COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING CE308-INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Case Study 5-The CyberTracker & The Protection of Computer Programs SUBMITTED BY: LIBOR, JUBILYN G. OSORIO, EVAN JAMES F. PARCUTELA, EMMANUEL E.
SUBMITTED TO: DR. TOMAS GANIRON, JR.
Background ⚫
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A new innovation called CyberTracker, provides a high method of tracking animals in the field. It protects some of the most endangered animals in the animal kingdom.
This technology is being used in major parks such as the Karoo National Reserve in South Africa.
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Kalahari Desert is the oldest inhabitants of Southern Africa. It has been the home of the Bushmen for more than 20,000 years. They considered to be the best trackers in the world. They can easily identify species of an animal.
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Louis Liebenberg, a South African anthropologist, has highly skilled in tracking and lived with Bushmen to further master his skills. In 1996, he teamed up with Justin Steventon and Karel Benadie, they developed the CyberTracker. They used CyberTracker to record the movements and behavior of a highly endangered species.
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CyberTracker a software that takes animal tracking to the cyber-age. It can be used on third party GPSenabled devices such as smart phones and handheld computers for recording observations of animal movements quickly and easily. It is very efficient in monitoring wildlife, animal behavior and lifestyle changes.
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Using the CyberTracker, they collected data on Lowland Gorillas showed the extent of mortality rate due to the Ebola virus. Liebenberg established an organization called the CyberTracker Conservation (Conservation), as a nonprofit entity to disseminate the benefits of the CyberTracker technology.
Research and Development ⚍
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Liebenberg and his organization put emphasis on continuing research and development of the CyberTracker software. The CyberTracker Conservation believes that a too wide R&D may prove inefficient and therefore its activities focus on a limited number of pilot projects.
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The CyberTracker Conservation depends on the funds from other organizations. Like European Commission. The CyberTracker Monitoring Program, it was funded by the European Commission. ¼ of the funding was spent in the R&D, while the rest was for implementing the program in about 60 projects in 15 African countries.
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Liebenberg’s initiative to develop the CyberTracker technology and the vision of his non-profit Conservation is to promote the development of a worldwide network for environmental monitoring.
CyberTracker is therefore available through downloadable software that can be used in a handheld device, such as smartphones or a PDA.
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CyberTracker is registered as a trademark with the United States Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO). The trademark registration facilitates the product’s promotion and ensure its authencity.
Business Results ⚫
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In 2010, more than 35,000 users have downloaded the software. The CyberTracker Conservation’s site receives more than 5,000 visitors per month from around the world. The impacts of CyberTracker on wildlife conservation have been significant. In Kruger National Park in South Africa, they uses 125 CyberTracker units.
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Using the CyberTracker, an Ebola virus outbreak in 2003 and its impact on antelopes and Lowland Gorillas were identified through the use of it. It also contributes to educational and scientific research activities. The Bushman communities benefit from this technology in several ways. It created employment opportunities for them.
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CyberTracker’s contribution in environmental monitoring and wildlife conserving was recognized when Liebenberg was honored with the prestigious Rolex Award for Enterprise in 1998. Rolex offers this award to individuals in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the betterment of mankind. From Kalahari Desert, Liebenberg’s CyberTracker has spread all over the world in wildlife conservations.