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#12585 From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" <fredericknoronha@...>
Date: Sun Sep 7, 2008 6:36 pm
Subject: Information and communication technology for poverty alleviation
fredericknoronha@...
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Content update - Information and Communication Technologies for Development on the dgCommunities

103 new resource(s) have been added to Information and Communication Technologies for Development on the dgCommunities
http://ict.developmentgateway.org

  • 95 Community Content records item(s)
  • 2 Highlights records item(s)
  • 4 News records item(s)
  • 2 Events records item(s)

    • Community Content records
      1. Information and communication technology for poverty alleviation
      This publication describes several examples of how ICTs have contributed to poverty alleviation, to a greater or lesser extent. Several case studies are given at the end. Some lessons learned from the examples are synthesized and it is shown how implementation efforts have to take into account the w...
      Date: Sep-07-2008
      Contributed by: Moushumi Biswas


      2. 2006 e-Government Strategy, Responsive Government: A New Service Agenda
      This New Service Agenda builds on the momentum and achievements in the previous strategy (Better Services, Better Government), taking into account lessons learnt, to deliver an even more coordinated and citizen-driven focus to the government's e-government initiatives. It is about strategically ap...
      Date: Sep-04-2008
      Contributed by: Moushumi Biswas


      3. Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Quota
      The Agricultural Market Information System Quota project is an electronic information communication system, which contributes to better handling of import tariff quotas at preferential rates administered by the Directorate General for Agriculture & Rural Development....
      Date: Sep-04-2008
      Contributed by: Moushumi Biswas


      4. Doing Business: An Independent Evaluation
      'Doing Business (DB), an annual World Bank-IFC publication launched in 2004, is one of the Bank Group's flagship knowledge products. It measures the burden of selected business regulations in 178 countries and ranks the countries on 10 dimensions. The program's stated objective is to advance the Wo...
      Date: Sep-04-2008
      Contributed by: Najmee Chowdhury


      5. Telecentres Share the Tools of the Information Age
      As international development agencies increasingly come to recognize the correlation between the adoption of information and communications technologies (ICTs) and economic development, we need to understand that a social investment is required for the services available in a telecentre to take root...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      6. Young power in social action and Bangladesh NGO network for radio and communication
      The project is developing a community multimedia centre (CMC) from an existing telecentre in the Sitakund sub-district in Bangladesh. It aims to raise awareness in the community of the potential benefits of a community multimedia centre and to train the local community in community media skills; it ...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      7. Resources about Women & Gender
      Dimitra is an information and communication project which aims to highlight rural women's contribution to their community and their country. It is implemented by the Gender and Development Service (SDWW), of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The project is coordinated in B...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      8. OrphanIT Remote Services
      The OrphanIT website showcases some of the best resources on the Internet if you are a budding ICT entrepreneur and want to get an IT related project up and running fast. Most of the resources are completely free and are easy to use. OrphanIT assists ICT projects and entrepreneurs by providing ment...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      9. Indian Telecentre Forum
      A conference and workshop programme has been conceptualised to bring the international and Indian practitioners in a platform for learning and sharing the experiences, and to address critical issues of content, collaboration, sustainability and up-scaling. Further, issues relating to monitoring proj...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      10. Using the Internet and Other Media to Promote Democracy
      The Centre for International Private Enterprise's Virtual Business Association helps business association leaders develop both the necessary skills for managing voluntary organizations and an understanding of the basic principles of the market and democracy. CIPE is expanding the reach of the VBA in...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      11. telecentre.org Americas Workshop Report
      The telecentre.org Americas workshop was held at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue coinciding with the end of the Pacific Community Networking Association (PCNA) summit. The opening exercises were followed by a presentation on early (and quickly evolving) thinking about telecentre.org. Based on a request...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      12. Sustaining The Community Telecentre Movement
      This paper examines the area of interest in telecentre operation and puts an accent on training and sustainability. Download the paper by following this link: http://ip.cals.cornell.edu/commdev/documents/ictpaper-uk.doc...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      13. Choosing a Platform for the telecentre.org Network
      Introduction: 'Telecentre.org has outlined plans for a distributed network of telecenter network sites around the world, which will include a site for Telecentre.org itself. Mark Surman, author and Managing Director of Telecentre Support Networks at the International Development Research Center (IDR...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      14. Last Mile Initiative Training Materials
      This document identifies essential training needs of Last Mile Initiative operators such as info-kiosk operators, telecenter staff and micro-telcos as well as existing training materials related to public access center management and organized these materials in a useful manner. Download this articl...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      15. Resources for Internet Trainers
      Being an effective Internet and ICTs trainer requires more than just being familiar with the tools. Developing a good training programme takes careful planning and an understanding of the organization's and individual learner's needs and context. The site draws on the ItrainOnline partners' experien...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      16. Social Signal
      Social Signal are experts at turning site visitors into site contributors. Their practice is based on extended research into online participation, experience in online campaigning, and years of collective wisdom on social marketing, strategy and communications. They put knowledge that work for build...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      17. Telework New Zealand
      This site provides links to a number of resources that could be useful to individuals and companies intending to implement telework programmes. Telework is about people, how they work, how they interact, and how they prepare for an increasingly uncertain future. And it's about flexibility: flexible ...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      18. Quick Guide to Resources and Work on Telecentres in International Institutions and Donor Agencies
      The site is a guide to resources and work on telecentres in international institutions and donor agencies. Telecentres have received a great deal of support and attention from international donor organizations and non-governmental organisations, NGOs in the past decade; the International Development...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      19. Telecentre management: a perspective on energy from renewable resources
      ICS aims at implementing a multi year programme on ICT for sustainable rural development, which should act as a hub within the network of UNIDO ongoing programmes and Technology Centres. ICS would give support in different terms e.g. by attracting requests and providing services and tools in the fie...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      20. Patriensa: Asante Akim Multupurpose Community Telecentre
      The Asante Akim Multipurpose Community Telecentre, AAMCT employs computer-equipped training facilities to provide education and health-related training to the people in the district. It is an exercise to empower rural communities and promote the social, cultural and economic growth of the people in ...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      21. The Denmark Telecentre
      The Denmark Telecentre is a local community centre equipped with modern computers and IT facilities. Telecentres are independent incorporated bodies owned by the communities in which they operate. Denmark Telecentre provides services which stimulate the creative use of telecommunications and compute...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      22. The Northcliffe Telecentre
      The Northcliffe Telecentre is a community Internet and computing centre, providing services to a small rural town in the south west forest and farming area of Western Australia. It is a member of the WA Telecentres Network supported by the State Government of Western Australia. The Telecentre has a ...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      23. Communication and Information Technology Centre Resources
      To learn more about various online directories of hardware and software technologies appropriate for and relevant to community telecentres worldwide, visit the UNESCO Communication and Information site here: http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=15281&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=-473.html...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      24. CyberVolunteers
      The CyberVolunteers Programme recruits, trains and coordinates volunteers with information and communication technology skills for development. Volunteers participate in local, regional and international projects for a period of several weeks or months, offering their skills in areas such as web or ...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      25. ICA Supports Regional Telecentre Network in Latin America and the Caribbean
      The Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (ICA) is pleased to announce its support for phase two of the 'Digital Inclusion: Telecentre Network in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)' project. Phase o­ne of the project (1999 - 2001), sponsored the creation of the Somos@Telecentros Network ...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      26. Women's Information Resource Electronic Service (WIRES)
      The Story Background and context: Rural Uganda is a difficult place for women. Many women are the primary providers for households, either responsible for doing much of the agriculture work, or running a small business. Despite this role as providers, men, not women, usually have access to credit...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      27. Open Source & More IT for African Business
      it@asiait@ab releases a series of advanced e-learning courses on Information Technology (IT)- 'Open Source & More IT for African Business' focussing on the needs of business related IT consultancy in Africa. ...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: Balthas Seibold


      28. Central Vigilance Commission Website: A Bold Anticorruption Experiment
      'The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in India has begun to share with citizens a large amount of information related to corruption. The CVC website has published the names of officers from the elite administrative and revenue services against whom investigations have been ordered or penalties imp...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: Najmee Chowdhury


      29. Boyup Brook Telecentre
      The Boyup Brook Telecentre is a community owned and managed non-profit organisation. The management committee is made up of elected Telecentre members. Their role is to represent the Telecentre in the community and also present the needs and views of the community, provide a forum for new initiative...
      Date: Sep-02-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      30. Analytical Synthesis of Training Programmes
      Here's an interesting article on the importance of ICT not only in teaching and learning, but also in management, online collaboration and communication. To learn more, visit the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO website here: http://www2.unescobkk.org/educat...
      Date: Sep-02-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      31. HELP Resources - Health-Education-Livelihood-Participation
      Abstract: 'HELP is an acronym denoting our commitment to committing human and technical resources to achieve Health, Education, Livelihood and Participation for all. HELP Resources is a local NGO, with a focus on rural and grassroots communities. HELP Resources is well networked across Papua New Gui...
      Date: Sep-02-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      32. Winrock International
      Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. By linking local individuals and communities with new ideas and technology, Winrock is increasing long-term productivity...
      Date: Sep-02-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      33. The European Regional Information Society Association
      The main aims of the IANIS+ program are: A) to further develop inter-regional networking; * providing more effective mechanisms to facilitate sharing information, experience and good practice between regions – both by face-to-face meetings and virtual exchanges; * to build a bridge betw...
      Date: Sep-02-2008
      Contributed by: John Daly


      34. Ten Guiding Principles for E-government
      A number of guiding principles for e-government have appeared in recent years. They can be broadly classified into two categories: (i) recommendatory, and (ii) prescriptive. The recommendatory guidelines are comprehensive and useful guidelines but not binding on stakeholders. The prescriptive guidel...
      Date: Sep-02-2008
      Contributed by: Dr DC Misra


      35. SDI-Africa - GIS & remote sensing news in Africa - September 2008
      Spatial Data Infrastructure — Africa (SDI-Africa), published by the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) Association, is a free, electronic newsletter for people interested in GIS, remote sensing, and data management issues in Africa. Each issue highlights recent activities, provides details ...
      Date: Sep-02-2008
      Contributed by: Kate Lance


      36. FOSS Business Models Materials by It@InWEnt
      The use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is not only becoming more and more common by companies and administrations worldwide, it is also becoming a method for innovative IT-companies to achieve higher turnover. According to studies, more than 60.000 companies are already building their busin...
      Date: Sep-02-2008
      Contributed by: Balthas Seibold


      37. First Working Group on Cyber Law in India
      On public request, a "Working Group on Cyber Law in India" is in the process of being constituted that would take care of the legal enablement of ICT systems in India. The same would consist of leading Organisations, Institutions, Industrial and Professional Bodies, Members of Civil Society and ...
      Date: Sep-02-2008
      Contributed by: Kunal Koel


      38. ICT Training to Improve Health Care of Rural Populations
      Abstract: 'Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has seen tremendous unprecedented growth in the last decade. Its impact has been felt in almost all sectors. But the impact of ICT on health care is lagging behind in developing countries like Bangladesh. A training program in Bangladesh trai...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      39. Aspiration: better tools for a better world
      Aspiration connects nonprofits to software solutions that help them more effectively meet their missions of positive global change. We connect and strengthen physical communities of nonprofit users and software developers by convening and facilitating innovative technology events. We connect and str...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      40. Reinventing Universities to Support Telecentres
      Abstract: 'The following article is a paper that was written in May earlier this year by Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh of the Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (Vietnam) and Dr. Royal D. Colle of the Cornell University (USA). It was written in an effort to address a combination of issues with...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      41. Newfoundland to Africa: Poverty the Connection
      He oversaw the creation of the first telecentre in Canada. He has done it all – he is an entrepreneur, sociologist, author and educator. Artwell Dlamini asked Richard Fuchs what these far-flung ways-of-life have in common with rural development. To learn more about telecentres have promoted ele...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      42. School-Based Telecenter Monitoring And Evaluation Tools
      This is a comprehensive set of monitoring and evaluation tools for School-Based Telecenters aimed at supporting SBT continued performance improvement and sustainability. The tools are flexible in nature and may therefore be self-administered or used as interview guide for telecenter manager/staff. ...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      43. Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) Servicing Farm Radio: New Contents, New Partnerships
      The following link will bring you to a list of papers presented at the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) International Workshop on Farm Radio Broadcasting help in Rome, Italy in February 2001. The theme: 'Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) Servicing Farm Radio: New Contents, New ...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      44. Evolution of a Regional Telecentre Network
      Abstract: 'No telecentre can be an island. Experience and common sense tell us that telecentre sustainability, defined as social, cultural, political, technological, and financial can not be achieved without networking and knowledge sharing among telecentres. To make the work of telecentres more eff...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      45. Commercial Cybercafés: A Useful Weapon Against the 'Digital Divide'?
      'In some countries of the developing world, cybercafés are by far the main way to connect to the Internet and to interact with computers. This is the starting point of this interesting analysis on the role of Internet in less developed countries.' To read the remainder of Ana María Fernández-M...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      46. Telecentre Sustainability: The Need for Multi-stakeholder Partnership
      This PowerPoint presentation recognises importance of Telecentre Sustainability and suggests strong need for multi-stakeholder partnerships. K.A.M. Morshed makes the case that donor supported telecentres are continually at risk of closing down once the support is withdrawn and that a lack of market ...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      47. Telecentre Workshop convenes in Egypt
      Introduction: 'The telecentre.org program in association with Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) recently hosted a telecentre stakeholders' consultation workshop. The event was part of the ongoing telecentre scoping study the program commissioned to document telecentre ...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      48. Community Telecentres - Telecoms Prominent in Push for Greater Prosperity
      'Telecoms operators in mainland Europe may be pulling up phone boxes, télécabines, Telephonhaüschen and cabinas telefónicas by the thousand, but in the developing world it is a very different story. Home to two thirds of the world's population, the nations of Africa, northern and south-east A...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      49. Setting up 1,500 Telecentres in Nepal during Tenth Plan Unlikely
      Establishment of 1,500 telecentres in various communities within Nepal within the Tenth Five Year Plan is unlikely given the current pessimistic pace of implementation. One and a-half years of the Tenth Plan have passed and it is amazing that only four telecentres have been established. Insecurity, ...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      50. BARRIONET: An Urban Development Alternative
      Abstract: 'BarrioNet's main objective is to interconnect electronically marginal communities that share common problems such as, lack of services, environmental degradation and violence by using information technology and communication strategies. In other words, it gives these communities a socia...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      51. Partnerships for e-prosperity for the poor
      Abstract: 'Partnerships for e-Prosperity for the Poor (Pe-PP) is designed to bring existing resources and knowledge together to assist and empower poor communities to utilise information and communication technologies (ICT) for their access to basic social services and economic activities, thus cont...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      52. What it looks like when funders work together
      To learn more about international telecentres, building global capacity in civil society, and how funders can collaborate more effectively, visit charityvillage.com to read the following interview between Mark Surman and Gillian Kerr: http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/rtech54.html...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      53. African Telecentre Networks - An Insider Perspective
      The first wave of telecentres in Africa started in the late 1990s in Mali, Uganda, Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa. It was the aftermath of the first ever Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) conference in Toronto, Canada and the rise of digital divide initiatives. The telecentre approach prese...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      54. Experiences in the Philippine Government's Multipurpose Community Telecenter Pilot Projects
      The Department of Science and Technology, through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), in 1999, facilitated the implementation of four pilot barangay multipurpose community telecenters (MCTs; www.barangayconnect.ph) in Mindanao (Tubod and Kapatagan in Lanao del N...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      55. Telecenter Sustainability e-conference
      Abstract: 'Information and Communication Technologies have been accepted as key ingredients for poverty reduction and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is within this context that telecentres [to mean Community Technology Learning Centres (CTLCs) and Community Multi-media Ce...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      56. The Open University and local libraries are Bridging the Digital Divide
      Introduction: 'The Open University has launched a new project aimed at encouraging OU students in 10 locations around the UK to gain access to new and advanced computer technology at participating libraries or online centres. Bridging the Digital Divide aims to ensure that students are able to be...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      57. APEC Telecenter Development Program
      Abstract: 'In support of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC Economic Leaders' decisions, Chinese Taipei proposed the establishment of an APEC Digital Opportunity Center at the 11th APEC Economic Leaders' meeting in Bangkok in 2003. The APEC Telecentre Development Project is one of projects t...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      58. Telecentres in Rural Asia: Towards a Success Model
      Abstract: 'The global digital divide threatens to deprive millions of people of the benefits that are attainable from having access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Most of these people live in rural parts of developing countries and they are unlikely ever to own their own compu...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      59. Telecentre Evaluation: Issues and Strategies
      Abstract: 'Telecentres are intended to meet the evolving information, communication and learning needs of their communities. It is therefore important to make a systematic effort to monitor the costs and usage patterns and to measure the impact of telecentre usage. Budget allocations for monitoring ...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      60. The Remote Community Service Telecentres of Newfoundland and Labrador
      Abstract: 'The Remote Community Services Telecentre (RCST) project was originally envisaged as an initiative to develop and test the concept of a wireless multifunction telecentre for rural and remote communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada's easternmost province, with facilities spread a...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      61. On The Threshold of a Dream e-Bario: The End of the Beginning
      Abstract: 'This report arises from a visit to Bario from 3 September to 10 September 2002 by the author. The visit began a day after the official opening of the Gatuman-B@rio telecentre by the Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain. During the visit, the author conducted conversatio...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      62. Assessing Mobile Technologies in Child Protective Services: An Extended Pilot in New York City's Administration for Children's Services.
      This project involved a large scale deployment of wireless laptops to CPS workers in New York City's ACS.The report shows the complexity of deploying technology into a well established profession. The study focused on mobility, productivity, and satisfaction, and includes a set of recommendations an...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: Moushumi Biswas


