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_/ B y t e s F o r A l l --- http://www.bytesforall.org
_/ Making Computing Relevant to the People of South Asia
_/ SEP03 * http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers
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The "Open Source Approach" to develop informational goods has been
spectacularly successful, particularly in the area for which it was
developed, software. Also beyond software, there are important,
successful Open Source projects such as the free Encyclopedia,
Wikipedia; collaborative sites writing/publishing projects such as
koro5hin.org; and the Distributed Proofreading Project, attached to
the Gutenberg Project. ....(This) does not mean that the "open
source model" cannot apply to, say, the production of literary
works, music, or medical drugs. What it means, however, is that to
make it viable, another round of social innovation is required. This
is slowly happening. The growth of "Open Access Journals" or
discussions around "compulsory licensing" are good, though very
early examples. -- Felix Stalder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> on the
Nettime mailing list, titled 'Six limitations to the current Open
Source developmental methodology'.
URDU RESEARCH CENTRE: South Asia IT mailing list which can be found at
(http://mailman.apnic.net/mailman/listinfo/s-asia-it) tells us that the
Center for Research in Urdu Language Processing at National University of
Computer and Emerging Sciences (www.nu.edu.pk) in Pakistan has released the
beta character-based Nafees Nasta'leeq Open Type Font for writing Urdu in
Naskh script based on Unicode standard. This work has been funded through
Small Grants Program by IDRC, APDIP, UNDP and APNIC. Nafees Nasta'leeq is
freely downloadable from www.crulp.org or www.crulp.nu.edu.pk.
INTERNET HANDBOOK FOR ASIA: Bangalore-based IT consultant and writer Dr
Madanmohan Rao has recently edited "The Asia-Pacific Internet Handbook" and
"The Knowledge Management Chronicles". Check it out at
http://www.tatamcgrawhill.com/digital_solutions/madan
FOUR INITIATIVES FROM INFODEV: infoDev will launch four initiatives -- an
e-security network study (contact: Michel H. Maechler,
[EMAIL PROTECTED]), a free/libre and open source software toolkit , a
program on lessons learned from infoDev projects and an infodev case studies
(contact Jacqueline Dubow, [EMAIL PROTECTED] for the above three)
FOR PUBLIC SECTOR DECISION MAKERS: OpenSector.org, is for the public sector
decision makers meet the people, projects and principles of the open source
software (OSS) movement to bring the benefits of free software to their
constituents and where OSS developers and organizations can find
opportunities and advocate for adoption of free software.
http://opensector.org/
NEW GKD DATABASE ON OFFER: For the past six years, thousands of people
worldwide have generously shared their experience on IT for development via
GKD, the Global Knowledge for Development mailing-list. "We believe that
shared knowledge is extremely valuable, and thus we have developed a
database that makes it easy to quickly find messages about various key
topics. I hope that you will find this unique tool to be a powerful resource
for researchers, educators, donors, journalists, and others with an interest
in using ICTs for development," says Centre for Innovative Technologies EDC
director Janice Brodman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Check out the new GKD database
resource at: http://www.GKDknowledge.org.
FREE-AS-IN-FREEDOM WINDOWS? Swatantra software for Windows? See an Indian
compilation. Write for a copy to Mahesh T. Pai, LL.M., 'Nandini', S. R. M.
Road, Ernakulam, Cochin-682018, Kerala, India.
http://in.geocities.com/paivakil Email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
WATER LINKS, FROM NEW DELHI: Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi
says one of its most successful initiatives on this front has been Water
Links, a directory of individuals and organisations, engaged in activities
related to water harvesting in different parts of India and rest of the
world. They have a new website, www.rainwaterharvesting.org
STUDYING INDIA'S NATIONAL RIVER LINKING PLAN: Check out the website
http://indianenvironmentonline.net/riverlink, which is a programme to
compile the information about the recently proposed National River Linking
Plan. Says its promoters: "This questionnaire will cover all the positive
and negative aspects of river linking plan from scientific to economic and
environmental aspects and its future effect and if you are not supporting
the link what is the alternate solution for our water problem," says Tamil
Selvan, editor of the Indian Environment Online.
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BATTLING ILLITERACY, TATA STYLE: On August 14, BytesForAll finally
met with Anthony Lobo and Maj Gen B G Shively (Retd) of the Tata
Consultancy Services. We've been following their work in the field
of using computers to battle illiteracy for some time now, actually
since June 2000 when the story first emerged in the technical press.
