[GKD] India's First Computer Braille Language Lab Inaugurated
Country's first computer Braille language lab inaugurated 03 February 2003, Ahmedabad, India Source: The Newindpress Coutesy: Propoor.org The country's first total computer Braille Language Laboratory (BLL) was inaugurated at the blind peoples association using a computer with a 'talking keyboard' attached to a Braille printer, according to Bhushan Punani, director of BPA. The Braille lab, set up by Lodge Fellowship of Ahmedabad, a community that follows universal brotherhood, is capable of teaching in any language though it has been introduced in English and Gujarati at present, said Punani. He added that in some time a visually impaired student would be able to learn any language in Braille sitting in any part of the world via internet connectivity with the lab. Explaining the teaching method he said when the teacher uses the keyboard it not only talks aloud what is being typed but the print of the text also appears in Braille on a mini printer given to each student. S N Jha, who is an inventor and the brain behind the technology, told PTI over telephone the lab at present has 10 such printers and one teacher can handle about 10 students at a time. Jha added that this teaching method would enable visually impaired students to grasp the language faster since the text is delivered both by audio and in Braille instantly. == Ashish Kotamkar ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Mithi Software Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Pune. India. Web: http://www.mithi.com Communicate in your own language. Log onto www.mailjol.com. == ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Linux Opening New Windows for Business (India)
Linux opening new windows for business Economic Times, DECEMBER 18, 2002 http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/comp/articleshow?artid=31 58 9906 Nasscom believes open source software represents a significant area of potential business growth for Indian software companies both in domestic and global markets. However, open source software like Linux still has challenges to overcome in the Indian market though it has proliferated rapidly world-wide, a Nasscom report on the Indian Linux market observes. The Indian IT industryís most widely discussed market has to make itís mark by moving from hype to actual deployment, and as the OS matures and moves up the evolutionary cycle, it is likely to garner larger support among IT user segments, the apex industry body states. The IDC, in its forecast and analysis during 2000 has also stated that Linux was the fastest growing OS in the world and expected to become the largest OS by 2004. According to Nasscomís vice president-research, Sunil Mehta the open source movement is making strides in India with the developer community evincing interest in the Linux platform. Though there are no pointed statistics on the Linux market, the doors are gradually opening to the low-cost, flexible and scaleable platform like Linux, he said. The cost reduction and bottomline benefits have attracted Indian corporates to give Linux a try. The government segment is expected to become a key implementer in open source solutions for various e-governance projects. The penetration of Linux among the RD and education institutions is also pushing up its stock in the market. From IITs to centres of learning and research like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and C-DAC, Linux finds many takers. While the corporate sector is yet another segment, the low-cost advantage of Linux is likely to go down well with the small and medium enterprise segment. The SME market will create a huge opportunity for Linux, where SMEs can deploy to access web servers and mail servers. With its strengths as an easily customisable OS, Linux could well be used to spark off an Indian language software revolution in the country. There are several initiatives underway to localise Linux in Indian languages. For instance, IIT-Chennai is working on localising Linux to Malayalam and Tamil, while IIT-Bangalore has committed resources to the IndLinux project. Linux is still largely found at the printer-server stage rather than at the mission-critical database server level. Besides, analysts point out that Linux deployments are confined predominantly to the server-end with less action at the desktop. This factor could impede Linux's rapid-fire expansion in the Indian market, notwithstanding the issue of OS turf wars with established players. === Ashish Kotamkar ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Mithi Software Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (www.mithi.com) Communicate in your own language. Log onto www.mailjol.com. === ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Akshaya Project to Bridge Digital Divide
Akshaya' project to bridge digital divide The Hindu, Nov 17, 2002 http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/11/17/stories/2002111704810400.htm THIRUVANANTHAPURAM NOV. 16. The 'Akshaya' project, to be inaugurated by the President, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, on Monday, envisages the establishment of 9,000 community information centres across the State as part of a campaign to bridge the digital divide. These centres are to be established through private initiative, with the objective of having one centre within two km of each household. The project would commence in Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram in January 2003 and the entire State is proposed to be covered by May 2004. As part of the project, one person from each family will be trained to enable him to use the computer for day-to-day communication and information needs. The training, which would be on Windows platform, would cover basic word processing skills (using wordpad), use of spreadsheet (Excel) and accessing of Email and Internet.. === Ashish Kotamkar ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Mithi Software Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (www.mithi.com) Communicate in your own language. Log onto www.mailjol.com. === ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Security Issues and Open Source Software
