| Frederick Noronha (FN) on Wed, 27 Aug 2003 17:08:47 +0200 (CEST) |
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| <nettime> BytesForAll * September 2003 ezine... (Copyleft) |
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ B y t e s F o r A l l --- http://www.bytesforall.org _/ Making Computing Relevant to the People of South Asia _/ SEP03 * http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers _/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ The "Open Source Approach" to develop informational goods has been spectacularly successful, particularly in the area for which it was developed, software. Also beyond software, there are important, successful Open Source projects such as the free Encyclopedia, Wikipedia; collaborative sites writing/publishing projects such as koro5hin.org; and the Distributed Proofreading Project, attached to the Gutenberg Project. ....(This) does not mean that the "open source model" cannot apply to, say, the production of literary works, music, or medical drugs. What it means, however, is that to make it viable, another round of social innovation is required. This is slowly happening. The growth of "Open Access Journals" or discussions around "compulsory licensing" are good, though very early examples. -- Felix Stalder <felix@openflows.org> on the Nettime mailing list, titled 'Six limitations to the current Open Source developmental methodology'. URDU RESEARCH CENTRE: South Asia IT mailing list which can be found at (http://mailman.apnic.net/mailman/listinfo/s-asia-it) tells us that the Center for Research in Urdu Language Processing at National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (www.nu.edu.pk) in Pakistan has released the beta character-based Nafees Nasta'leeq Open Type Font for writing Urdu in Naskh script based on Unicode standard. This work has been funded through Small Grants Program by IDRC, APDIP, UNDP and APNIC. Nafees Nasta'leeq is freely downloadable from www.crulp.org or www.crulp.nu.edu.pk. INTERNET HANDBOOK FOR ASIA: Bangalore-based IT consultant and writer Dr Madanmohan Rao has recently edited "The Asia-Pacific Internet Handbook" and "The Knowledge Management Chronicles". Check it out at http://www.tatamcgrawhill.com/digital_solutions/madan FOUR INITIATIVES FROM INFODEV: infoDev will launch four initiatives -- an e-security network study (contact: Michel H. Maechler, mmaechler@worldbank.org), a free/libre and open source software toolkit , a program on lessons learned from infoDev projects and an infodev case studies (contact Jacqueline Dubow, jdubow@worldbank.org for the above three) FOR PUBLIC SECTOR DECISION MAKERS: OpenSector.org, is for the public sector decision makers meet the people, projects and principles of the open source software (OSS) movement to bring the benefits of free software to their constituents and where OSS developers and organizations can find opportunities and advocate for adoption of free software. http://opensector.org/ NEW GKD DATABASE ON OFFER: For the past six years, thousands of people worldwide have generously shared their experience on IT for development via GKD, the Global Knowledge for Development mailing-list. "We believe that shared knowledge is extremely valuable, and thus we have developed a database that makes it easy to quickly find messages about various key topics. I hope that you will find this unique tool to be a powerful resource for researchers, educators, donors, journalists, and others with an interest in using ICTs for development," says Centre for Innovative Technologies EDC director Janice Brodman <jbrodman@edc.org> Check out the new GKD database resource at: http://www.GKDknowledge.org. FREE-AS-IN-FREEDOM WINDOWS? Swatantra software for Windows? See an Indian compilation. Write for a copy to Mahesh T. Pai, LL.M., 'Nandini', S. R. M. Road, Ernakulam, Cochin-682018, Kerala, India. http://in.geocities.com/paivakil Email paivakil@vsnl.net WATER LINKS, FROM NEW DELHI: Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi says one of its most successful initiatives on this front has been Water Links, a directory of individuals and organisations, engaged in activities related to water harvesting in different parts of India and rest of the world. They have a new website, www.rainwaterharvesting.org STUDYING INDIA'S NATIONAL RIVER LINKING PLAN: Check out the website http://indianenvironmentonline.net/riverlink, which is a programme to compile the information about the recently proposed National River Linking Plan. Says its promoters: "This questionnaire will cover all the positive and negative aspects of river linking plan from scientific to economic and environmental aspects and its future effect and if you are not supporting the link what is the alternate solution for our water problem," says Tamil Selvan, editor of the Indian Environment Online. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - BATTLING ILLITERACY, TATA STYLE: On August 14, BytesForAll finally met with Anthony Lobo and Maj Gen B G Shively (Retd) of the Tata Consultancy Services. We've been following their work in the field of using computers to battle illiteracy for some time now, actually since June 2000 when the story first emerged in the technical press. In brief, they use a software product of theirs to help just about anyone teach adult illiterates to get access to 'functional literacy'. The focus is on reading skills (so that anyone can read a few basic words, maybe even simple newspaper headlines and sign-boards... rather than just being able to sign one's name). What is interesting is that TCS claims this program is 90% successful, and can convert an adult into 'functionally literate' in just about 40 hours of teach. What's more, anyone can teach -- since the computer does most of the work, one doesn't need to be a skilled teacher. Each teacher can take a number of classes without getting tired. TCS is a commercial firm. But this is a free-of-cost software, which is available to anyone without charge willing to implement it for community benefit. There are no hidden costs. The lessons tie up with the programs and books of the National Literacy Mission, and Indian attempt to fight illiteracy nationwide. NLM's books are inexpensively priced, each costing around five rupees or so... Because of obvious constraints over resources, TCS currently has only the software program in five languages -- Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil and Bengali. Gujarati is being worked on. Some links you might find useful: Maj Gen B G Shively, AVSM (Retd) Consulting Advisor, Tata Consultancy Services, Pune bshively@pune.tcs.co.in Anthony Lobo, TCS, Air India Bldg, 10th Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021 Tel 56689378 anthonyl@mumbai.tcs.co.in National Literacy Mission (India) site http://nlm.nic.in http://www.tataliteracy.com Site explaining the TCS idea of promoting functional literacy through low-end computers. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - INTERACTIVE-VOICE AT BANGALORE'S TREASURIES: Bangalore's Department of Treasuries now has an interactive voice response system (IVRS) at the district treasuries of Bangalore City and Bangalore Rural. The IVRS provides the latest information on the status of pending bills to drawing officers and the public. Officials argued that thanks to the new system, a major case of overdrawal and wrong claims by banks disbursing pensions and family pension could be rectified. The contact numbers for the IVRS are 2350202 and 2350303 (in Bangalore) See http://hinduonnet.com/stories/2003081703280400.htm SOFTWARE FOR TAXPAYERS: www.incometaxindia.com is a new website for the Income Tax Department. It offers a new software developed by IT Dept to make life easier for taxpayers, accessibility from home or office, all tax-related information. FIND YOUR BUDGET HOTEL: www.budgetstays.com is promising a "single stop shop" for finding hotels, homestays, inns, lodges, resorts, tour and travel operators, money changers, jungle lodges, travel agents and more in India. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FOR NOT-FOR-PROFITS: Topsys Solutions <topsys@vsnl.com> of Bangalore is offering a financial accounting package for non-profit organisations. Accounts21 version for non-profits offers accounting plus two reports -- an income and expenditure statement, and a receipts and payments statement. The single-user version is priced at Rs 5000. See www.topsyssolutions.com. ONLINE TOOLKIT FOR NON-PROFITS: The Association for Progressive Communications (APC), with the support of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), has developed an online toolkit to assist nongovernmental organizations in understanding the impact of information and communications technology policy on their work. See the toolkit: http://www.apc.org/english/capacity/policy/curriculum.shtml INDIA TURNS TO COMMUNITY COMPUTING: Interesting interview by Technology Review magazine with Kenneth Keniston, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Human Development at MIT. Keniston, who serves as director of MIT's India Program, is interested in the proliferation of ICT4D initiatives -- an acronym used in global development circles to describe the use of information and communications technologies for development. Keniston discusses some of India's leading ICT4D initiatives, including Gyandoot, the Bhoomi land records project and Drishtee's Community Information Centers. He is particularly eager to work with Indian researchers to quantify the impact of ICT4D initiatives and identify strategies to make them sustainable. "My fear is that ICT4D could become one of the development fads that follow the boom and bust cycle," he says. "Billions of dollars are being spent on ICT4D -- but if it crashes, people may feel that the money is better spent on something else. To prevent that we need to know what works and what doesn't work, how costly it is, and who can pay for it." SOURCE: MIT Technology Review http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/print_version/ wo_keniston081303.asp (url may wrap). ASIA-PACIFIC REVIEW: See the Digital Review of Asia Pacific: Riding the waves of change: Transforming the digital divide into digital opportunities. The authors participating in this initiative belong to the same diverse constituencies as the target audiences and come from 27 economies in the region, including areas for which almost no data was available until very recently. http://www.digital-review.org/ THE DOT.ORG REVOLUTION: Janmanch (http://www.janmanch.org) is a project of the New Delhi-based Centre for Research into Environment and Development Online (CREDO). More about CREDO at http://www.janmanch.org/credo.asp They say: "We believe in the dot org