      63. Making Smart IT Choices: Understanding Value and Risk in Government IT Investments
      This handbook is designed to help any government manager follow a well-tested methodology for evaluating IT innovations before deciding (with greater confidence) to make a significant investment....
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: Moushumi Biswas


      64. Advancing Return on Investment Analysis for Government IT: A Public Value framework
      This white paper publish by Center for Technology in Government University provides an analysis process that starts with a high level view of the IT investment and then drills down through successive steps to identify the specific measures and methods that will reveal and document public value.The f...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: Moushumi Biswas


      65. Banking the Unbanked: Technology's Role in Delivering Accessible Financial Services to the Poor
      'How can microfinance have macro impact in the world such that billions of today's urban and rural poor gain access to financial services? By undertaking 3 pilot studies in Uganda, a consortium of private and public actors sought to determine the role technology could play in increasing the reach ...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: Najmee Chowdhury


      66. Department of Information Technology, India - Annual Report 2006-2007
      Department of Information Technology India publishes their annual report. The report shows that the software and ITES exports from India grew from US$ 12.9 billion in the year 2003-04 to US$ 23.6 billion in 2005-06. It is estimated that total software and ITES exports from India will exceed US$ 31....
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: Moushumi Biswas


      67. School Telecentres - Supporting Resources for Training Materials
      School Based Telecenters (SBTs) provides resources to schools to help them open their computer facilities for use as community telecenters. To access these resources, visit the School Telecentres website here: http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/91628/telecentres/telecentres/...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      68. The Volunteer Training Scene in Western Australia: A Resource Guide for Agencies
      Abstract: 'The International Year of Volunteers in 2001 had a significant impact on raising the profile of volunteering in Australia. One outcome was a greater recognition of the importance of volunteer training. No matter what the size of an agency, or the kinds of volunteering experiences they pr...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      69. Keys to Human Resource Development: Capacity Building through Train-the-Trainer Programs and Universal Access through Affordable Wireless Technologies
      Abstract: 'This paper presents timely, simple, and inexpensive means for an emerging nation to meet the development challenge: train-the-trainer programs for capacity building, and wireless -- HF/VHF/UHF radio data networks for rural, and spread spectrum for urban -- Internet connectivity, to meet t...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      70. Telecentres and the provision of community based access to electronic information...in the UK
      Abstract: 'This paper presents research undertaken for a PhD between 1997 and 2000 in the United Kingdom. The study explored three themes, the use of electronic information in everyday life, the use of telecentres by local communities in everyday life and community involvement strategies in the desi...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      71. Rural telecommunication services and stakeholder participation
      Introduction: 'This contribution is designed to help bridge the gap between practices of the communication for development practitioners and telecommunication experts who provide services to rural areas. Improvements in technology and reductions in costs have focused new attention on the provision o...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      72. TINA Remote Terminal Software Management Service
      Abstract: 'This paper proposes a new application management service, in which the service provider assists small to medium size business to manage their software. The end user computers are pre-configured to dial into the access lines of the service provider, download and install the required softwa...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      73. Regional Seminar for Arab States on Community Telecentres
      Abstract: 'This report documents a specific seminar which is part of a series of regional seminars on community telecentres organized by the ITU Development Sector (BDT) in collaboration with other Agencies. The seminar was hosted by the Tunisian Ministry of Communications and the Tunisian Internet ...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      74. Telecentre Sustainability: Theory and Practice in Mozambique
      Polly's Sustainability Model suggests Telecentres combine entrepreneurial structures with services for the community and the poor; build a user base and incorporate paid-for services and realistic pricing. Download this presentation by visiting the UNESCO website here: http://www.unesco.org/web...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      75. ItrainOnline: Resources for Women
      ItrainOnline is a joint initiative of eight organizations with exceptional expertise in computer and Internet training in the South. It is a single source on the web containing a selection of the best and most relevant computer and Internet training resources for development and social change. L...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      76. Review of telecenter sustainability criteria for the establishment of sustainable rural business
      'Integrated Rural Development (IRD) covers all human activities in the rural environment and is based on the concerted development of all sectors such as agriculture, education, transportation, health care, etc. Access to adequate telecommunication services in rural and remote areas is a key to the ...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      77. Review of telecenter sustainability criteria for the establishment of sustainable rural business...
      Abstract: 'This paper addresses the sustainability issue of telecentres. It draws from experience and research related to sustainability of telecentres that has been collected throughout the set-up of telecentre projects of different shapes and at different locations. The findings are integrated wit...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      78. Research for Telecentre Development: Obstacles and Opportunities
      Conducting field research in the developing world is, under any circumstances, a complex affair, and the study of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in this context adds yet another series of special challenges. Nevertheless, telecentre research offers tremendous opportunity to unders...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      79. Information and Communication Technologies for Development in Africa
      The Experience with Community Telecentres presents the results of a series of studies that examined the setting, operations and effects of community telecentres. The studies reported in this book were planned and conducted as evaluative research to make a contribution towards illuminating the relati...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      80. If you Have a Lemon, Make Lemonade
      'This is intended as the starting point for helping to guide the development of new multipurpose community telecentres (MCT) in Africa. It is referred to it as a 'starting point' because it is the beginning of a formative process for distilling and sharing what the author already knows and what he l...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      81. India comes out with Draft Policy on Open Standards for e-Governance
      The draft policy attempts to tackle difficult issues like vendor lock-in and attempts to provide a level playing field for all. It makes special provision for encouraging open standard work in Indian languages. It also lays down certain guiding principles for selection of standards. The policy will ...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: Dr DC Misra


      82. Customs and Trade Facilitation: from concepts to implementation
      Trade facilitation is the simplification, harmonisation, standardisation and modernisation of trade procedures. It seeks to reduce trade transaction costs at the interface between business and government and is an agenda item within many customs related activities. These include WTO trade round nego...
      Date: Sep-01-2008
      Contributed by: Andrew Grainger, Dr


      83. Corporate Law in India and E-Governance
      The Techno-Legal Regulations have finally got the attention of a segment of Government of India, i.e. Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). However, the media reports and the Ministry sources were totally clueless about the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act, 2000) of India that is also the sol...
      Date: Aug-30-2008
      Contributed by: Kunal Koel


      84. Maria del Rosario Blandon, a leading technology teacher!
      Maria del Rosario Blandon is the leading technology teacher at the Pedro Octavio Amado School in Medellin. Her objective is to keep training again and again her students and the whole community so that they become real "athletes" of the ICTs. That is why everyday, she works hard on bringing new ...
      Date: Aug-30-2008
      Contributed by: Corporación Makaia Asesoría Internacional


      85. Rosario Blandón: con la tecnología entre ceja y ceja
      Esta mujer, día tras día, se levanta muy temprano y emprende un viaje desde su casa en Medellín hasta Altavista y teniendo aún el frío de la mañana entre sus huesos, inicia la labor diaria de formarse y capacitar a todos los interesados en el uso de los computadores y de la Internet como herra...
      Date: Aug-30-2008
      Contributed by: Corporación Makaia Asesoría Internacional


      86. Digital inclusion agreement for the local entrepreneurs
      Medellin Digital and the Cedezo (Local Centers of Entrepreneurship Development) signed an agreement for the installation in the 8 centers, of PCs and wireless Internet. This will help spread the use of ICTs among the entrepreneurs in the different neighborhoods of the city. Together with these new...
      Date: Aug-30-2008
      Contributed by: Corporación Makaia Asesoría Internacional


      87. Pacto de inclusión digital para Emprendedores barriales
      El 19 de agosto los Centros de Desarrollo Empresarial Zonal (Cedezo), en cabeza de su coordinadora María Constanza Ramírez, cerraron con Medellín Digital un pacto en el que además de entregar equipos de comunicación y cómputo, este programa se compromete a difundir el uso de las Tecnologías d...
      Date: Aug-30-2008
      Contributed by: Corporación Makaia Asesoría Internacional


      88. Nanotechnology in Wireless Handsets
      Nanotechnology establishes a ready resonance with wireless handset requirements due to the formidable engineering and business challenges that govern the selection of individual handset component materials. This Market & Technology Assessment Report on March 2008 presents the wireless handset compon...
      Date: Aug-28-2008
      Contributed by: Moushumi Biswas


      89. ICT4D in the Americas
      This document proposes a five-year strategic plan for a new Program Initiative in the "Information and Communication Technologies for Development" (ICT4D) area in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), It will build on the lessons learned by these initiatives in previous programming cycles as we...
      Date: Aug-28-2008
      Contributed by: Moushumi Biswas


      90. Making the marketplace mobile
      With internet and SMS TradeNet allows rural farmers to advertise their merchandise to an international market and find the fairest price for their crops...
      Date: Aug-28-2008
      Contributed by: Moushumi Biswas


      91. Web Based Citizen-IT Interface (WebCITI): India
      WebCITI provides a web based interface to citizens seeking services from the district administration. These include issuance of certificates such as death/birth, caste, rural area etc; licenses such as arms license, permission for conferences/rallies etc and benefits from socio-economic schemes...
      Date: Aug-28-2008
      Contributed by: Moushumi Biswas


      92. ICT Update
      ICT Update is a bimonthly printed bulletin, web magazine, and accompanying email newsletter focusing on the use of information and communication technologies in agriculture in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. It is published in English and French, by CTA (Technical Centre for Agricultural a...
      Date: Aug-28-2008
      Contributed by: John Daly


      93. ICT4D Social Enterprise Toolkit
      Increasingly the model for sustainable development includes NGO programs started with seed funding with the aim to be self-sustaining after a set period of time. In the case of community Internet centers sustainability raises the issue of how the benefits from the project relate to the ability or wi...
      Date: Aug-27-2008
      Contributed by: telecentre.org library


      94. 'The digital war on poverty'
      'Thanks to market forces, even the world's poorest people are beginning to benefit from the flow of digital information.' Jeffrey Sachs, The Guardian, August 21 2008....
      Date: Aug-27-2008
      Contributed by: John Daly


      95. Review: 'The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It'
      This is a review of the book by Jonathan Zittrain, 'one of a group of technically literate legal scholars who have clarified what's at stake politically, economically, and culturally in choices about the architecture of the new media.' The review notes: 'At the core of his thinking is a distinction...
      Date: Aug-27-2008
      Contributed by: John Daly



      Highlights records
      1. World Conference on Agricultural Information and IT
      This conference, held in Tokyo, Japan from 24 – 28th August, saw the coming together of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD) and the Asian Federation of Information Technology in Agriculture (AFITA). Discussion was therefore very wide ranging, and covered...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: John Daly


      2. World Conference on Agricultural Information and IT
      This conference, held in Tokyo, Japan from 24 – 28th August, saw the coming together of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD) and the Asian Federation of Information Technology in Agriculture (AFITA). Discussion was therefore very wide ranging, and covered...
      Date: Sep-03-2008
      Contributed by: John Daly



      News records
      1. 'Internet traffic grows 53 percent from mid-2007'
      Internet 'traffic grew 53 percent from mid-2007 to mid-2008, down from a growth rate of 61 percent in the previous 12 months.....Growth on long-haul lines in the U.S. was even slower, at 47 percent. The big increase came in regions where the Internet is less mature. Traffic between the U.S. and Lati...
      Date: Sep-05-2008
      Contributed by: John Daly


      2. Google Announces Chrome, its new web browser
      Google launched the beta version of Google Chrome on Tuesday, September 2 in more than 100 countries. The browser is to be open source. Google, which has collaborated with Mozilla in maintaining and improving the Firefox browser has recently signed an agreement to continue in that effort. A comic is...
      Date: Sep-02-2008
      Contributed by: John Daly


      3. First Working Group on Cyber Law in India
      'On public request, a "Working Group on Cyber Law in India" is in the process of being constituted that would take care of the legal enablement of ICT systems in India. The same would consist of leading Organisations, Institutions, Industrial and Professional Bodies, Members of Civil Society and...
      Date: Sep-02-2008
      Contributed by: Imran Uddin


      4. Targeting and Retargeting in the U.S. Presidential Campaign in Cyberspace
      Recent visitors to the online sports pages of the Boston Herald who had visited Barack Obama's Web site received as many as three Obama ads alongside the news. Readers who hadn't visited his site didn't see a single Obama add. Both presidential campaigns are reluctant to discuss the details of th...
      Date: Aug-31-2008
      Contributed by: John Daly





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    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn

    #12584 From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" <fredericknoronha@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 1:24 am
    Subject: The web's potential for good?
    fredericknoronha@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    'The web's potential for good,' he says, 'stems from the open,
    collaborative and even communal culture it inherited from its
    birthplace in academia and from the counter-culture of the 1960s,
    combined with pre-industrial ingredients it has resurrected, folk
    culture and the commons as a shared basis for productive endeavour.'
    It is, in other words, 'a peculiar mixture of the academic, the
    hippie, the peasant and the geek'.  Charlie Leadbeater, quoted in
    http://alheri.blogspot.com/
    
    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn

    #12583 From: "V. Sasi Kumar" <sasi.fsf@...>
    Date: Sun Sep 7, 2008 9:56 am
    Subject: Re: Delhi CM inaugurates NIIT Community Learning Centre for youth in urban slums
    vsasikumarcess
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     
    On Sun, 2008-09-07 at 15:10 +0530, shivanjali.singh@... wrote:
    > Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the first-of-its-kind Community
    > Learning Centre, set up by NIIT to enhance Employability among youth
    > in urban slums.
    