Security issues see govts make a dash for open source software http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/comp/articleshow?artid3D2 7485720sType3D1 The open source movement is picking up momentum across the world. Government-owned enterprises increasingly prefer open source software like Linux compared with packaged software from commercial vendors. The reason for the recent rise in the adoption rate of open source software is rising concerns about security, cost and control among buyers. Moreover, at high-end computing levels it is becoming difficult for enterprises to find operating systems, and companies like IBM are making a major push towards Linux. Security is a primary concern for governments and public sector enterprises. Increasingly, computers are not only used for computing, but for communication as well and it is becoming difficult to protect sensitive data in a networked world. Most of the shrink wrapped operating systems sold by vendors have obviouss ecurity flaws in them that make the networks in these organisations open to hackers. Though vendors like Microsoft update the fixes to cover security flaws regularly, the more important part is that the users of these operating systems do not have any control over making any changes as the source code is proprietary. Whereas in open source the code is available to the public to use and make changes. Linux is just one of the softwares available in open source. The open software society claims that there exists an open source version for almost every vendor's product in the world. It is not that the cost of an open source software is zero. Only the package is free. Installation, implementation and maintenance costs money. All these services around Linux are provided by third party service providers. Therefore, open source software can be freely downloaded from the internet but to install and run it support is needed. A survey of governments carried out by O'Reilly Publications reveals that several governments are moving towards open source. China is of course the most famous example as the government has invested in its own software package Red Flag Software and has almost made it compuls ory to be used by each and every state enterprise. The Indian government has also expressed its intention to use open source software, though ministry officials are unwilling to share details. Vendors claim that the government has a singular plan to move towards open source. Support of open source software around the world is rising. Currently, there are 66 government proposals, statements and studies promoting open source software in 25 countries, the Initiative for Software Choice said. The policy statements and legislative proposals mainly encourage the use of open source software in government procurement, and nearly all of them have cropped up in the last 18 months. The Initiative for Software Choice is a body supported by Microsoft, Intel and almost all the other vendors to curb the influence of Linux. In Asia and South America the move is more due to cost and other concerns mentioned earlier. In Europe it is being promoted to wrest control away from American companies in the software area. -- Ashish Kotamkar ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) -- ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Software for the Visually Challenged (India)
Software for the visually challenged (http://www.ciol.com/content/news/repts/102081410.asp) Under the 'India IT Freedom project for the blind', US-based Freedom Scientific has introduced three software packages that would help the visually challenged to work with computers. Starting with AP, the project is likely to cover more than 300 visually challenged children and will help in accelerating their learning processes using computers. HYDERABAD: In of its kind development, Freedom Scientific, a US based solutions and products company has unveiled three software packages aimed to ease life for the visually impaired. The packages include software that converts a normal personal computer into a talking computer, a magic magnification software that enlarges text on the screen to enable people with low vision to read and an open book reading software that enables a system to read the text aloud, all assisted by Braille enabled devices. The company is launching all these software under the 'India IT Freedom project for the blind'. Mumbai based Karishma Enterprise is going to provide curriculum for the project and Hyderabad based Denver foundation for the blind will go ahead to provide teachers and training facilities for the project. Recognizing the importance of generating high quality IT professionals, we are committing ourselves to this project in AP. To start with the project will be implemented in 10 schools within AP for the first time in the country and after that it will be extended to other schools for the visually impaired., said, Ram Agarwal of Karishma Enterprise. The project is likely to cover more than 300 children and will for the first time help in acceleration their learning process and acquiring knowledge to the children. Moreover this kind of software will go a long way in educating the visually challenged and will also help them to opt for higher education in addition to getting better jobs as they will be better qualified, Agarwal added. The students to be trained under the project are from class VIII, IX and X. Freedom Scientific's mission is to change the world for people with sensory impairments and learning disabilities by creating innovative, technology based products and solutions. Though, we are starting this program in AP, we would like to extend this lending hand to other blind schools in other parts of the country. Ideally we want to extend the same program to all the 20 blind schools before moving to other states within India, said Charles Mullins, Vice President, International Sales for Freedom Scientific. Mullins was here on a visit to the city as part of his all India visit. The same project has already been introduced in Hungary as well as the Czech republic. The total cost of the project will be around Rs 26 lakh and that has been sponsored by Freedom Scientific, while the commissionerate for disabilities will provide the basic infrastructure. Steps are simultaneously being taken to achieve significant improvements in the quality of IT education in the state. With these measures, the state is well positioned to fuel the growth of IT industry with the abundant availability of highly skilled IT professionals. Moreover, steps like this will increase the morale of the visually impaired and help them in getting jobs. ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Linux in India
