide effective tools to support sustainable entrepreneurial activities with the potential of empowering women entrepreneurs economically, socially as well as enabling them to contribute positively to environmental conservation and protection. This research study sought to evaluate social media platforms usage by women entrepreneurs of small businesses in rural areas for entrepreneurship sustainability. This was achieved by evaluating the usage of Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn by women entrepreneurs in selected rural market centres of Siaya County in Kenya. The study was premised on the fact that maximum utilization of the social media platforms by women entrepreneurs of small businesses in rural areas would provide opportunities to accelerate the country’s social, economic and environment well-being. The study initially sought to predict the relationships between usage of Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and entrepreneurship sustainability of women entrepreneurs of small businesses in rural areas, then explored the detailed views of these women concerning the use of these social media platforms and finally compared the relationship between their usage and entrepreneurship sustainability. The target population was women entrepreneurs of small businesses in Siaya County. A sample size of 272 was used and a response rate of 91.91% was achieved. Purposive, simple random and snowball sampling techniques were used to aid in data collection. Survey research design was used and questionnaires were used to collect data. Data analysis was done using PLS-SEM statistical model and descriptive, inferential and predictive statistics that encompassed regression and correlation were used to analyse the data. Ethical issues arising from the research such as informed voluntary consent, no harm to participants, confidentiality of information and data integrity were accounted for. The reliability of the research tool was arrived at using composite reliability test and Cronbach’s Alpha test. Validity of the research instrument was assessed using factor analysis. The significance of the study lied in its ability to provide valuable insights into the aspects of social media platforms usage in business and entrepreneurship sustainability.