    Interesting to see that our politicians have suddenly realised that
    there is "hidden" talent in the slums. I wonder who "hid" them. I hope
    they realise at least now that there are millions of "hidden" talents in
    our villages. The slums themselves would not have come up if this
    realisation had come earlier, if there had been a more equitable
    "development". Would they realise this now? I wonder! Sixty years after
    independence the country has not even been able to implement universal
    primary education that was promised in the Constitution of the country.
    
    Best
    --
    V. Sasi Kumar
    Free Software Foundation of India
    http://swatantryam.blogspot.com

    #12582 From: "Fouad Bajwa" <fouadbajwa@...>
    Date: Sun Sep 7, 2008 2:38 am
    Subject: Facebook.com based IT Policy Virtual Working Groups membership reaches 51 Members! Keep Joining!
    fouadbajwa
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     
    Hi Everyone,

    For engaging the Pakistani Civil Society and Community Members in the country and abroad in the recommendation process to the new IT Policy redrafting activity, we created a group on www.Facebook.com titled "Pakistan IT Policy - Facebook based Virtual Working Groups" at the web address http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30136677675

    Within 4 days, the membership is crossing 50 and growing with international ICT researchers, think tanks and successful IT Pakistan professionals from accross the world. Help us spread the word and bring in more members to contribute to the process.

    Please spread the word as far as you can to help develop a more People Supportive and Democratic Policy Activity for the first time!


    Pakistan ICT Policy Monitor Mailing List - Engage and Discuss the most pressing issues for ICT in Pakistan today at:
    http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/pakistanictpolicy/

    Pakistan IT Policy - Facebook based Virtual Working Groups:
    http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30136677675

    Proposed ICT for Disaster Management Workgroup
    http://www.new.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=30136677675&topic=5571

    --

    Regards.
    --------------------------
    Fouad Bajwa

    #12581 From: "Fouad Bajwa" <fouadbajwa@...>
    Date: Sun Sep 7, 2008 12:24 am
    Subject: Re: [pakistanictpolicy] RE: Working Paper & Recommendations for the National IT Policy
    fouadbajwa
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     
    On this ccTLD issue:
    
    My two cents on the subject, the ccTLDs should not be managed by the
    Government but should be managed by a public body or civil society
    group that can handle the ccTLD control transparently and with
    accountability.
    
    ccTLD is not an IT Policy issue in general, its more of an keep public
    things public now that countries around the world have started
    realizing it. We should be well aware now that how things are managed
    and badly managed when we leave them to the governments alone that is
    why the Internet Governance WGIG formulated a definition involving all
    three multi-stakeholders: "Governments, Private Sector and Civil
    Society".
    
    From my global experience and engagement with IG, I can share why do
    private companies lobby for making governments control ccTLD's, well
    in most cases, they make the Government outsource the management to
    them.........thus people still don't get to control the
    ccTLDs............and you can clearly see in our case with
    PKNIC.........being managed as a private business and the citizens of
    Pakistan have no control over its policies or pricing.....the same
    would then happen for the ccTLD under Government and outsourced to a
    private company.....
    
    Our neighbouring country has a good model which is a public led model
    in which a civil society group controls and disemminates ccTLDs
    instead of private sector companies taking control.
    
    I would like to invite Barrister Zahid to share his two cents on the
    subject as well now that he is a member of MAG and our representative
    at ICANN!
    
    Best
    Fouad Bajwa
    
    On Sat, Sep 6, 2008 at 6:39 AM, Khalil Ahmad <khalil.ahmad@...> wrote:
    > Dear Mr. Javed,
    >
    >
    >
    > ICANN has been encouraging ccTLD managers to formalize their relationship
    > with ICANN by signing up agreements.  So far over 40+  ccTLD managers have
    > done so.  Today Poland ccTLD manager had official exchange of letters with
    > ICANN http://www.icann.org/en/cctlds/agreements.html .   IANA now only
    > manages DNS root zones.  ICANN has been fully involved in ccTLD related
    > issues.
    >
    >
    >
    > Recently PTA held a meeting with stakeholders from private sector.  Mr.
    > Ashar Nisar and Mr. Zahid Jamil were there to represent PKNIC.  As of my
    > knowledge, neither PTA and nor MOITT is overseeing PKNIC operation or its
    > policies.  Mr. Ashar Nisar with his USA (California) based company Pknic
    > Srs, Inc. has been running .pk ccTLD.  He is the one who makes policies,
    > approves and then impose.  Pknic has been.pk registry as well as .pk
    > registrar.   So no one else except Mr. Ashar Nisar has been overseeing
    > Pknic.  In 2006 Mr. Zahid Jamil joined him for domain resolution services
    > with his DNDRC.COM.
    >
    >
    >
    > There is very good goofy space in this area which needs immediate attention
    > and should be included in National IT policy.
    >
    >
    >
    > In answer to your 2nd question, " Who would govern .pk domain. How  its
    > legal, financial and regulatory ownership would be managed.", no matter who
    > runs .pk registry whether private sector, public sector or government, but
    > it must be regulated with policies and supervised made at Government level
    > either MOITT or PTA.    Being as national asset, no one party should claim
    > or should be given free hand to do whatever they wants.   So legal,
    > financial and regulatory ownership should remain with Government (People of
    > Pakistan).
    >
    >
    >
    > There have been efforts at PTA and MOITT but at very small level, it needs
    > drastic attention and model followed by India would be ideal.
    >
    >
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > -Khalil
    >
    >
    >
    > _________________
    >
    > khalil ahmad
    >
    > ceo & chairman
    >
    > PakNIC Private Limited | ICANN Accredited Registrar
    > http://www.paknic.com/
    >
    > USA: 116 Salem Road, North Brunswick, NJ 08902,  USA | Ph. +1 (732) 297-8908
    > | Fax. +1 (732) 297-8906
    >
    > Asia:  6-A, Aziz Ave. Canal Bank, Gulberg-V, Lahore 54000, PAKISTAN | Ph.
    > +92 (42) 587-1197 & 98 | Fax. +92 (42) 577-5541
    >
    >
    >
    > ***This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are
    > intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are
    > addressed.  This communication may represent the originator's personal views
    > and opinions, which may or may not necessarily reflect those of PakNIC
    > Private Limited.  If you are not the original recipient or the person
    > responsible for delivering the email to the intended recipient, be advised
    > that you have received this email in error, and that any use, dissemination,
    > forwarding, printing, or copying of this email is strictly prohibited.  If
    > you received this email in error, please immediately notify info@...
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > From: nidu_it_policy@yahoogroups.com [mailto:nidu_it_policy@yahoogroups.com]
    > On Behalf Of Javed Naushahi
    > Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 11:49 AM
    > To: nidu_it_policy@yahoogroups.com; AKABANI@...
    > Cc: pakgrid@yahoogroups.com; pakistanictpolicy@yahoogroups.com;
    > pakistanictpolicy@googlegroups.com
    > Subject: Re: [nidu_it_policy] RE: pakistanictpolicy - RE: Working Paper &
    > Recommendations for the National IT Policy
    >
    >
    >
    > Dear Mr. Khalil,
    >
    >
    >
    > What would be role of pknic in IT Policy, with refernece to ICANN, WSIS and
    > other Internet governance forums.
    >
    >
    >
    > Who would govern .pk domain. How  its legal, financial and regulatory
    > ownership would be managed.
    >
    >
    >
    > Is there a group at PTA and MoITT overseeing these affairs..
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    >
    >
    > Javed Naushahi
    >
    > --- On Fri, 9/5/08, Khalil Ahmad <khalil.ahmad@...> wrote:
    >
    > From: Khalil Ahmad <khalil.ahmad@...>
    > Subject: [nidu_it_policy] RE: pakistanictpolicy - RE: Working Paper &
    > Recommendations for the National IT Policy
    > To: nidu_it_policy@yahoogroups.com, AKABANI@...
    > Cc: pakgrid@yahoogroups.com, pakistanictpolicy@yahoogroups.com,
    > pakistanictpolicy@googlegroups.com
    > Date: Friday, September 5, 2008, 4:12 PM
    >
    > Dear Adnan AoA,
    >
    >
    >
    > I think Asif Sb. is already member of our nidu_it_policy yahoogroup, if not
    > can you please include his email address (AKABANI@unog. ch) so he gets all
    > messages posted to the forum.  Mr. Asif's contribution to the forum would be
    > very beneficial.
    >
    >
    >
    > Also just wondering, is the membership of nidu_it_policy yahoogroup only for
    > MOITT WGs members or is it open to public?
    >
    >
    >
    > Rgds,
    >
    > -Khalil
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > ____________ _____
    >
    > khalil ahmad
    >
    > ceo & chairman
    >
    > PakNIC Private Limited | ICANN Accredited Registrar
    > http://www.paknic. com/
    >
    > USA: 116 Salem Road, North Brunswick, NJ 08902,  USA | Ph. +1 (732) 297-8908
    > | Fax. +1 (732) 297-8906
    >
    > Asia:  6-A, Aziz Ave. Canal Bank, Gulberg-V, Lahore 54000, PAKISTAN | Ph.
    > +92 (42) 587-1197 & 98 | Fax. +92 (42) 577-5541
    >
    >
    >
    > ***This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are
    > intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are
    > addressed.  This communication may represent the originator's personal views
    > and opinions, which may or may not necessarily reflect those of PakNIC
    > Private Limited.  If you are not the original recipient or the person
    > responsible for delivering the email to the intended recipient, be advised
    > that you have received this email in error, and that any use, dissemination,
    > forwarding, printing, or copying of this email is strictly prohibited.  If
    > you received this email in error, please immediately notify info@paknic. com
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > From: pakistanictpolicy@ googlegroups. com [mailto:pakistanict
    > policy@googlegro ups.com] On Behalf Of Asif KABANI
    > Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2008 6:14 AM
    > To: khalil.ahmad@ paknic.com
    > Cc: 'nidu_it_policy Moderator'; pakgrid@yahoogroups .com; pakistanictpolicy@
    > googlegroups. com; pakistanictpolicy@ yahoogroups. com
    > Subject: pakistanictpolicy - RE: Working Paper & Recommendations for the
    > National IT Policy
    >
    >
    >
    > Khalil,
    >
    >
    > Thank you for the working paper and recommendations for National IT Policy
    >
    >
    > Please keep us in touch and posted
    >
    >
    > With Best Regards
    >
    >
    > Sincerely
    >
    >
    >
    > Asif Kabani
    > E-mail: akabani@unog. ch
    >
    > kabani.asif@ gmail.com
    >
    > </font
    > --~--~------ ---~--~-- --~------ ------~-- -----~--~ ----~
    > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
    > "PakistanICTPolicy" group.
    > To post to this group, send email to pakistanictpolicy@ googlegroups. com
    > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to pakistanictpolicy+
    > unsubscribe@ googlegroups. com
    > For more options, visit this group at http://groups. google.com/
    > group/pakistanic tpolicy?hl= en
    > -~---------- ~----~--- -~----~-- ----~---- ~------~- -~---
    >
    >
    >
    >
    
    
    
    --
    
    Regards.
    --------------------------
    Fouad Bajwa

    #12580 From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" <fredericknoronha@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 1:25 am
    Subject: http://yunusphere.net/
    fredericknoronha@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    Expanding Dr Yunus' sphere of influence...
    Proposing 'usury-free' banking as social business
    http://yunusphere.net/
    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn

    #12579 From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" <fredericknoronha@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 1:21 am
    Subject: Digital media and learning competition...
    fredericknoronha@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    http://www.dmlcompetition.net/
    
    HASTAC
    MacArthur Foundation
    Digital Media And Learning
    
         * About
         * Participatory Learning
         * Innovation Awards
         * Young Innovator Awards
         * Guidelines
         * FAQ
    
         * Home
         * Contact
         * Scratchpad
         * Archive 2007
         * Winners' Hub
         * Apply
    
    
    Participatory Learning
    Participatory Learning
    
    The 2008 Digital Media and Learning Competition theme is Participatory
    Learning. Participatory Learning includes the many ways that learners
    (of any age) use new technologies to participate in virtual
    communities where they share ideas, comment upon one another's
    projects, and plan, design, advance, implement, or simply discuss
    their goals and ideas together. Details
    
    
    News & Updates
    
         * Competition RFP (PDF)
           Posted September 3, 2008
         * Announcing the 2008 Competition
           (Press Release)
           Posted August 18, 2008
         * New this year: Collaborative Scratchpad
           Posted August 18, 2008
         * MacArthur Foundation Spotlight Blog
         * Competition 2007 Winners
           (Press Release)
           Posted February 21, 2008
         * "Couture Guerrilla"
           (HASTAC YouTube video, 2007)
    
    
    
    Innovation in Participatory Learning Awards
    Innovation Awards $30,000 - $250,000
    
    Deadline: October 15, 2008
    
    Innovation in Participatory Learning Awards support larger-scale
    projects that demonstrate new modes of participatory learning in a
    variety of environments, by creating new digital tools, modifying
    existing ones, or using digital media in novel ways. Collaboration is
    strongly encouraged. International applications are welcome from
    eligible organizations. Details
    
    Young Innovator Awards
    Young Innovator Awards $5,000-$30,000
    
    Deadline: October 15, 2008
    
    Young Innovator Awards encourage innovators aged 18-25 to think
    boldly about "what comes next" in
    participatory learning and to contribute to making it happen. These
    awards will help young innovators bring their visionary ideas from the
    "garage" stage to implementation. Details
    John Hope Franklin Center HASTAC MacArthur Foundation University of
    California Humanities Research Institute
    
    This HASTAC competition is supported by a grant from the John D. and
    Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to the University of California, in
    collaboration with Duke University. The University of California
    Humanities Research Institute and Duke University's John Hope Franklin
    Center are the principal administering bodies for this grant on behalf
    of HASTAC.
    