Dear GKD Colleagues, We have been discussing the value of Linux on this list for quite awhile, and I thought you would find the latest initiative by the Government of India very interesting. Best regards, Ashish *** Open IT - Govt to rewrite source code in Linux NEW DELHI: If the Chinese have IT, get it. The Indian government seems to be taking a leaf out of China's operating system, and is planning a countrywide drive to promote the open source operating system, Linux, as the 'platform of choice' instead of 'proprietary' solutions. For proprietory, read Microsoft, which controls over 90% of the desktop software market. The Department of Information Technology has already devised a strategy to introduce Linux and open source software as a de-facto standard in academic institutions, especially in engineering colleges through course work that encourages use of such systems. Research establishments would be advised to use and develop re-distributable toolboxes just as Central government departments and state governments would be asked to use Linux-based offerings. Read more about it here ... http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?artid=24598339 Warm regards, Ashish === Ashish Kotamkar ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Mithi Software Technologies Pvt. Ltd. 302, Mayfair Court, Dr. Pai Marg, Baner Road, Pune 411 045. India. Tel: +91-20-729 3259/58 Fax: +91-20-729 3260 Web: http://www.mithi.com ^^^ Communicate in your own language. Log onto www.mailjol.com. === ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Plan to Improve e-Governance Services in India
AP Govt plans call centre for faster G2C services http://www.blonnet.com/2002/08/06/stories/2002080601391700.htm The e-governance initiatives have gradually shifted from novelty to expectation and the citizens have begun to demand better services. V. Rishi Kumar HYDERABAD, Aug.5 EVEN as it has charted out a larger e-governance framework where several projects are gradually being laced together to make G2C (Government to citizen) interface swift and comfortable, the Andhra Pradesh Government is planning an integrated single interface help desk-cum-call centre for all Government services. With IT-enabled services getting fresh thrust through a separate policy for the sector and certain sops linked to employment generation, the Government, as a service provider, was working on a model to provide an integrated call centre, according to Mr Ajay Sawhney, Special Secretary, Information Technology and Communication, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The Government is basing its citizen-centric services on the slogan 'Citizen's right to convenience and comfort', a punchline developed for the integrated e-seva citizens' service centres. While the effort is now to take these citizens' centres to more towns and municipalities, the Government is keen on developing a single point contact centre for all Government-related interface for citizens, he said. While the integrated portal AP Online, which aims to provide information on all Government services, is being developed in association with TCS, into a mega service portal, the online transaction processing (OLTP) system has been tested in two mandals and is expected to go live later this month. Issues relating to e-procurement are planned to be handled through a common procurement strategy, which is being developed by Commerce One India. The e-governance initiatives have gradually shifted from novelty to expectation and the citizens have begun to demand better services. This can be made possible by optimum utilisation of IT in various Government applications. Towards this end, the State Government is assessing the possibility of and exploring ways to upgrade the existing public call offices (PCOs) into Internet kiosks by using low cost devices. Since there are about 80,000 PCOs in the State, even if a section of them could be converted, they could serve as centres of Government-citizen interface, he said. - Ashish ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] A Business Case Study of Open Source Software
This is something I came across recently which I thought was useful for the open source community. It provides a good case for applying Linux and other open source software in business applications building on a military business case. Ashish Ashish Kotamkar ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Mithi Software Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Pune (www.mithi.com) --- A Business Case Study of Open Source Software Carolyn A. Kenwood, The MITRE Corporation ABSTRACT This paper was prepared as part of The MITRE Corporationís FY00 Mission-Oriented Investigation and Experimentation (MOIE) research project Open Source Software in Military Systems.. This paper analyzes the business case of open source software. It is intended to help Program Managers evaluate whether open source software and development methodologies are applicable to their technology programs. In the Executive Summary, the paper explains open source, describes its significance, compares open source to traditional commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products, presents the military business case, shows the applicability of Linux to the military business case, analyzes the use of Linux, discusses anomalies, and provides considerations for military Program Managers. The paper also provides a history of Unix and Linux, presents a business case model, and analyzes the commercial business case of Linux. KEYWORDS: Linux, Open Source, Open Source Software, OSS, Software. For the complete text please download the portable document format (PDF) of this article. http://www.mitre.org/support/papers/tech_papers_01/kenwood_software/kenwood _software.pdf ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Taking the Net to South Africa's Poor
