In Malawi, like many places in the world electricity services are sporadic. The strength and the amount of the electricity fluctuate frequently and without notice throughout most every day. This is a real problem for computer equipment which needs a consistent and constant supply of electricity. For this reason, every computer in Malawi, that any one depends upon to get work done, is attached to a device called a universal power supply (UPS). A UPS is a large battery that sits between the computer and the electrical grid to both regulate the power going into the computer and to provide power to the computer for long enough to save important documents when the power goes out.