    :: Site Credits :: Photo Credits :: Intellectual Property and Privacy
    Policies ::
    (c)2007 HASTAC Initiative Supported By The MacArthur Foundation
    
    
    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn

    #12578 From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" <fredericknoronha@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 1:21 am
    Subject: Open Source Textbooks Challenge a Paradigm
    fredericknoronha@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/09/open-source-tex.html
    
    Open Source Textbooks Challenge a Paradigm
    By Chris Snyder EmailSeptember 01, 2008 | 8:39:09 PMCategories: Books,
    Open Source
    
    080827_flatworld A small, digital book startup thinks it has a
    solution to the age-old student lament: overpriced textbooks that have
    little value when the course is over. The answer? Make them open
    source -- and give them away.
    
    Flat World Knowledge is the brainchild of two former textbook industry
    executives who learned from the inside about the wacky economy of
    textbooks.
    
    In a nutshell, there is a huge, inelastic demand for college texts,
    even though textbook prices are high. Because of this there is a lot
    of piracy and a robust secondary market for textbooks -- but not for
    long, because they are updated every couple of years, rendering old
    editions virtually worthless.
    
    Flat World's business plan aims to exploit the inefficiencies: Its
    books are online and free. Instead of charging for content it aims to
    make money by wrapping content up in "convenient" downloadable and
    print wrappers and selling those, along with study aides and related
    items.
    
    Enhancing the value of the online versions is the open source
    component. Students can annotate and comment in the digital margins of
    Flat World's texts to share their insights, analysis and conclusions
    with other students.
    
    Digital versions of popular print textbooks have been widely available
    for a while now through distribution sites like CourseSmart, which
    offers around 4,500 titles and more than one-third of the most
    popular-selling text book titles.
    
    But a study released last week by the Student Public Interest Research
    Groups (PIRGs) noted that subscription-based digital books are just as
    unaffordable, considering that a used print book can at least be
    resold for a while.
    
    "Rather than designing the digital book to fit the [print business]
    model, publishers should consider redesigning the model to fit digital
    books," the PIRG report says. "In theory, this model should work,
    since students tend to want print books."
    
    
    
    "The nice thing about open content is it gives faculty full control,
    creative control over the content of the book, full control over
    timing, and it give students a lot more control over how they want to
    consume it and how much they want to pay," says Eric Frank, who along
    with co-founder Jeff Shelstad, came from a long career in the
    mainstream textbook industry.
    
    Shelstad spent 13 years at McGraw-Hill and served as editor-in-chief
    before moving to Prentice Hall, where he was editorial director of
    Business Publishing. Frank stepped into the industry at Thompson and
    also eventually left for Prentice Hall where he worked for seven years
    as acquisitions editor and director of marketing. Flat World raised
    about $750,000 in angel funding last fall from investors who included
    authors and university trustees and is on the verge of closing another
    angel round at a similar amount.
    
    Additional street cred comes by way of the company's "Chief Openness
    Officer -- David Wiley, the founder of OpenContent.org, former
    Director of the Center for Open and Sustainable Learning, and the man
    often credited for bringing the phrase "open content" to its modern
    usage in the late '90s.
    
    The idea behind open textbooks began with people frustrated with the
    industry, Frank says. The movement then led to non-profit aggregation
    platforms like Connexions at Rice University and the Global Text
    Project at the University of Georgia. But he believes they are one of
    the first to turn this into a commercial venture.
    
    "On the surface they're (traditional publishers) doing OK, but
    underneath the surface there are lots of problems," says Frank. "The
    internet has caused so much disruption in the distribution that there
    are so many used books and international books and pirated copies out
    there that after about two years, publishers have to bring out new
    editions in order to capture revenue again."
    
    Frank says the firm is also in the process of releasing a version for
    Amazon's Kindle, but is working out several technical hurdles before
    finalizing anything. Amazon is thought to be toying with the idea of a
    Kindle marketed to the college crowd, and wired.com readers have been
    somewhat vocal about the need for textbook support in the device.
    
    Official launch is not until next January, when the company plans to
    offer eight textbooks, each written for Flat World by scholars who
    have also produced texts for some of the major publishing companies.
    It will test its business model over the next semester in a private
    beta with more than 20 U.S. universities.
    
    In keeping with the decorum of pedagogy, there will be no advertising
    on the site -- Frank says that the revenue wouldn't be significant
    enough to "justify the distraction from an educational perspective."
    
    But he's not concerned about viability or walking into a
    "freeconomics" black hole.
    
    "Our premise is that there will of course be some students who spend
    nothing, they just consume the free book online, but we believe
    students are consumers and they will pay for convenience if the price
    is right," he says.
    
    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn

    #12577 From: "Abu Mohammad Omar Shehab Uddin Ayub" <shehab@...>
    Date: Sat Sep 6, 2008 4:32 pm
    Subject: Workshop on Joomla
    shehab@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    Workshop on Joomla

    A workshop on Joomla will be hled on 12 and 13th September 2008. Workshop will be held at State University of Bangladesh, Satmasjid Road, Dhaka. The 12th workshop is open for all. The second day workshop is dedicated only for SUB students. The registration fee for the workshop is 1,000/- taka. The registration booth will remail open on 2pm to 5pm each day on Sunday to Tuesday. Number of seats are very limited. For further information please contact - 01914226816.

    Dhaka, September 12, 2008



    --
    |=============|
    Regards,
    Abu Mohammad Omar Shehab Uddin Ayub
    (আবু মোহাম্মদ ওমর শেহাবউদ্দীন আইয়ুব)
    Software Engineer, Nilavo Technologies, Banani, Dhaka
    Bangladesh Open Source Network, Dhaka
    2000 batch, Dept. of CSE, SUST
    www.biscomdeliveryserver.com
    www.bdosn.org
    www.sust.edu
    ----------------------------------------------------
    জমি উপড়ায়ে ফেলে চ'লে গেছে চাষা
    নতুন লাঙল তার পড়ে আছে, — পুরানো পিপাসা
    জেগে আছে মাঠের উপরে :
    সময় হাঁকিয়া যায় পেঁচা ওই আমাদের তরে!
    হেমন্তের ধান ওঠে ফ'লে –
    দুই পা ছড়ায়ে বস এইখানে পৃথিবীর কোলে।

    #12576 From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" <fredericknoronha@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 11:54 pm
    Subject: Web portal for teachers launched by President Patil
    fredericknoronha@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    Web portal for teachers launched by President Patil
    Indo-Asian News Service
    
    New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS) Teachers from across the country can now share
    their professional ideas and thoughts on a web portal launched by
    President Pratibha Patil Friday.
    
    The portal www.teachersofindia.org was launched on the occasion of
    Teachers' Day.
    
    "The portal will offer a platform for sharing best practices and
    generating discussion in teaching community," Patil said while
    launching the portal.
    
    The initial phase of the portal, developed by Azim Premji Foundation
    with the National Knowledge Commission, envisages a space for teachers
    to express their ideas and share their thoughts.
    
    "It also envisages beginning of a district-wise directory of resource
    organisations working in education, which will help teachers gain
    access to material and people in their area," said a statement issued
    by the president's office.
    
    During the subsequent phases of the portal, resource material like
    articles, policy documents, manuals, educational tools and modules
    will be made available.
    
    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn

    #12575 From: "Edward Cherlin" <echerlin@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 11:24 pm
    Subject: Re: more G1G1 from XO: Amazon pitches in
    echerlin@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    Sorry, Vickram, I fixed your post. GiGo means Garbage In, Garbage Out.
    Give One Get One is abbreviated G1G1. http://wiki.laptop.org/go/G1G1
    
    On Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 2:48 AM, Vickram Crishna <v1clist@...> wrote:
    > http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/383062729/
    
    Thanks. I left them a note. Dual-boot XOs will NOT be available in the
    US or Europe.
    
    > Amazon will make the Give One, Get One offer, that helped kick off XO
    > deliveries last year, although no price has been offered yet. The article
    > guesses it will be $399 as before.
    >
    > In the offer, people in the Continental US
    
    There is supposed to be a related offer in Europe, but no announcement
    has been made.
    
    > can buy an XO for $399, for each
    > of which one XO will be donated to an OLPC program in some country (my guess
    > is most will go to South America, where 2 countries have decided they will
    > ensure every single schoolgoing child will become part of the OLPC program.
    
    No, Peru and Uruguay are buying enough for all of their
    schoolchildren. Past G1G1 donations have gone to countries that
    couldn't buy their own, or were facing other severe issues: Haiti,
    Rwanda, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Mongolia. (I am directly
    involved in administering the localization projects for Haiti and
    Cambodia.) The countries to receive new G1G1 units have not been
    announced. There are plenty of worthy target countries in Asia,
    Africa, and elsewhere.
    
    http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Deployments
    
    Full funding of laptops for all children would cost about $25 billion
    annually, after the promised $75 laptops appear in 2010, and would
    return trillions of dollars in new economic growth.
    
    > Vickram
    > http://communicall.wordpress.com
    > http://vvcrishna.wordpress.com
    
    
    --
    Silent Thunder [ 默雷 / शब्दगर्ज / شبدگر ج ] is my name,
    And Children are my nation.
    The Six Worlds are my dwelling place,
    And Truth my destination.

    #12574 From: "Satish Jha" <satish.jha@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 7:43 pm
    Subject: Re: A $100 Laptop: Really.
    jhas_2002
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     
    There is a bit of difference between making a laptop and a learning laptop for children. What we know as OLPC, without a dozen feature it has that do not come bundled with any other laptop, can be manufactured below $100. But add ruggedness, no moving parts, mesh networking, dual boot system, a screen that works well under the sun, a keyboard that is spill proof, a built in camera, a swiveling screen and an e-book feature and we are talking a serious package. retaining costs at $200 after adding all that narrated above and more is a feat in itself.. So OLPC is no ordinary laptop and the next version will be to laptops what i-phone is to cell phones and for less..
     
    That said, we should encourage every initiative to reduce costs as the lower price points will undoubtedly increase the reach of computing, opening every newer frontier with drop in prices..
     
    Thanks

    On Fri, Sep 5, 2008 at 7:31 AM, Frederick FN Noronha <fredericknoronha@...> wrote:

    A $100 Laptop: Really.
    http://www.knowprose.com/node/19532

    $98 [GNU]Linux Laptop from China - The HiVision MiniNote
    On YouTube
    HiVision makes one of the worlds cheapest Linux laptops at $98 using a
    new cheaper chipset, WiFi, 1GB flash storage, it runs Linux, 3 USB
    ports, Ethernet, SDHC card reader, audio in and out. Voice-chat,
    Skype, multi-tabbed Firefox browser support, Abiword for word
    processing. Automatic online software updates. Their current model is
    based on a public chinese low cost case mold design and is running on
    a MIPS processor, they may soon also support an ARM9 with DSP as the
    processor and they are showing their own nice looking case design
    molds. All running on smooth Linux interfaces. In this video, I got to
    borrow a review sample of the laptop overnight, and I try to show you
    all the browser and other software interfaces in this extended video
    review of this cheap MIPS based laptop. ARM and DSP is the way that I
    hope that most cheap laptops are going to be based on in the near
    future, Google will hopefully make a great Chrome browser for this
    kind of Laptop and hopefully that the geniuses at OLPC soon will
    announce that they will work to improve ARM and DSP based laptops in
    XO-1.5 and XO-2 designs.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKQbN6tpYXw

    The $98 HiVision miniNote Laptop
    HiVision offers a $98 laptop that runs on Linux and features the
    Dragon MIPS processor, Wi-Fi, 1GB storage, 7 screen, 3 USB ports,
    SDHC card reader, audio in/out, ethernet, and VOIP functionality. Not
    too shabby for a laptop that really does run under $100.
    http://www.gadgetreview.com/2008/09/the-98-hivision-mininote-laptop.html

    $98 [GNU]Linux Laptop - The HiVision miniNote
    HiVision makes the worlds cheapest Linux laptop at $98 using a new
    cheaper MIPS based processor (perhaps the Longsoon or the Ingenic),
    WiFi, 1GB flash storage, it runs Linux, has 3 USB ports, Ethernet,
    SDHC card reader, audio in and out, voice-chat, skype, multi-tabbed
    Firefox browser support and Abiword for word processing. Automatic and
    secure online software updates. Their current model is running a
    smooth and pretty snappy Linux user interface. In this video, I got to
    borrow a review sample of the laptop overnight, and I try to show you
    all the browser and other software interfaces in this extended video
    review of this cheap MIPS based laptop. Embedded is the way that I
    hope that most cheap laptops are going to be based on in the near
    future, Google will hopefully make a great Chrome browser for this
    kind of Laptop and hopefully that OLPC soon will announce that they
    will work to improve Embedded Linux based laptops in the upcoming
    XO-1.5 and XO-2 designs.
    http://techvideoblog.com/ifa/98-linux-laptop-the-hivision-mininote/

    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn




    --
    Satish Jha
    President & CEO
    OLPC India
    One Cambridge Center
    Cambridge, MA 02142
    T: 301 841 7422
    F:301560 4909
    www.laptop.org
    __________________
    http://www.linkedin.com/myprofile?trk=tab_pro
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satish_Jha

    #12573 From: "V. Sasi Kumar" <sasi.fsf@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 2:20 pm
    Subject: Free Software Free Society Conference at Thiruvananthapuram
    vsasikumarcess
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     
    The Kerala State IT Mission, Society for Alternative Computing and
    Employment (SPACE) and Free Software Foundation of India are organising
    the Free Software Free Society Conference, 2008, at Thiruvananthapuram
    (Trivandrum) during December 9-11 2008. This conference can be seen to
    be located at the convergence of movements such as Free Software, Free
    Knowledge (Wikipedia, Open Access) and Free Culture (Creative Commons).
    This is the second such conference to be hosted in Thiruvananthapuram,
    the first being in May, 2005 (see http://fsfs.hipatia.net). You can find
    more details at http://fsfs.in Those who are interested can register
    after the registration page becomes available in a few days.
    