revolution and in the importance of information and communication technology in furthering activism and non-profit endeavour. CEDO offers a range of services as far as IT goes: >From building basic websites to creating complex databases. But we only work with non-governmental, non-profit organisations. Our roster of clients is available at http://www.janmanch.org/custom.asp. We offer competitive rates, but more importantly, offer a mindset towards development that mirrors that of your organisation. If you wish to utilise our services, specially subsidised for NGOs, VOs and other non-profit groupings, or know someone who needs it, feel free to contact us at thecredo@vsnl.net" UNV's WSIS Project: The United Nations Volunteers has formed a special team of online volunteers to research the impact of ICT Volunteers on our Information Society, according to David D'Barrio Lamarche <david.barrio@unvolunteers.org>. Says Barrio: "We aim to research the contributions of ICT volunteers on our Information Society as they relate to the UN's Millennium Development Goals. To do so, we want to reach out to as many organizations as we can that engage ICT Volunteers. We then plan to share the wealth of information we find with those involved in the world summit as well as those concerned about how the MDGs are being reached through the use of ICT. The Online Volunteering team hopes our project will uncover and present the qualitative impact of ICT Volunteering on the MDGs as well as promote advocacy in volunteering in ICT. If you can help us gather successful stories or experiences on any of the MDGs it would be greatly appreciated". For more information, visit http://www.unites.org/wsis or email the group coordinator: david.barrio@unvolunteers.org SEMINAR IN MALYSIA: The theme is -- "ICTs in Asia : Do we know enough?" Noida-based magazine 'i4d' is announcing a seminar to highlight the successes and failures in information for development attempts in the "developing" world; get key information-for-development related projects showcased; and provide an opportunity for academic and pragmatic discussions on the information for development related issues. These seminars will be held in various parts of the developing world encompassing Asia, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean countries. The first of these seminars is planned to be held as a one-day event at Kuala Lumpur on October 14, 2003. Details at www.i4donline.net/seminar Contact Manish Kumar, Senior Research Associate, i4d (Information for Development) G-4, Sector 39, NOIDA 201301,India Tel No. +91-120-2502180 - 87 Fax +91-120-2500060 www.i4donline.net ORGANIC AGRI PORTAL: Sanjay Verma <sanver@sanver.com> recently announced their web portal on organic agriculture. Says he: "We are in the process of launching a portal focused on organic Agriculture (http://www.sanver.biz). The stated objective is to provide a platform for people involved in production and marketing of organically produced agricultural produce, agricultural inputs used in organic cultivation and for people who are either provider or user of services like organic certification, soil testing laboratories, training etc. to interact with each other." He says the site is dynamic and database driven. It has facilities whereby sellers and buyers can post their requirements or browse through the listing. Other resources include knowledge articles written by invited experts, links to useful knowledge resources on the Net. Interested organizations and individuals can post their profile too on the site free of cost. Still in beta stage. Details from: Sanjay Verma, Promoter, M/s Sanver Agri Biz http://www.sanver.biz M/s Sanver E-Solutions http://www.sanver.com Mumbai, India Mobile # 9892481284 sanver@sanver.biz BUDDHISM GUIDE: The Buddhist Scholars Information Network (H-Buddhism), H-Net Humanities & Social Sciences Online, Michigan State University, USA. Supplied note: "We would like to remind those of you who teach in graduate studies programs that have tracks in Asian Philosophy/Religion [i.e. Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism or Hinduism - ed.] to do an occasional check of the Graduate Studies Guide hosted at the H-Buddhism site, to ensure that the information regarding your institution is complete and up-to-date. See [the URL below]. Updates and new listings can be forwarded to the H-Buddhism web editor, Bill Kirtz, at (kirtz@beld.net). - cm.".... URL http://www.h-net.org/~buddhism/GradStudies.htm -------------------------------------------------------------- Src: The Asian Studies WWW Monitor ISSN 1329-9778 URL http://coombs.anu.edu.au/asia-www-monitor.html 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 bYtES For aLL is a voluntary, unfunded venture. CopyLeft, 2003. bYtES For aLL e-zine volunteers team includes: Frederick Noronha in Goa, Partha Sarkar in Dhaka, Zunaira Durrani in Karachi, Zubair Abbasi in Islamabad, Archana Nagvenkar in Goa, Arun-Kumar Tripathi in Darmstatd, Shivkumar in Mumbai, Sangeeta Pandey in Nepal, Rajkumar Buyya in Melbourne, Mahrukh Mohiuddin in Dhaka and Deepa Rai in Kathmandu, among others. If you'd like to volunteer in any way, please get in touch. BytesForAll's website www.bytesforall.org is maintained by Partha Sarkar, with inputs from other members of the volunteers' team and supporters. 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