The Hello Hubs were designed to survive the outdoors, with the solar panel providing some shelter for weather-resistant system components (and for the humans using them).
Nevertheless, people and gear remain challenged by the reality of the climate. The ever-present red dust in the region around St. James settles on the solar panel and display, cutting solar output and the screen’s legibility. Rainy season brings driven rain that can penetrate sealed boxes. Direct sun and indirect glare obscure the screen, making screen text nearly illegible at certain times of day and making the seating area uncomfortably hot.
The communities are improvising adaptations like hanging textiles around the Hub for shade while the design and engineering team consider longer-term solutions.