    Best
    --
    V. Sasi Kumar
    Free Software Foundation of India
    http://swatantryam.blogspot.com

    #12572 From: "Joyojeet Pal" <joyojeet@...>
    Date: Sun Sep 7, 2008 1:18 am
    Subject: ICTD Trends Research
    as10bgsi
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     
    Dear Friends on the Bytes for All list,

    We are currently part of a project to examine of past and current trends
    in ICTD research and practice. As a first step, we are conducting a survey
    of students/scholars and practitioners of ICTD. Please take the survey at
    the following link:

    http://shirin.cs.berkeley.edu:8000/limesurvey/index.php?sid=92227&newtest=Y

    Please note that a number of the questions here are sometimes a bit
    difficult to answer in categorical terms, due to the qualitative nature of
    the research, but conducting the survey helps us get an idea of what the
    ICTD community sees as the key issues in this area. Please help us (and
    hopefully the community as a whole) by filling out as much of the survey
    as you can, and let us know if you are available for a detailed personal
    interview. It should take about 15 minutes to complete. We'd be delighted
    to share our findings with you once the project once we have some early
    results.

    Sincere Regards,

    Joyojeet Pal, Rabin Patra, Sergiu Nedevschi
    TIER, University of California at Berkeley

    #12571 From: "Fouad Bajwa" <fouadbajwa@...>
    Date: Sun Sep 7, 2008 4:23 am
    Subject: EU Commission Study on ICT self- and co-regulation initiatives
    fouadbajwa
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     
    EU Commission Study on ICT self- and co-regulation initiatives
    
    Hi,
    
    The European Commission recently published a study assessing the
    efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of ICT self- and
    co-regulation initiatives. The study was led by RAND Europe (Chris
    Marsden <http://chrismarsden.blogspot.com/>)
    
    The study is available from European Commission
    http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/information_society/evaluation/studies/s2006_05/index_en\
    .htm
    
    The study consists of two main parts: a mapping exercise that examines
    existing regulatory and co- and self-regulatory institutions and
    identifies "candidate" case studies for closer analysis. And a second
    phase report providing the results of 21 short case studies.
    
    Case studies were presented in four groupings:
    Internet Infrastructure and Standards (ICANN, Nominet, IETF, W3C, ICRA)
    Internet Self- and Co-Regulation (IWF, INHOPE, EuroISPA, KJM, FSM)
    Content and Filtering/Rating (ICSTIS, IMCB, NICAM, PEGI, ATVOD)
    Emerging Self Regulation Areas (SecondLife, Creative Commons, Social
    Network: Bebo, Trustmarks, London Action Plan, IGF)
    
    Total of all phases about 1300 pages.
    
    A clear conclusion of the report is that robust self-and co-regulatory
    organisations only develop where their design and dynamics take a
    multi-stakeholder approach as their basic principle. Parts already
    seem dated and it wasn't written too long ago (3rd qtr 2007).
    
    Adam
    --
    
    Regards.
    --------------------------
    Fouad Bajwa

    #12570 From: "Edward Cherlin" <echerlin@...>
    Date: Sun Sep 7, 2008 7:03 am
    Subject: Re: National ICT R&D Fund - Discussion with CEO
    echerlin@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    On Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 3:31 AM, Fouad Bajwa <fouadbajwa@...> wrote:
    > Dear Qasim,
    >
    > Thank you for forwarding the list of projects funded by the National
    > ICT R&D Fund. We appreciate the fact that this fund has been
    > generously contributing to both academic and private sector research
    > in the country and has a very strong focus on support Open Source
    > Software related projects. Where there are some achievements by this
    > fund, there are some significant problems we would like to take into
    > critical consideration in the new IT Policy working group activities.
    
    These are excellent. Would the National ICT R&D Fund be interested in
    funding R&D for electricity and Internet for villages, with
    microfinance support? This would enable a wide range of other economic
    opportunities in conjunction with the wide range of extremely low-cost
    computers now coming on the market or currently in development. If you
    are interested, I and my colleagues can suggest many such
    opportunities where we think you could profitably fund R&D.
    
    Also, how about funding for educational software research,
    development, and localization? I am involved with projects localizing
    educational software into Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, and other languages
    of the area.
    
    
    > I would like to bring to notice that the time taken to approve and
    > deliver the project funding supports are both outrageous and
    > cumbersome. Various stakeholders of these projects funded by the
    > National ICT R&D Fund have reported project proposal approvals and
    > funding to take anything between 6-15 months. Project funding
    > installments are paid with lags of upto 12 months in certain events
    > where companies seeking the funding have already developed their
    > deliverable and after that they were paid the funds.This is not an
    > opportunity but a disappointment. I did not want to share these facts
    > publicly earlier in case people would lose their confidence in the
    > National ICT R&D Fund as well.
    >
    > The critical areas that I would like to recommend are:
    >
    > 1. Reduce the amount of scrutiny and redtapism in the process bringing
    > down the time to approve and fund projects.
    >
    > 2. Increase the scope and outreach of the fund to Civil Society,
    > Individuals and ICT Think Tanks in the country without barriers such
    > as organizational affiliations, members of Universities, research
    > institutions etc.
    
    and overseas, especially among Pakistanis abroad.
    
    > 3. National ICT R&D Funding should be an opportunity for Pakistani
    > Citizens, Researchers and Scientists and not a challenge
    >
    > 4. The National ICT R&D Fund should immediately fund the working
    > activity of the working groups making recommendations for the next IT
    > Policy of Pakistan. The first meeting has already taken place in
    > Lahore.
    > The links of the meeting and pictures:
    > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/pakistanictpolicy/message/1405 and
    >
    http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30136677675#/album.php?page=2&aid=6893\
    4&id=708676200
    >
    > 5. Bring the fund directly under Ministry of IT without the pressure
    > and pulling of PTA and any other body. Civil Society members should
    > also preside on the board/committees of this fund and should not be
    > 100% decided by the Government. There should be transparency and
    > accountability.
    >
    > 6. The fund distributed should be modified to include: 30% Civil
    > Society and Independent Researchers, 20% Academic Research, 20%
    > Private Sector Research, 20% Public Sector Research, 10% Matching
    > Grants Activity.
    >
    > 7. The fund should be focused on national development and industry
    > innovation. Some companies have applied and been approved for projects
    > that already exist in the global market and their source codes are
    > free for research and companies have only duplicated the projects.
    >
    > I hope you understand our concerns are valid and of course you must be
    > aware of them but it is time we helped to fix such issues in the
    > country for the benefit of our greater good and national development.
    >
    > Please keep in touch.
    >
    > Best Regards
    > Fouad Bajwa
    >
    >
    > On Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 10:00 AM, Qasim Sheikh
    > <qasim.sheikh@...> wrote:
    >> Dear Fouad,
    >>
    >>     At National ICT R&D Fund we understand the importance of the open source
    >> phenomenon for Pakistan.  We have funded projects that are focused
    >> at teaching students open source methodology as a part of software
    >> engineering coursework.  Details about this project are given at
    >> http://www.ictrdf.org.pk/fp-iossp.htm.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> Following is a list of projects that are funded by the National ICT R&D Fund
    >> and focused at leveraging the open source paradigm to give a boost to the IT
    >> industry and R&D in Pakistan.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 1.      Development of Open Source Cell Library for MEMS Components Verified
    >> Through Modeling and Simulation
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 2.      An Intelligent Secure Kernel for Next Generation Mobile Computing
    >> Devices
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 3.      Network-Embedded Security using In-Network Packet Marking
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 4.      Technical Development for Automation of Banking System for
    >> Microfinance Banks
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 5.      Clarity - Open source Enterprise Management System
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 6.      Adaptive English Language Teaching Tool
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 7.      Development of Open Source HMI
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 8.      Real Time MIMO and Cooperative MIMO Systems Test-bed for Wireless
    >> Broadband Systems
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 9.      Investigating Wavelet based Video Coding and Video Conference
    >> Applications
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 10.  Design and Development of an Open Source Enterprise Network Security
    >> System
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 11.  Design and Implementation of the Core Components of the 4th Generation
    >> Telecom Infrastructure
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 12.  A Bio-inspired Self-defending Security Framework for IP Multimedia
    >> Subsystem (IMS)
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 13.  An Artificial Immune System Based General Purpose Intrusion Detection
    >> System
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 14.  Integration of Open Source Software Projects in IT Education
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 15.  Characterization, Evaluation, and Development of High Performance
    >> Network Services on Multi-Core Architectures
    >>
    >> 16.  Conversion of NGOSS Compliant, Web 2.0 Enabled Mediator, Rater and
    >> Biller applications
    >>
    >>  With Regards
    >>
    >> Qasim Sheikh
    >> CEO
    >> National ICT R&D Fund
    >> Telephone Number: +923008540838
    >> url: www.ictrdf.org.pk
    
    
    --
    Silent Thunder [ 默雷 / शब्दगर्ज / شبدگر ج ] is my name,
    And Children are my nation.
    The Six Worlds are my dwelling place,
    And Truth my destination.

    #12569 From: "Abu Mohammad Omar Shehab Uddin Ayub" <shehab@...>
    Date: Sun Sep 7, 2008 7:37 am
    Subject: Bangla version of The Codebreakers released
    shehab@...
    Send Email Send Email
     

    Bangla version of the codebreakers released


    The Bangla version of the BBC Documentary on Free and Open Source Software "The Codebreakers" released on 6th September 2008 at BdOSN office. With the permission from APDIP, BdOSN translated the the documentary in Bangla. The simple ceremony of the release includes a brief of the documentary, A BBC World Documentary on FOSS and Development, and the screening of the documentary. The ceremony was held in the auditorium of Jamil Sarwar Trust. Members of the network were present in the programme.

    The DVD of the Bangla version of the documentary could be collected from BdOSN office.

    --by BPR

    Dhaka, September 06, 2008


    --
    |=============|
    Regards,
    Abu Mohammad Omar Shehab Uddin Ayub
    (আবু মোহাম্মদ ওমর শেহাবউদ্দীন আইয়ুব)
    Software Engineer, Nilavo Technologies, Banani, Dhaka
    Bangladesh Open Source Network, Dhaka
    2000 batch, Dept. of CSE, SUST
    www.biscomdeliveryserver.com
    www.bdosn.org
    www.sust.edu
    ----------------------------------------------------
    জমি উপড়ায়ে ফেলে চ'লে গেছে চাষা
    নতুন লাঙল তার পড়ে আছে, — পুরানো পিপাসা
    জেগে আছে মাঠের উপরে :
    সময় হাঁকিয়া যায় পেঁচা ওই আমাদের তরে!
    হেমন্তের ধান ওঠে ফ'লে –
    দুই পা ছড়ায়ে বস এইখানে পৃথিবীর কোলে।

    #12568 From: shivanjali.singh@...
    Date: Sun Sep 7, 2008 9:40 am
    Subject: Delhi CM inaugurates NIIT Community Learning Centre for youth in urban slums
    shivanjali.singh@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the first-of-its-kind Community
    Learning Centre, set up by NIIT to enhance Employability among youth in
    urban slums.
    
    warm regards
    Shivanjali Singh
    NIIT
    # +91 9811991107
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
    ---
    
    NIIT Community Learning Centre to enhance Employability among youth in
    urban slums
    
    - Delhi CM inaugurates learning centre in Tughlakabad village
    
    New Delhi, August 30, 2008: In its endeavour to bridge the
    Education-Employability gap and harness the latent talent pool existent in
    urban slums-The NIIT Institute (TNI), a not-for-profit society by NIIT
    promoters-has set up of the first-of-its-kind Community Learning Centre in
    Delhi.
    
    Smt. Sheila Dikshit, Honble Chief Minister of Delhi inaugurated the first
    NIIT Community Learning Centre (CLC), set up in association with NGO
    ABHAS, at the Tughlakabad village late last evening.
    
    The NIIT CLC will provide relevant skills to the unemployed youth in urban
    slums for making them employable for jobs in various industry sectors such
    as Retail, Automobile sales, Telecommunications, Hospitality, Healthcare
    etc.
    
    Flagging off the new initiative, Delhi CM Smt. Sheila Dikshit said, 'It is
    encouraging to see NIIT come forward with Community Learning Centre, for
    empowering the underprivileged youth in the country. Initiatives like
    these will go a long way in enabling their integration into the mainstream
    and thus contribute to an overall growth of the society.'
    
    According to various reports, the large population of underprivileged
    youth residing in urban slums and semi-rural India lack vocational skills,
    which renders them unemployable, even as the industry faces severe
    manpower shortage.
    
    Research has shown an increase of almost 80% in hiring needs across major
    sectors such as IT, ITES, Financial Services, Retail, Media, FMCG,
    Infrastructure, Manufacturing & Engineering and Telecom etc. The demand
    for skilled manpower is not only in the Indian industry but the developed
    world too is facing skills shortage, which is expected to generate 56
    million jobs by 2020.
    
    According to Mr. Rajendra S. Pawar, Chairman, NIIT said, ''The CLC is
    another NIIT initiative to create employment for the youth in urban
    slums.''
    
    The NIIT CLC will address concerns of lack of good faculty and training
    curriculum; disconnect between education & training and industry
    requirements; and affordability for the underprivileged youth. CLC will
    provide the youth with model educational, training and employment
    services, thus leading to career-progressive jobs. This will be
    accomplished through NIITs partnership with the industry, business, labor,
    education and workforce development boards, the government, the
    communities and the NGOs.
    
    The NIIT CLC will offer training programs of three months to one year
    duration for 10th and 12th pass students, residing in urban slums and
    semi-rural areas. NIIT plans to set up 20 CLCs in the next three years, in
    close proximity to slums.
    
    NIIT CLC will offer training programs in the areas of Basic English
    Communication; Grooming & Etiquette; Basic Computer and Operating System
    Skills; Knowledge of Industry sector; and Industry specific skills such as
    Customer Handling in Retail. NIIT will work closely with the industry to
    customize training programs as per the job requirements.
    
    NIIT CLCs will be equipped with requisite infrastructure such as computer
    hardware and accessories, teaching material, furniture etc, which is
    representative of a typical NIIT centre. NIIT will leverage technology to
    enhance the learning experience in the CLCs and train and deploy faculty
    at the centre.
    
    The leading Global Talent Development Corporation is working with leading
    retail and hospitality majors to provide job opportunities for students
    trained at the CLC.
    
