| Frederick Noronha on Sun, 5 Dec 1999 01:13:16 +0100 (CET) |
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| <nettime> bYtES For aLL Issue # 4 , December 1999 |
01010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010 10101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101 01010101 bYtES For aLL * bYtES For aLL * bYtES For aLL 10101010 10101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101 n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s w i l l m e a n h a v i n g m o r e i n t h e h a v e-n o t c a m p i f w e a r e n o t c a r e f u l 10101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101 01010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010 0101010101 Issue No 4 * DEC 1999 1010101010 1010101010 AN OCCASIONAL NEWSLETTER TO MAKE 0101010101 0101010101 COMPUTING AND TECHNOLOGY 1010101010 1010101010 FRIENDLY TO THE NEEDS OF THE MILLIONS 0101010101 1010101010 Compiler: Frederick Noronha [email protected] 0101010101 0101010101 SPECIAL ISSUE: NON-ENGLISH COMPUTING 1010101010 10101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101 01010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010 ****************************************************************** ################################################################# INDIAN LANGUAGES IN CYBERSPACE Source: News reports ################################################################# VSNL, India's main Internet Service Provider, has launched a multilingual e-mail facility for its subscribers. VNSL has made available the shareware version of the Centre for Advance Computing C-DAC's iLeap multilingual word processor on its website. Users can download this and use the software to send e- mail in 13 Indian languages. Versions on VSNL's website is timebound. Its price is Rs 2000, but VSNL subscribers can purchase it for Rs 500. Check http://www.vsnl.net.in/ ################################################################# MORE ON INDIAN LANGUAGES USE IN COMPUTING Source: News reports ################################################################# The market for multi-lingual computing in India is on the verge of boom time, reports the COMPUTERS TODAY magazine. More and more products are being made, and private vendors are thirsting to get into R&D activities. Some firms offering Indian-language software products: * LINGUA INDICA. Apple Computer, 17 MG Road, Bangalore 560001 Indian language kit-solution for projects. * CIRRUS Cirrus Software, Kamla Heights, 433D Somwar Peth, Pune 411001. Marketing for modular systems, training. * AKRUTI: Cyberspace Multimedia, 941, 1Fl, 21st Main, 22nd A Cross, Banashankari II Stage, Bangalore. Products: Akruti Freedom (10 Indian script fonts), Akruti Office, Akruti Publisher, Akruti Web-Publisher, Akruti Subh Labh (for Win-based financial accounting). * GIST: C-DAC, Pune Univ Campus, Pune 411 007. Apex Language Processor (APL), multi-lingual wordprocessor running under DOS and UNIX. Leap Office, an integral language solution for MS-Windows. Leap Personal Publisher, iLeap (intelligent Internet-ready Indian language word processor), Gist Card (one-stop solution for all character-based multi-lingual applications on MS-DOS), LISP (state of the art advanced creation station for Language Independent Programme Subtitles), etc. * MODULAR SYSTEMS: Electronics Estate, Pune Satara Rd, Pune 411009 avishkar (language font styles), Suchika (multilingual database utilities), Prateek Pro (identity card software), Shree Lekha (font pack for multimedia), etc. * SEACOM: 25/5/2, No1 Tukaram Warehouse, Kandhwa Badruk, Pune 411 048. Sulpi One (1 script of your choice, 10 fonts, extensive library of Indian symbols, spell checker, editor, three popular keyboard layouts.) Sulpi Two, Sulpi Lite, etc. * NATURAL SOFTWARES, C12A, Prithvi Apts, Prithiviraj Marg, C Scheme, Jaipur 302001. Products: BancMate, Win-based bilingual banking software. * SRG SYSTEMS 35/3/A Langford Rd, Bangalore 560025 Products: Shabdratna Super (DOS-based bilingual software with editor, fully menu driven with telex/email facility), Karyalaya 2000 (complete multilingual office automation system), Inex Database (multilingual business online support system), Hinscript (memory resident programme, users can get input/output in the regional language without altering user programme) * SUMMIT IT: A18 Hauz Khas, Delhi 110016 Product: Indica, for DTP * SOFTEK LTD, M42 Commercial Complex, Gr KailashII, NDelhi48 Products: Akshar, bilingual word processor. Akshar for Windows, runs in conjunction with MS Word. Devbase (standalone database management system which stores bilingual information and has transliteration facility.) * INDOMAIL http://www.lastech.com Sends e-mail in 12 languages. ################################################################# LOCALISING LINUX IN INDIAN LANGUAGES ################################################################# The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore and FreeOS.Com are looking for 'champions' who can take up the cause of localising Linux in Indian languages. The goal of this Indianisation project is to ensure that the benefits of Information