In brief, they use a software product of theirs to help just about
anyone teach adult illiterates to get access to 'functional
literacy'. The focus is on reading skills (so that anyone can read a
few basic words, maybe even simple newspaper headlines and
sign-boards... rather than just being able to sign one's name).
What is interesting is that TCS claims this program is 90%
successful, and can convert an adult into 'functionally literate' in
just about 40 hours of teach. What's more, anyone can teach -- since
the computer does most of the work, one doesn't need to be a skilled
teacher. Each teacher can take a number of classes without getting
tired.
TCS is a commercial firm. But this is a free-of-cost software, which
is available to anyone without charge willing to implement it for
community benefit. There are no hidden costs. The lessons tie up
with the programs and books of the National Literacy Mission, and
Indian attempt to fight illiteracy nationwide. NLM's books are
inexpensively priced, each costing around five rupees or so...
Because of obvious constraints over resources, TCS currently has
only the software program in five languages -- Hindi, Marathi,
Telugu, Tamil and Bengali. Gujarati is being worked on.
Some links you might find useful:
Maj Gen B G Shively, AVSM (Retd)
Consulting Advisor, Tata Consultancy Services, Pune
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Anthony Lobo, TCS, Air India Bldg, 10th Floor,
Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021 Tel 56689378
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
National Literacy Mission (India) site
http://nlm.nic.in
http://www.tataliteracy.com
Site explaining the TCS idea of promoting
functional literacy through low-end computers.
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INTERACTIVE-VOICE AT BANGALORE'S TREASURIES: Bangalore's Department of
Treasuries now has an interactive voice response system (IVRS) at the
district treasuries of Bangalore City and Bangalore Rural. The IVRS provides
the latest information on the status of pending bills to drawing officers
and the public. Officials argued that thanks to the new system, a major case
of overdrawal and wrong claims by banks disbursing pensions and family
pension could be rectified. The contact numbers for the IVRS are 2350202 and
2350303 (in Bangalore) See
http://hinduonnet.com/stories/2003081703280400.htm
SOFTWARE FOR TAXPAYERS: www.incometaxindia.com is a new website for the
Income Tax Department. It offers a new software developed by IT Dept to make
life easier for taxpayers, accessibility from home or office, all
tax-related information.
FIND YOUR BUDGET HOTEL: www.budgetstays.com is promising a "single stop
shop" for finding hotels, homestays, inns, lodges, resorts, tour and travel
operators, money changers, jungle lodges, travel agents and more in India.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FOR NOT-FOR-PROFITS: Topsys Solutions <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
of Bangalore is offering a financial accounting package for non-profit
organisations. Accounts21 version for non-profits offers accounting plus two
reports -- an income and expenditure statement, and a receipts and payments
statement. The single-user version is priced at Rs 5000. See
www.topsyssolutions.com.
ONLINE TOOLKIT FOR NON-PROFITS: The Association for Progressive
Communications (APC), with the support of the Commonwealth
Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), has developed an online toolkit to
assist nongovernmental organizations in understanding the impact of
information and communications technology policy on their work. See the
toolkit: http://www.apc.org/english/capacity/policy/curriculum.shtml
INDIA TURNS TO COMMUNITY COMPUTING: Interesting interview by Technology
Review magazine with Kenneth Keniston, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Human
Development at MIT. Keniston, who serves as director of MIT's India Program,
is interested in the proliferation of ICT4D initiatives -- an acronym used
in global development circles to describe the use of information and
communications technologies for development.
Keniston discusses some of India's leading ICT4D initiatives,
including Gyandoot, the Bhoomi land records project and Drishtee's
Community Information Centers. He is particularly eager to work with
Indian researchers to quantify the impact of ICT4D initiatives and
identify strategies to make them sustainable. "My fear is that ICT4D
could become one of the development fads that follow the boom and
bust cycle," he says.
"Billions of dollars are being spent on ICT4D -- but if it crashes,
people may feel that the money is better spent on something else. To
prevent that we need to know what works and what doesn't work, how
costly it is, and who can pay for it." SOURCE: MIT Technology Review
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/print_version/
wo_keniston081303.asp (url may wrap).
ASIA-PACIFIC REVIEW: See the Digital Review of Asia Pacific: Riding the
waves of change: Transforming the digital divide into digital opportunities.