    The NIIT Institute (TNI)
    The NIIT Institute of Information Technology (TNI), is a not-for-profit
    Society, set up by the NIIT promoters. One of TNIs missions is to
    positively impact the underprivileged of the country through its
    educational process. To give this a concrete shape, TNI has begun a number
    of initiatives to better understand issues at the grassroots level and
    build sustainable models that can be made available to the countrys
    like-minded institutions and to the world at large.
    
    The NIIT District Learning Centre launched in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh
    last year offers skill development programs to graduates in the region,
    and has received tremendous response from students and the industry. The
    CLC in Tughlakabad is another initiative of TNI to harness talent from the
    underprivileged society.
    
    About NIIT
    NIIT, Asias No. 1 IT trainer and leading Global Talent Development
    Corporation, offers learning and knowledge solutions to 5 million students
    across 34 countries.
    
    Leading IT magazine Dataquest has conferred upon NIIT, the Top IT Training
    Company Award 2007. Rated among Indias Superbrands (2003-05), NIITs
    Individual Learning Business offerings include: Industry-endorsed programs
    for students seeking careers in IT: GNIIT, Integrated ANIIT for Engineers
    (IAE) and Advanced Technology Programs for IT professionals.
    
    For working professionals, NIIT Imperia, Centre for Advanced Learning,
    offers Executive Management Education Programmes in association with
    Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) at Ahmedabad, Indore and Kolkata.
    
    NIIT Institute of Finance Banking & Insurance (IFBI), formed by NIIT with
    equity participation from ICICI Bank, offers programs for individuals and
    corporates in Banking, Financial Services and Insurance.
    
    NIIT Institute of Process Excellence Ltd., formed in joint venture with
    Genpact will address the increasing demand for skilled workers in the
    business & technology services industry by providing training programs in
    relevant areas.
    
    NIIT offers turnkey IT integration program for schools. NIIT has provided
    computer-based learning to over 7700 government and private schools.
    
    NIITs Corporate Learning Solutions, offers integrated learning solutions
    (including strategic consulting, learning design, content development,
    delivery, technology, assessment and learning management) to Fortune 500
    companies, Universities, Technology companies, Training corporations and
    Publishing houses.
    
    Element K delivers learning solutions for customers and partners through a
    tailored combination of catalog learning products, technology, and
    services. The offerings include: vLab(R): hands-on labs, instructor-led
    courseware, comprehensive e-reference libraries, technical journals, and
    KnowledgeHub hosted learning management platform.
    
    NIIT together with Element K is now the first and the best choice for
    comprehensive learning solutions, worldwide.
    
    For media queries, please contact:
    Prateek Chatterjee, NIIT Limited, Ph: +91 9910201085, +91 124 4293041;
    Email: prateek.chatterjee@... or
    Shivanjali Singh, NIIT Limited, Ph: +91 9811991107; +91 124 4293044;
    Email: shivanjali.singh@... or Visit www.niit.com
    Amanpreet Singh, Brodeur India, Ph: +91 9811990205;
    asingh@...

    #12567 From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" <fredericknoronha@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 11:31 am
    Subject: A $100 Laptop: Really.
    fredericknoronha@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    A $100 Laptop: Really.
    http://www.knowprose.com/node/19532
    
    $98 [GNU]Linux Laptop from China - The HiVision MiniNote
    On YouTube
    HiVision makes one of the worlds cheapest Linux laptops at $98 using a
    new cheaper chipset, WiFi, 1GB flash storage, it runs Linux, 3 USB
    ports, Ethernet, SDHC card reader, audio in and out. Voice-chat,
    Skype, multi-tabbed Firefox browser support, Abiword for word
    processing. Automatic online software updates. Their current model is
    based on a public chinese low cost case mold design and is running on
    a MIPS processor, they may soon also support an ARM9 with DSP as the
    processor and they are showing their own nice looking case design
    molds. All running on smooth Linux interfaces. In this video, I got to
    borrow a review sample of the laptop overnight, and I try to show you
    all the browser and other software interfaces in this extended video
    review of this cheap MIPS based laptop. ARM and DSP is the way that I
    hope that most cheap laptops are going to be based on in the near
    future, Google will hopefully make a great Chrome browser for this
    kind of Laptop and hopefully that the geniuses at OLPC soon will
    announce that they will work to improve ARM and DSP based laptops in
    XO-1.5 and XO-2 designs.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKQbN6tpYXw
    
    The $98 HiVision miniNote Laptop
    HiVision offers a $98 laptop that runs on Linux and features the
    Dragon MIPS processor, Wi-Fi, 1GB storage, 7″ screen, 3 USB ports,
    SDHC card reader, audio in/out, ethernet, and VOIP functionality. Not
    too shabby for a laptop that really does run under $100.
    http://www.gadgetreview.com/2008/09/the-98-hivision-mininote-laptop.html
    
    $98 [GNU]Linux Laptop - The HiVision miniNote
    HiVision makes the worlds cheapest Linux laptop at $98 using a new
    cheaper MIPS based processor (perhaps the Longsoon or the Ingenic),
    WiFi, 1GB flash storage, it runs Linux, has 3 USB ports, Ethernet,
    SDHC card reader, audio in and out, voice-chat, skype, multi-tabbed
    Firefox browser support and Abiword for word processing. Automatic and
    secure online software updates. Their current model is running a
    smooth and pretty snappy Linux user interface. In this video, I got to
    borrow a review sample of the laptop overnight, and I try to show you
    all the browser and other software interfaces in this extended video
    review of this cheap MIPS based laptop. Embedded is the way that I
    hope that most cheap laptops are going to be based on in the near
    future, Google will hopefully make a great Chrome browser for this
    kind of Laptop and hopefully that OLPC soon will announce that they
    will work to improve Embedded Linux based laptops in the upcoming
    XO-1.5 and XO-2 designs.
    http://techvideoblog.com/ifa/98-linux-laptop-the-hivision-mininote/
    
    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn

    #12566 From: "Abu Mohammad Omar Shehab Uddin Ayub" <shehab@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 5:02 am
    Subject: New BdOSN article published!
    shehab@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    Why schools should exclusively use free software
    Richard Stallman explained why schools around the world should use exclusively free software. Cost is not the only reason, freedom is more important.
    --by Richard Stallman (Translated by Ferdous Ahmed Tanin)

    Published August 29, 2008 DOWNLOAD





    --
    |=============|
    Regards,
    Abu Mohammad Omar Shehab Uddin Ayub
    (আবু মোহাম্মদ ওমর শেহাবউদ্দীন আইয়ুব)
    Software Engineer, Nilavo Technologies, Banani, Dhaka
    Bangladesh Open Source Network, Dhaka
    2000 batch, Dept. of CSE, SUST
    www.biscomdeliveryserver.com
    www.bdosn.org
    www.sust.edu
    ----------------------------------------------------
    জমি উপড়ায়ে ফেলে চ'লে গেছে চাষা
    নতুন লাঙল তার পড়ে আছে, — পুরানো পিপাসা
    জেগে আছে মাঠের উপরে :
    সময় হাঁকিয়া যায় পেঁচা ওই আমাদের তরে!
    হেমন্তের ধান ওঠে ফ'লে –
    দুই পা ছড়ায়ে বস এইখানে পৃথিবীর কোলে।

    #12565 From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" <fredericknoronha@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 1:26 am
    Subject: Rajesh Jain's $100 unPC
    fredericknoronha@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    The $100 Un-PC
    Rajesh Jain Thinks The Next Billion Computer Users Hold The Key To The
    Industry's Next Big Innovation.
    Jason Overdorf
    Newsweek Web Exclusive
    Updated: 2:11 PM ET Oct 12, 2007
    
    In a humble residential neighborhood in the south Indian city of
    Chennai, Hema Malini--a quiet 13-year-old girl whose hair was braided
    with jasmine flowers--switched on the family television and a curious
    new device called Nova NetTV that was connected to the TV and a
    keyboard. In a few seconds, the Microsoft Windows logo appeared, and
    suddenly her TV was transformed into a PC. With her mother looking on
    proudly, Hema fired up encyclopedia software, checked her e-mail and
    Googled for a site that offers free versions of Nintendo's Mario Bros.
    games.
    
    If Rajesh Jain is successful, the NetTV, which hooks up to any
    television, could be the first in a family of devices that connect the
    next billion people to the Internet. Jain, 39, is cofounder and
    chairman of Novatium, the Chennai-based company that makes NetTV and
    NetPC, a similar product that uses a normal computer monitor. Both are
    based on cheap cell-phone chips and come without the hard-disk drive,
    extensive memory and prepackaged software thatadd hundreds of dollars
    to the cost of regular PCs. Instead, they are little more than a
    keyboard, a screen and a couple of USB ports--and use a central
    network server to run software applications and store data. Novatium
    already sells the NetPC for only $100--just within reach of India's
    growing middle class--and Jain believes he can soon drive the price
    down to $70.
    
    Entrepreneurs, philanthropists and established computer firms have for
    the better part of a decade invested millions of dollars to lower the
    cost of a desktop PC and develop cheaper alternatives. Intel has made
    its Eduwise laptop; AMD, a Personal Internet Communicator; Microsoft,
    the FonePlus. MIT computer guru Nicholas Negroponte's Children's
    Machine, now called the XO, is the most publicized recent attempt at
    converting the poor into computer users. But Negroponte's idea is to
    spread computers to the poor, with the help of heavy subsidies from
    private and public philanthropy. His price is still about $140, too
    high for India. Indeed India rejected Negroponte's offer of a million
    for cost reasons. Jain's motive is different: he wants to make money.
    
    And he knows India. Despite the country's rise as an outsourcing hub,
    PCs are selling slowly--far more slowly than mobile phones or
    motorbikes--because they are too expensive, too complicated to use and
    too difficult to maintain. What people have been waiting for, some
    experts think, is a new approach to computing that boils the essence
    of Internet access down to its lowest cost--and lowest risk. Jain
    plans to offer all this in lease deals that include easy-to-use
    hardware, Internet connection, application software and service--for
    $10 a month.
    
    This formula could provide a long-sought bridge over the digital
    divide--and may just change the way the average person thinks of
    computing. The solution would open up a huge new market for Internet
    service providers, starting in India but possibly spreading to other
    emerging markets, a possibility that is already attracting the
    attention of the world's biggest computer companies. It would become a
    target for innovation on a global scale, forged by immense competition
    for new customers, and that would have a big impact on the PC world in
    the West. And if the winning formula turns out to be Jain's, or
    something like it, it could kill the PC altogether.
    
    Google's push into web-hosted software and Web-based data storage is
    already prompting the world's software makers (including Microsoft) to
    rethink a business built on selling copies of software for
    installation on hard drives. As a consequence, the compulsion to
    upgrade to a more powerful PC every few years is gradually
    disappearing. As PC sales slow, hardware makers are looking to the
    developing world as the source of future profits. But if Novatium or a
    similar competitor succeeds, that market won't ever materialize. Dell,
    Hewlett-Packard, Compaq and the rest will have to phase out PCs and
    concentrate on devices that are similar in concept to Novatium's
    NetPC. The hardware business will be dead. The real money will be in
    providing the network, applications, data storage and other elements
    that are even now becoming synonymous with computing. Compaq will have
    to become more like Comcast.
    
    Jain makes an unusual agent for such sweeping change. He has none of
    the bombast of Oracle's Larry Ellison. He lives more like a monk than
    a millionaire--though he sold his first successful venture,
    IndiaWorld, for more than $100 million in 1999. Jain first got the
    idea to build a low-cost computer alternative back in 2000, when he
    realized Western PCs weren't getting cheap enough fast enough to serve
    India's needs. He considered buying secondhand computers from abroad,
    or opening cybercafés. Then he read about Oracle CEO Ellison's plans
    for the so-called network computer. Maintenance and management costs
    for the PC were untenable, Ellison proclaimed, and businesses would
    soon save millions of dollars by putting software and data back onto
    their network servers. Ellison's idea hadn't taken off, Jain decided,
    because so many users in Western markets already had PCs and resisted
    the change. Jain realized that India would be a better target for the
    idea.
    
    Aiming first at small and medium-size enterprises, Jain started to
    explore the potential of network-based computing software at Netcore
    Solutions, a company he started in 1998 (he remains its CEO). But the
    hardware costs were a problem. After giving a talk in 2003 at a
    conference in Bangalore, he was approached by Ashok Jhunjhunwala, a
    professor at the Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai, who runs a
    research lab and business incubator much like MIT's Media Lab. "The
    device you're talking about, the network you need?" Jhunjhunwala told
    him. "We can build it."
    
    A few months later Jhunjhunwala and researchers at IIT came up with a
    plan that builds on the "thin client" concept that has been popular in
    the West for years, but only for business applications. It uses a
    cheap microprocessor (not Intel or AMD's standard PC chips) and
    removes the hard disk, CD/DVD drive and other costly and problem-prone
    components, leaving the keyboard, screen and USB port. Easier to
    maintain than regular PCs, sales of thin-client PCs to businesses are
    growing at about 20 percent a year in developed nations, even as sales
    of regular PCs flatten. Instead of working backward from the PC,
    Jhunjhunwala pioneered a new architecture from the ground up,
    replacing the expensive microprocessor with the guts of a mobile
    phone--thus tapping a supercompetitive industry with enormous
    economies of scale. In 2003, Jain and Jhunjhunwala cofounded Novatium,
    along with Analog Devices Chairman Ray Stata, with the aim of taking
    thin-client computers into the home market.
    
    Making the computer affordable was only part of the equation, Jain
    realized. It also had to be what users want: something that looks and
    performs like a PC, with all the necessary software and an Internet
    connection, but which is also easy to maintain and operate. Products
    like the Simputer, an inexpensive, Indian-made version of the Pocket
    PC launched in 2004, never took off because it didn't match potential
    buyers' image of a computer. Meanwhile, people resisted purchasing
    low-priced or secondhand conventional desktops because they were too
    threatening--there was software to install, viruses to fight and all
    manner of mysterious problems.
    
    The device shouldn't be a stripped-down version of a PC, Jain says. It
    should be entirely new machines, like the NetPC and NetTV, with
    streamlined technology and a lower price. Already, Novatium can afford
    to sell computing like the power company sells electricity, providing
    everything you need, including Internet access, for about $10 a month.
    And once production volume hits 1 million units, the cost of materials
    for a NetTV will fall to $35, bringing the sale price down to $70. In
    July Novatium started a commercial pilot program in Chennai with a
    cable operator whose feed goes into about 1,500 homes. By the end of
    December, it had 100 users. By the end of March it's expected to have
    500, all of whom would pay around $10 a month. Started with only $2.5
    million, Novatium has just 60 employees, but it is attracting
    attention from many major players.
    