Taking the net to South Africa's poor http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_2057000/2057711.stm (please copy and paste the ENTIRE link into a browser as it tends to wrap to next line and gives an incomplete link - as it has happened a couple of times earlier) Internet cafes in South Africa are providing many with their first taste of the web and e-mail. BBC News Online looks at the experience of setting up a cafe in South Africa's second biggest township. Two months ago, Mkululi Bolo turned his back on more than a decade in journalism in order to set up an internet cafe in the South African township of Mdantsane where he was born and grew up. He did not decide on a career change for the money, but to try to bring the web to residents in disadvantaged areas. It's not going to make you rich, Mkululi Bolo told the BBC programme Go Digital. I am just someone who wants to promote the use of the internet, to encourage the people of Mdantsane to be part of the information age. Poor net access For many people in developing countries, internet cafes provide their first experience of the power of the web and e-mail. I am trying to create opportunities for other people, Mkululi Bolo, internet cafe owner. Only one in 15 South Africans had internet access by the end of 2001, according to a recent report by World Wide Worx, one of the country's technology research organisations. This compares with one in every two users in America, Canada, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong. And there seem few signs for optimism. In 2001, the total number of South Africans online was 2.89 million. This figure is set to grow in the coming year, but only slightly. The report suggests that by the end of 2002, one in 14 South Africans will have net access. Connect to the world Mr Bolo sees his Cyber Screenz cafe as a small step in the right direction. Bolo: Experienced journalist photo There are very few people in the township who have computers, he said. The reason we've done this is to connect the people in the township where I grew up to the rest of the world, he said. I am trying to create opportunities for other people. The internet cafe is based in a shopping centre which is guarded 24 hours a day. At the moment, they only have three computers, one of which acts as a server connected to the internet. Perhaps most importantly, going online is cheap. We're not making a lot of money but it is enough to cover our rent so far, said Mr Bolo. People say this is the cheapest place to come and use a computer. As well as using the cafe to browse the internet and send e-mails, some use it to find a better job. I assist them with job applications, said Mr Bolo. We do their CV, we open an e-mail account for them, and then they send their CVs to employment agencies or direct to a company. Experts say places like internet cafes or online community centres are only a small part of the answer to bring the web to poor South Africans. They say that connecting more schools is crucial to the long-term growth of the internet in South Africa. === Ashish Kotamkar ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Mithi Software Technologies Pvt. Ltd. 302, Mayfair Court, Dr. Pai Marg, Baner Road, Pune 411 045. India. Tel: +91-20-729 3259/58 Fax: +91-20-729 3260 Web: http://www.mithi.com ^^^ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Ugandan Women Farmers Go Hi-Tech
Ugandan women are becoming better farmers thanks to an interactive CD-Rom. The CD gives advice about ways to improve yields from crops and livestock, how to market what they produce and helps the women think about new products they can make and sell. Since it was introduced the CD has been a huge success and has helped to dramatically improve the living standards of those who have used it. The first women that used the CD have become role models for many others in the region Full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_2078000/2078444.stm - Ashish === Ashish Kotamkar ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Mithi Software Technologies Pvt. Ltd. 302, Mayfair Court, Dr. Pai Marg, Baner Road, Pune 411 045. India. Tel: +91-20-729 3259/58 Fax: +91-20-729 3260 Web: http://www.mithi.com ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
[GKD] Indian Government Takes IT to Grassroots
Gov't Takes IT to Grassroots http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=14607837 NEW DELHI: With the private sector eyeing only the software exports market, the government is slowly getting into the act, targeting the enormous potential of the rural market. Focusing on agri-instrumentation, watershed management and Artificial Intelligence-based automation of various facilities, the Information Technology Departmentís year-old Knowledge-based Enterprise division is lending technical and financial support to several projects in the country. Having developed a suite of micro-processor based agri-instruments to help the farmer, it is talking to the Ministry of Agriculture to include it in its Agri-Clinic programme. For a price of Rs 5 lakh, a bunch of simple hardware with embedded software would be able to provide an estimate of soil nutrients and fertiliser content, soil moisture measurement and grain moisture content and fertiliser testing facilities. For a nominal price, a farmer would be able to hire it for his use from the Agri Clinics. In the area of knowledge-based applications for the water sector and plantation industry, the IT Department is lending upto 30% financial support and complete technical support for the automation of the irrigation canal in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, wastewater treatment plant at Okhla in Delhi, water distribution system in Bangalore, the Teesta Barrage project in West Bengal and tea processing plants in North East. Official sources said that artificial intelligence (AI) was playing a major role in the distributed control of these plants. Computers, software, modelling and communication are now integral to these projects, sources added. AI is being deployed for aeration and digestion of wastewater, withering of tea leaves and so on. The IT Department has also funded and guided the roll-out of WATMAN, a watershed planning and management software based on Geographical Information System (GIS) developed by the National Centre for Human Settlement and Environment (NCHSE), Bhopal. It has already been deployed in watershed development planning for the Mohi micro watershed and Sadarpur milli watershed in Madhya Pradesh. Available for approximately Rs 15,000 the WATMAN software has also been supplied and used in various watershed projects sponsored by the Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Mission under the Council for Advancement of Peopleís Action and Rural Technology (CAPART). Talks are on with the Rural Development Ministry to acquire the software for widescale deployment. - Ashish == Ashish Kotamkar ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Mithi Software Technologies Pvt. Ltd. 302, Mayfair Court, Dr. Pai Marg, Baner Road, Pune 411 045. India. Tel: +91-20-729 3259/58 Fax: +91-20-729 3260 Web: http://www.mithi.com ^^ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/