The authors participating in this initiative belong to the same diverse
constituencies as the target audiences and come from 27 economies in the
region, including areas for which almost no data was available until very
recently. http://www.digital-review.org/
THE DOT.ORG REVOLUTION: Janmanch (http://www.janmanch.org) is a project of
the New Delhi-based Centre for Research into Environment and Development
Online (CREDO). More about CREDO at http://www.janmanch.org/credo.asp They
say: "We believe in the dot org revolution and in the importance of
information and communication technology in furthering activism and
non-profit endeavour. CEDO offers a range of services as far as IT goes:
>From building basic websites to creating complex databases. But we only work
with non-governmental, non-profit organisations. Our roster of clients is
available at http://www.janmanch.org/custom.asp. We offer competitive rates,
but more importantly, offer a mindset towards development that mirrors that
of your organisation. If you wish to utilise our services, specially
subsidised for NGOs, VOs and other non-profit groupings, or know someone who
needs it, feel free to contact us at [EMAIL PROTECTED]"
UNV's WSIS Project: The United Nations Volunteers has formed a special team
of online volunteers to research the impact of ICT Volunteers on our
Information Society, according to David D'Barrio Lamarche
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Says Barrio: "We aim to research the
contributions of ICT volunteers on our Information Society as they relate to
the UN's Millennium Development Goals. To do so, we want to reach out to as
many organizations as we can that engage ICT Volunteers. We then plan to
share the wealth of information we find with those involved in the world
summit as well as those concerned about how the MDGs are being reached
through the use of ICT. The Online Volunteering team hopes our project will
uncover and present the qualitative impact of ICT Volunteering on the MDGs
as well as promote advocacy in volunteering in ICT. If you can help us
gather successful stories or experiences on any of the MDGs it would be
greatly appreciated". For more information, visit
http://www.unites.org/wsis or email the group coordinator:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
SEMINAR IN MALYSIA: The theme is -- "ICTs in Asia : Do we know enough?"
Noida-based magazine 'i4d' is announcing a seminar to highlight the successes
and failures in information for development attempts in the "developing"
world; get key information-for-development related projects showcased; and
provide an opportunity for academic and pragmatic discussions on the
information for development related issues. These seminars will be held in
various parts of the developing world encompassing Asia, Africa, Latin
America and Caribbean countries. The first of these seminars is planned to
be held as a one-day event at Kuala Lumpur on October 14, 2003.
Details at www.i4donline.net/seminar
Contact Manish Kumar, Senior Research Associate, i4d (Information for
Development) G-4, Sector 39, NOIDA 201301,India Tel No. +91-120-2502180 - 87
Fax +91-120-2500060 www.i4donline.net
ORGANIC AGRI PORTAL: Sanjay Verma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> recently announced
their web portal on organic agriculture. Says he: "We are in the process of
launching a portal focused on organic Agriculture (http://www.sanver.biz).
The stated objective is to provide a platform for people involved in
production and marketing of organically produced agricultural produce,
agricultural inputs used in organic cultivation and for people who are
either provider or user of services like organic certification, soil testing
laboratories, training etc. to interact with each other." He says the site
is dynamic and database driven. It has facilities whereby sellers and buyers
can post their requirements or browse through the listing. Other resources
include knowledge articles written by invited experts, links to useful
knowledge resources on the Net. Interested organizations and individuals
can post their profile too on the site free of cost. Still in beta stage.
Details from: Sanjay Verma, Promoter, M/s Sanver Agri Biz
http://www.sanver.biz M/s Sanver E-Solutions http://www.sanver.com Mumbai,
India Mobile # 9892481284 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
BUDDHISM GUIDE: The Buddhist Scholars Information Network (H-Buddhism),
H-Net Humanities & Social Sciences Online, Michigan State University, USA.
Supplied note: "We would like to remind those of you who teach in graduate
studies programs that have tracks in Asian Philosophy/Religion [i.e.
Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism or Hinduism - ed.] to do an occasional check
of the Graduate Studies Guide hosted at the H-Buddhism site, to ensure that
the information regarding your institution is complete and up-to-date. See
[the URL below]. Updates and new listings can be forwarded to the H-Buddhism
web editor, Bill Kirtz, at ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). - cm."....
URL http://www.h-net.org/~buddhism/GradStudies.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
Src: The Asian Studies WWW Monitor ISSN 1329-9778
URL http://coombs.anu.edu.au/asia-www-monitor.html
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