    One reason is that Novatium machines are open to all. Unlike most thin
    clients, Novatium's devices work with any network server without
    requiring major modifications, whether it uses proprietary software
    from Microsoft or Sun, or free software from an open-source company
    like Linux. Microsoft is participating in the Chennai pilot program
    because Novatium's subscription-based payment system could generate
    profit in markets where most users run pirated versions of Microsoft
    products. Top U.S.-based executives from Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL and
    other companies have visited Hema's house and other homes wired with
    the NetPC and the Nova NetTV to see how the utility computing model
    could work in the home. And network server giant Sun
    Microsystems--whose slogan has long been "The network is the
    computer"--has already inked a deal to market the NetPC to enterprises
    and schools in India beginning this year. "There's a 100 million-unit
    opportunity in the next five years in India itself," Jain says.
    
    The difference between Jain's approach and Negroponte's is stark.
    Negroponte is world famous, and teamed up with Rupert Murdoch at Davos
    to promote One Laptop per Child (OLPC), a program to get computers
    into the hands of poor, rural users. Negroponte's XO laptop is truly
    innovative in its own right: it has no moving parts--it uses flash
    memory instead of a spinning hard disk--because they are prone to
    failure and overheating, and it uses so little power that it can run
    for hours on a car battery and can be charged by hand in a pinch. To
    extend Internet access, it uses "mesh networking" technology that
    turns each device into a relay that bounces the network onward.
    
    But the XO also needs help. Though Negroponte promises he'll meet the
    $100 mark by the end of 2008, today each XO costs about $140, even
    with subsidized parts. AMD, for instance, offer its processors and Chi
    Lin Technology supplies screens at prices below what they charge
    for-profit companies. So OLPC is dependent on the kindness of wealthy
    partners, and does not get great reviews for performance--at least
    from rivals in the for-profit business. Microsoft's Bill Gates has
    disparaged the machine as an underpowered and obsolete PC, and Intel
    executives call it a "100-dollar gadget."
    
    Novatium's approach has been to completely redesign the computer,
    slashing costs while keeping the form and functions typical of a
    top-end PC. Once it's set up, it doesn't look all that different from
    a conventional PC--the basic box plus a keyboard and monitor. It
    installs and operates as simply as a television--you plug it in and
    switch it on. And the money doesn't come from government budgets or
    philanthropic largesse, but from Jain's profit-oriented business
    model. "We do want to serve people, but we want to be profitable
    first," says Novatium CEO Alok Singh, who was hired for his experience
    bringing new products to market at Cummins Auto Services Ltd.
    
    Negroponte is critical of Novatium's approach. For one thing, he
    argues that reliable networks aren't available in the rural areas
    where his target users live. He's adamant that the XO's approach, in
    which software resides on the PC, is better suited to India's needs.
    "The [Novatium] thin-client approach is not suited for the poor or
    developing [countries], because it leads to a metering economic model
    and presumes a stable, omnipresent, broadband network," he said in an
    e-mail. It's "a bit like buses versus bicycles. I would recommend the
    bicycle for daily use."
    
    The Novatium team makes no apologies. It is not targeting the deeply
    poor rural farmers that Negroponte sees as his market. It is looking
    first to make money on the urban middle class, where many people are
    too poor to buy PCs but have ready access to cable and
    telecommunications networks. Taking inspiration from University of
    Michigan management expert C. K. Prahalad, author of "The Fortune at
    the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits," Jain
    says that in India's PC market there are 10 million relatively wealthy
    Indians at the "top of the pyramid" who buy computers just like
    consumers in developed countries. There are an additional 30 million
    urban Indians at the "middle of the pyramid" and 100 million very poor
    Indians at the "bottom of the pyramid." "What we are saying is how can
    you dramatically bring down the entry levels for computing in this
    country and make it accessible to the middle of the pyramid?" he says.
    "This is the sweet spot."
    
    Novatium, of course, has a long way to go. It needs to build a network
    along the lines of those run by India's mobile and Internet service
    providers. For that, the company will need to partner with telecom or
    cable companies that are pushing broadband Internet access. (It is
    working to line up a contract with a few small cable companies, which
    if successful could lead to deals with larger broadband firms like
    Airtel, Hathway, Sify, Tata Indicom and state-owned BSNL and MTNL.)
    Success will bring competition from Western firms such as San Jose,
    Calif. -based Wyse, which already sells some network PCs to India's IT
    firms. But Wyse and the others aren't yet interested in the home
    market. And Novatium has licensed its technology to Sun Microsystems
    for the enterprise and education markets so Novatium can focus on
    selling to home users. Jain is hoping that that head start plus a rich
    offering of features--such as streaming video, video-on-demand and
    voice-over-IP, which other low-cost thin-client PCs don't offer--will
    give Novatium an edge for at least a few years.
    
    Down the road, Jain envisions his device transforming the computing
    landscape. "It's taken a quarter century for computer makers worldwide
    to get to 700 million users," he says. "The utility and network
    computing model can double that number in the next five years. That
    means there's a huge opportunity for the likes of Dell, HP, Lenovo,
    Intel, Microsoft and so on, and the entire existing computer value
    chain. But they'll have to reinvent their businesses. They have to
    look at an entirely different model." And they'll have to look to
    India.
    URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/42955
    
    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn

    #12564 From: Voice of South <voice_of_south@...>
    Date: Thu Sep 4, 2008 9:00 pm
    Subject: Nobel laureate Yunus blasts Telenor ethics in Bangladesh
    voice_of_south
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     

    Nobel laureate Yunus blasts Telenor ethics in Bangladesh

     

    Norwegian telecom operator Telenor, which recently tightened ethical procedures in Bangladesh, still has sub-contractors there using child labour, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus charged Thursday.

    Telenor was forced to review and strengthen its ethical guidelines after Norwegian media last May revealed deplorable conditions for workers, including children as young as 13, who supply antenna towers to GrameenPhone, one of the Norwegian company's subsidiaries in Bangladesh.

    To read the full story, please visit:

    http://voiceofsouth.org/2008/09/04/nobel-telenor/

     

    Thank you,

     

    Founder

    Voice of South



    #12563 From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" <fredericknoronha@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 1:23 am
    Subject: Slumdwellers ... and computing
    fredericknoronha@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    http://slumdweller.wikispaces.com/
    
    Most of you are aware of slum night school that we are trying to run.
    These centers face difficulties in elevating the interests of the
    students and populating the days with committed volunteers. Both of
    these problem fuel each other and eventually the center becomes
    unsustainable.
    
    How about trying out a personal computer in the center? Will this
    evoke interests from the students? How about funding a part time/full
    time teacher in the center to handle the class? AID with Stri Jagruti
    Samiti trying out a computer learning center in Groupanpalya. There
    are few I, II PUC and 9th STD kids will be attending this center. One
    of our friends from Honey well is trying to get a new PC from his
    company. But, one PC is not enough. We need 2 to 3 more.
    
    This mail is to request you to donate your old PC's and laptops that
    you may be thinking to replace. Any PC or Laptop with just 256MB ram
    or above and with 10GB hard disk should do the job. I already
    conducted couple of classes there last two Saturdays with just 1
    laptop. Yesterday(Feb 16), ten students turned up and even 2 laptop
    can hardly meet out the needs to provide some computer access time to
    these kids. Populating this center with few PC's will help us and the
    kids to come together and organize a nice night school, I believe.
    
    Please let me know as quickly as you can on what is possible. Also, as
    usual, I would like to know who can come and handle classes on few
    introduction, office, internet access,etc on computers. This center is
    just behind the IBM office in Bannerghatta road.
    
    http://slumdweller.wikispaces.com/
    
    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn

    #12562 From: "Frederick \"FN\" Noronha" <fredericknoronha@...>
    Date: Fri Sep 5, 2008 1:22 am
    Subject: Urban informatics on Facebook...
    fredericknoronha@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    Cities are exciting. Cities are buzzing. They are alive with movement.
    A rapid flow of exchange is facilitated by a meshwork of
    infrastructure connections: road systems, building complexes,
    information and communication technology and people networks. In this
    environment, the internet has advanced to become the prime
    communication medium that connects many threads across the fabric of
    urban life. The increasing ubiquity of internet services and
    applications has led many scholars to question the dichotomy between
    cyberspace and real space. New media and information and communication
    technology afford an increasingly seamless transition between mediated
    and unmediated forms of interaction. Driven by curiosity, initiative
    and interdisciplinary exchange, urban informatics is an emerging
    cluster of people interested in research and development at the
    intersection of people, place and technology with a focus on cities,
    locative media and mobile technology.
    
    http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2493830797
    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn

    #12561 From: "Fouad Bajwa" <fouadbajwa@...>
    Date: Wed Sep 3, 2008 10:31 am
    Subject: National ICT R&D Fund - Discussion with CEO
    fouadbajwa
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     
    Dear Qasim,
    
    Thank you for forwarding the list of projects funded by the National
    ICT R&D Fund. We appreciate the fact that this fund has been
    generously contributing to both academic and private sector research
    in the country and has a very strong focus on support Open Source
    Software related projects. Where there are some achievements by this
    fund, there are some significant problems we would like to take into
    critical consideration in the new IT Policy working group activities.
    
    I would like to bring to notice that the time taken to approve and
    deliver the project funding supports are both outrageous and
    cumbersome. Various stakeholders of these projects funded by the
    National ICT R&D Fund have reported project proposal approvals and
    funding to take anything between 6-15 months. Project funding
    installments are paid with lags of upto 12 months in certain events
    where companies seeking the funding have already developed their
    deliverable and after that they were paid the funds.This is not an
    opportunity but a disappointment. I did not want to share these facts
    publicly earlier in case people would lose their confidence in the
    National ICT R&D Fund as well.
    
    The critical areas that I would like to recommend are:
    
    1. Reduce the amount of scrutiny and redtapism in the process bringing
    down the time to approve and fund projects.
    
    2. Increase the scope and outreach of the fund to Civil Society,
    Individuals and ICT Think Tanks in the country without barriers such
    as organizational affiliations, members of Universities, research
    institutions etc.
    
    3. National ICT R&D Funding should be an opportunity for Pakistani
    Citizens, Researchers and Scientists and not a challenge
    
    4. The National ICT R&D Fund should immediately fund the working
    activity of the working groups making recommendations for the next IT
    Policy of Pakistan. The first meeting has already taken place in
    Lahore.
    The links of the meeting and pictures:
    http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/pakistanictpolicy/message/1405 and
    http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30136677675#/album.php?page=2&aid=6893\
    4&id=708676200
    
    5. Bring the fund directly under Ministry of IT without the pressure
    and pulling of PTA and any other body. Civil Society members should
    also preside on the board/committees of this fund and should not be
    100% decided by the Government. There should be transparency and
    accountability.
    
    6. The fund distributed should be modified to include: 30% Civil
    Society and Independent Researchers, 20% Academic Research, 20%
    Private Sector Research, 20% Public Sector Research, 10% Matching
    Grants Activity.
    
    7. The fund should be focused on national development and industry
    innovation. Some companies have applied and been approved for projects
    that already exist in the global market and their source codes are
    free for research and companies have only duplicated the projects.
    
    I hope you understand our concerns are valid and of course you must be
    aware of them but it is time we helped to fix such issues in the
    country for the benefit of our greater good and national development.
    
    Please keep in touch.
    
    Best Regards
    Fouad Bajwa
    
    
    On Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 10:00 AM, Qasim Sheikh
    <qasim.sheikh@...> wrote:
    > Dear Fouad,
    >
    >     At National ICT R&D Fund we understand the importance of the open source
    > phenomenon for Pakistan.  We have funded projects that are focused
    > at teaching students open source methodology as a part of software
    > engineering coursework.  Details about this project are given at
    > http://www.ictrdf.org.pk/fp-iossp.htm.
    >
    >
    >
    > Following is a list of projects that are funded by the National ICT R&D Fund
    > and focused at leveraging the open source paradigm to give a boost to the IT
    > industry and R&D in Pakistan.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > 1.      Development of Open Source Cell Library for MEMS Components Verified
    > Through Modeling and Simulation
    >
    >
    >
    > 2.      An Intelligent Secure Kernel for Next Generation Mobile Computing
    > Devices
    >
    >
    >
    > 3.      Network-Embedded Security using In-Network Packet Marking
    >
    >
    >
    > 4.      Technical Development for Automation of Banking System for
    > Microfinance Banks
    >
    >
    >
    > 5.      Clarity - Open source Enterprise Management System
    >
    >
    >
    > 6.      Adaptive English Language Teaching Tool
    >
    >
    >
    > 7.      Development of Open Source HMI
    >
    >
    >
    > 8.      Real Time MIMO and Cooperative MIMO Systems Test-bed for Wireless
    > Broadband Systems
    >
    >
    >
    > 9.      Investigating Wavelet based Video Coding and Video Conference
    > Applications
    >
    >
    >
    > 10.  Design and Development of an Open Source Enterprise Network Security
    > System
    >
    >
    >
    > 11.  Design and Implementation of the Core Components of the 4th Generation
    > Telecom Infrastructure
    >
    >
    >
    > 12.  A Bio-inspired Self-defending Security Framework for IP Multimedia
    > Subsystem (IMS)
    >
    >
    >
    > 13.  An Artificial Immune System Based General Purpose Intrusion Detection
    > System
    >
    >
    >
    > 14.  Integration of Open Source Software Projects in IT Education
    >
    >
    >
    > 15.  Characterization, Evaluation, and Development of High Performance
    > Network Services on Multi-Core Architectures
    >
    > 16.  Conversion of NGOSS Compliant, Web 2.0 Enabled Mediator, Rater and
    > Biller applications
    >
    >  With Regards
    >
    > Qasim Sheikh
    > CEO
    > National ICT R&D Fund
    > Telephone Number: +923008540838
    > url: www.ictrdf.org.pk
    >
    > On 8/29/08, Fouad Bajwa <fouadbajwa@...> wrote:
    >>
    >> The Ministry of IT Pakistan, P@SHA, PSEB, OSRC, HEC, Academia,
    >> Researchers, Civil Society and Private Sector should learn from the
    >> following Malaysian Example:
    >>
    >> Malaysian Government launches new initiatives for increased Open
    >> Source and OpenOffice.org deployment in public sector and schools
    >>
    >> MAMPU Press Release
    >> www.oscc.org.my
    >>
    >> Malaysian Government launches new initiatives for increased Open
    >> Source and OpenOffice.org deployment in public sector and schools
    >>
    >> Chief Minister of Terengganu launches state wide pilot of
    >> OpenOffice.org deployment in schools in conjuction with OSS
    >> Accelerated Adoption Seminars. Awards given for best case studies of
    >> successful government Open Source projects.
    >>
    >> Kuala Terengganu, MALAYSIA. (May 27th 2008) -- Coinciding with the
    >> fourth regional OSS Accelerated Adoption Seminar this year, Malaysian
    >> Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU), the
    >> Ministry of Education and the State Government of Terengganu are
    >> launching initiatives for increased adoption of Open Source Software
    >> in government and schools.
    >>
    >> The OSS Accelerated Adoption Seminars is a national initiative to
    >> promote increased awareness and adoption of OSS by government
    >> agencies. To encourage knowledge sharing of successful deployments,
    >> MAMPU has been providing awards to the best case studies that have
    >> been shared from each region. They are provided for categories of IT
    >> infrastructure, business applications and desktop applications. To
    >> date they have highlighted successful implementations such as the
    >> Meterology Department regional network, the desktop implementation for
    >> Melaka and statewide deployment of OpenOffice.org in Kedah. For the
    >> East Coast states over a dozen case studies have shown successful Open
    >> Source software implementations of e-government applications from
    >> Pahang and Terengganu.
    >>
    >> OpenOffice.org in Schools Pilot lauched today by the Chief Minister of
    >> Terengganu supports the increased adoption of OSS and deployment for
    >> the upcoming generation of Malaysians. OpenOffie.org is an Open Source
    >> software alternative for office productivity software. The pilot phase
    >> in the state involves deployment to over 100 schools since January
    >> 2008.
    >>
    >> From January 2009, all 467 schools will start using OpenOffice.org in
    >> the state. It is planned that this will be expanded nationally to over
    >> 300,000 PCs in schools. The savings in licensing costs, support for
    >> open standards and platform neutrality and increased security from
    >> threat of document viruses of this software will provide better
    >> delivery of education services by students and teachers.
    >>
    >> Seminars highlight accelerated adoption of OSS in public sector
    >>
    >> The proven success of Phase I of the governments' Open Source Master
    >> Plan has shown that the the adoption of OSS in the government sector
    >> in several pilot projects are cost effective and provide better
    >> service delivery.
    >>
    >> Now in Phase II, the OSS Accelerated Adoption Seminars are an
    >> initiative of MAMPU to promote and highlight increased adoption of OSS
    >> throughout the public sector. This seminar with over 500 attendees,
    >> the final of the year for regional seminars is held in Kuala
    >> Terengganu for the states of Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu. To date
    >> over 281 agencies have already adopted OSS for the provision of IT
    >> services. This represents a ten-fold increase since original launch of
    >> the Master Plan in 2003.
    >>
    >> Adoption of the open source office suite, OpenOffice.org for state
    >> government agencies is now official in the states of Melaka, Kedah,
    >> Pahang and Sabah. States like Melaka and Kedah have been deploying
    >> OpenOffice.org and OSS since 2003. Most recently Pahang State
    >> Government has issued a circular on the states intention for all state
    >> agencies to migrate to Openoffice.org. Combined they have saved
    >> millions in ringgit for licensing fees, expenditure now spent locally
    >> to provide better public services in their respective states.
    >>
    >> In conjunction with the seminars, awards are given to recognise the
    >> best case studies of OSS implementations for each region. Highlights
    >> for the East Coast include Terengganu State Government Data Centre and
    >> e-Government projects all fully utilising open source software. The
    >> Terengganu State government has also setup a community training centre
    >> that has trained over 20,000 state citizens with IT skills using open
    >> source software on 585 Linux desktops.
    >>
    >> In Pahang, an online information system for Vetrinary Services
    >> developed locally using OSS software has won national awards for
    >> innovation. A common finding for the case studies was increased
    >> security as OSS deployments of OpenOffice.org and Desktops were not
    >> affected by viruses.
    >>
    >> The case studies also highlighted that staff were able to build their
    >> skills and knowledge due to the wealth of free information and
    >> tutorials associated with the OSS technologies available on the
    >> Internet. Furthermore with OSS, these initiatives can be deployed and
    >> developed and shared with other agencies without expensive licensing
    >> costs further providing avenues for cost savings, skills and knowledge
    >> sharing nationally within the public sector.
    >>
    >> MOE launches pilot project of OpenOffice.org deployment in schools
    >>
    >> The Ministry of Education with the support of MAMPU and the state
    >> government of Terengganu, also launched the pilot project for the
    >> deployment of OpenOffice.org in schools. The pilot starts with the
    >> deployment of OpenOffice.org in over 100 schools in the State of
    >> Terengganu. These include both urban and rural schools.
    >>
    >> To date most school administrators and staff in the state have already
    >> been trained on the use of OpenOffice.org. Over the next 2 years, the
    >> Ministry of Education plans to build on this initiative and deploy
    >> OpenOffice.org in over 300,000 PCs in schools throughout the country.
    >>
    >> The project is being implemented with the support of the Terenganu
    >> State Education Department with commitment and financial support from
    >> the State Government of Terengganu through the Implementation
    >> Committee chaired by B. En. Ahmad Razif bin Abdul Rahman the director
    >> for the Science, Technology and Human Resources Committee for the
    >> State of Terengganu. The implementaiton of this project hopes to
    >> achieve increased knowledge sharing and innovation for computer users
    >> with the optimum license and minimal cost.
    >>
    >> About OSCC, MAMPU
    >>
    >> Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit
    >> MAMPU's Open Source Competency Centre is first and single point of
    >> reference for support and guidance in the implementation of Open
    >> Source Software in the Public Sector. OSS Initiative is a cabinet
    >> decision. The Malaysian Administrative Modernization and Management
    >> Planning Unit, (MAMPU) was directed to study the feasibility of
    >> implementing OSS in the Malaysian Government Agencies.
    >>
    >> In response to the directive, MAMPU has prepared a Memorandum entitled
    >> "Proposal on OSS Implementation in the Public Sector of Malaysia". The
    >> proposal recommendations were tabled by MAMPU and endorsed by the
    >> Malaysian Government on 19 June 2002. OSS implementation in the Public
    >> Sector will be carried out concurrently with the building of necessary
    >> infrastructure such as technical support and human resource reskilling
    >> and development. However, changes will be introduced in stages to
    >> ensure that there is least disruption to the services offered by the
    >> Public Sector and that change is managed well.
    >>
    >> About Ministry of Education
    >>
    >> The Malaysian Ministry of Education objective is to develop a
    >> world-class quality education system which will realise the full
    >> potential
    >> of the individual and fulfill the aspiration of the Malaysian nation.
    >> It oversees all primary and high school education in Malaysia.
    >>
    >> http://www.moe.gov.my/tayang.php?laman=utama&unit=utama&bhs=en
    >>
    >> About Terengganu State Government
    >>
    >> The Terengganu State Government is comprised of the Chief Minister and
    >> elected State Assembly which governs the state of Terengganu.
    >>
    >> Terengganu is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia.
    >> The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman ("Abode of
    >> Faith"). The coastal city of Kuala Terengganu which stands at the
    >> mouth of the broad Terengganu River is both the state and royal
    >> capital as well as the largest city in Terengganu.
    >>
    >> About OpenOffice.org
    >>
    >> OpenOffice.org provides everything most people need in an office
    >> productivity suite. It is stable, reliable, and robust, built up over
    >> twenty years' development. It is actively developed, with several
    >> releases every year. The main components of the OpenOffice.org Suite
    >> are the Writer wordprocessor; the Calc spreadsheet; Impress for
    >> presentations; Draw for graphics; and the Base database.
    >>
    >> OpenOffice.org uses the OpenDocument Format OASIS Standard (ISO/IEC
    >> 26300) as well as supporting legacy file formats such as Microsoft
    >> Office, and is available on major computing platforms in over 80
    >> languages. OpenOffice.org software is provided under the GNU Lesser
    >> General Public Licence (LGPL) and may be used free of charge for any
    >> purpose, private or commercial.
    >>
    >> http://marketing.openoffice.org/press_kit.html
    >>
    >> Additional Resources
    >>
    >> Open Source Case Study Awards
    >> http://www.oscc.org.my/content/view/194/128/
    >>
    >> Open Source Case Studies on OSCC Knowledge Bank
    >> http://knowledge.oscc.org.my/case-studies/malaysian-case-studies
    >>
    >> Malaysian OpenOffice.org adoption wiki
    >>
    >>
    http://knowledge.oscc.org.my/solution-areas/desktop/OpenOffice.org/openoffice-ad\
    option
    >>
    >> Media Contact
    >>
    >> OSCC MAMPU
    >> contact [21@] oscc . org . my
    >> Ph: 603 8319 1200
    >> Fax: 603 8319 3206
    >>
    >> Malaysia's schools get OpenOffice.org
    >> URL: http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/software/0,39044164,62045435,00.htm
    >>
    >> Archive
    >>
    >>
    >> http://blog.harisfazillah.info/2008/08/malaysian-government-launches-new.html
    >>
    >>
    >
    >
    >
    > --
    > With Regards
    >
    > Qasim Sheikh
    > CEO
    > National ICT R&D Fund
    > Telephone Number: +923008540838
    > url: www.ictrdf.org.pk
    
    
    
    --
    
    Regards.
    --------------------------
    Fouad Bajwa

    #12560 From: vinay@...
    Date: Wed Sep 3, 2008 1:58 pm
    Subject: Draft Policy on Open standards for e-Gov in India -Open for Public review
    vinay.sreeni...
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     
    Hi All,
    
    The government has released a draft version of a Policy on Open standards
    for e-Governance. It is presently open for Public review.
    
    Please find the policy at the link below-
    http://egovstandards.gov.in/Policy_Open_Std_review
    
    The policy seems to have some really good points like-
    5.1) Mandatory Characteristics:
    5.1.1)Selected Standard should be Royalty Free for life time of the standard.
    5.1.2)Selected Standard should be developed in a collaborative and consensus
    manner and not led by a single agency or a small closed group of interested
    parties
    5.1.3)Selected Standard should be recursively open; They shall not use
    unpublished extensions
    
    However we really do need to look at it with greater detail and discuss
    the same.
    
    I have also attached the policy with this email.
    
    Thanks,
    Vinay Sreenivasa
    IT for Change
    vinay@...
    91-98805-95032

    #12559 From: "Frederick Noronha [फ़रेदरिक नोरोनया]" <fredericknoronha@...>
    Date: Thu Sep 4, 2008 8:31 pm
    Subject: September 4, 2008. Appropriate IP System Touted For Local Science-Based Industry In Islamic Nations
    fredericknoronha@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    September 4, 2008. Appropriate IP System Touted For Local
    Science-Based Industry In Islamic Nations
    
    By Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch Growth of
    intellectual property rights depends on the level of technological
    development and most Islamic countries are seen as marginalised and
    scientifically lagging least-developed countries. This has led some
    experts in the regions to call for a system-wide approach to make IP
    rights supportive to local knowledge-based industry with low
    innovation capacity and avoid its negative effects including
    restrictive access to new knowledge as well as the high price of new
    technologies imposed by a strong IP regime.
    
    Link to the article: http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=1209
    
    --
    FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
    Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
    Tech links from South Asia: http://twitter.com/fn

    #12558 From: Voice of South <voice_of_south@...>
    Date: Wed Sep 3, 2008 3:23 pm
    Subject: Deutsche Welle relaunches Bengali website
    voice_of_south
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     

    Press Release: Deutsche Welle relaunches Bengali website

     

    Web Link: www.dw-world.de/bengali

     

    Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany's international broadcaster, has announced the relaunch of its webpage in Bengali.

     

    Speaking at a meeting of Deutsche Welle listeners' clubs in Dhaka, Grahame Lucas, Head of the DW South Asia Department, described the move as recognition of the growing importance of the internet in Bangladesh as a source of information and as a platform for radio and TV broadcasts.

     

    According to Grahame Lucas the Deutsche Welle Bengali website offers a wide range of information ranging from news and current affairs to sport, culture, civil society, science, the environment, education and dialogue between the West and the Muslim world. There is also a special section containing reports on developments in Germany and Europe.

    Another feature of the site is the live stream facility for DW Radio and DW-TV programmes. Deutsche Welle's Bengali Service broadcasts two 30 minute radio programmes to Bangladesh and West Bengal every day.

     

    The initial user reaction to the site has been very positive with strong growth in the number of recorded visits, he said. Grahame Lucas said he was confident that this trend on www.dw-world.de/bengali would continue, especially after the introduction of new services such as podcasting and newsletters in the coming months.

     

    Note: This is a press release from Deutsche Welle. Sender just forwards it to inform people about this new initiative. More details: www.dw-world.de/bengali



    #12557 From: Sunil Abraham <sunil@...>
    Date: Wed Sep 3, 2008 4:44 pm
    Subject: Draft policy on Open standards for e-Gov in India -Open for Public review
    sunil@...
    Send Email Send Email
     
    -------- Forwarded Message --------
    From: vinay@...
    Subject: Draft policy on Open standards for e-Gov in India -Open for
    Public review
    Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 07:15:52 -0700 (PDT)
    
    Hi All,
    
    The government has released a draft version of a Policy on Open standards
    for e-Governance. It is presently open for Public review.
    
    Please find the policy at the link below-
    http://egovstandards.gov.in/Policy_Open_Std_review
    
    The policy seems to have some really good points like-
    5.1) Mandatory Characteristics:
    5.1.1)Selected Standard should be Royalty Free for life time of the standard.
    5.1.2)Selected Standard should be developed in a collaborative and consensus
    manner and not led by a single agency or a small closed group of interested
    parties
    5.1.3)Selected Standard should be recursively open; They shall not use
    unpublished extensions
    
    However we really do need to look at it with greater detail and discuss
    the same.
    
    I have also attached the policy with this email.
    
    Thanks,
    Vinay

    #12556 From: "V. Sasi Kumar" <sasi.fsf@...>
    Date: Wed Sep 3, 2008 4:55 pm
    Subject: Re: INDIA: 1.5 million Kerala school students to have email id (IANS.in)
    vsasikumarcess
    Offline Offline
    Send Email Send Email
     
    As of now, using the Internet is taught as part of the IT curriculum. In
    the tenth standard, the children are expected to use the Internet to
    collect information for doing their project work. As part of this, email
    also appears as a service available on the Net. They are also expected
    to learn to do a Google search, collect information and store them for
    later use. Consequently, they are also expected to know about pdf, jpeg,
    etc. file formats.
    
    Best
    Sasi
    
    On Tue, 2008-09-02 at 19:18 +0530, Ananya Guha wrote:
    > This is great news, but the internet training should consist of a
    > module, by which they have access to sites, which will make them
    > interactive and creative. The misuse of the internet is a dangerous
    > portent these days, and even sites like Orkut etc, could lead them
    > astray. A crash course on cyber laws could be effective.
    >
    > Ananya S Guha.
    >
    >
    >
    --
    V. Sasi Kumar
    Free Software Foundation of India
    http://swatantryam.blogspot.com

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