Technology percolate down to the Indian masses. They say: "We want to make technology accessible to the other 90 percent of India that does not speak English." The task involves localising the user-interface and help text of Linux and related applications and we expect this to take around two years in collaboration with several other volunteers, over the Internet. Each champion -- an individual or a group -- will have to take ownership of the localisation responsibility for one particular language. Those interested, please get in touch with [email protected] and mark a cc: to Prakash Advani at [email protected]. Venkatesh "Venky" Hariharan is a Faculty Member at the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore Information for Development Centre. http://www.iiit-b.org Personal Web Site: http://www.venky.org ################################################################# NEW WEBSITE ON INTERNET INNOVATIONS IN INDIAN LANGUAGES Source: News reports ################################################################# India's department of electronics in late August launched a new website to keep people informed about the use of computer technology for Indian languages. India has been doing work on the use of IT in regional languages, including Indian language e- mail, Sanskrit processing tools, computer courseware in Hindi, Devanagari script optical character recognition, and speech synthesis in Hindi machine translation systems. Check out the site at http://www.tdil.gov.in ################################################################# PAKISTAN LAUNCHES NEW INTERNET SERVICE Info: Irfan Khan <[email protected]> [email protected] ################################################################# [According to ads in the newspapers, the rates are as low as Rs 12 per hour. Paknet's URL is http://www.paknet.com.pk] KARACHI (November 2/Recorder Report) : Paknet, the data communication wing of PTCL has launched a new internet service with a large infrastructure of 1500 dial-up lines in Karachi and international bandwidth of 10 MB to the internet backbone. According to PTCL sources, the Paknet national network inter-city trunks are working on 4 MB optical fibre channels that means high reliability. With this infrastructure and a new set-up of customers service centres, Paknet promises fastest internet in the country. http://www.brecorder.com/story/S0010/S1002/S1002102.htm ################################################################# TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE SOUTH, FOR THE SOUTH Source: IDRC ################################################################# The Nayudamma Information Bank contains information about, and easy access to, technologies supported by the International Development Research Centre of Canada. It focuses on technologies from the South, for the South. It also provides contact names for all the technologies described, and is a way of sharing and updating information on technological advancement for international development. This information bank is named in honour of the late Dr Yelavarthy Nayudamma, a man who dedicated his life to demonstrating how science and technology can and should be used for human benefit. http://www.idrc.ca/nayudamma/index_e.html IN ENGLISH http://www.idrc.ca/nayudamma/index_f.html IN FRENCH ################################################################# UNDP OPENS ELECTRONIC WINDOW ON THE WORLD Source: UNDP ################################################################# The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched *Newsfront*, a website that is updated daily to feature the organisation's human development concerns and successes in the field. Most of the information can be downloaded free of charge. http://www.undp.org/dpa ################################################################# CATCH THE CORRUPT ON THE NET Source: News reports ################################################################# Want to know who are the corrupt government officers of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh? A site has identified the dishonest officers. Visit http://www.action-group.8m.com ################################################################# DELHI POLICE OFFERS TIPS VIA THE NET Source: News reports ################################################################# Delhi police has set up its web-site, offering crucial safety tips to travellers to the Indian capital, in the wake of a growing crime rate in that city. http://www.delhipolice.com ################################################################# SOFTWARE FOR MEDICS Source: News reports ################################################################# Medic is an easy-to-use software program specially for doctors. It helps to enter and retrieve complete patient records, graphically record findings of patient examinations, records commonly occurring symptoms or advised investigations or prescribed medicines and diagnosis. Medic also facilitates archiving of patient records and makes them available for re-use later. It tracks appointments and to-do lists. This software graphically analyses trends, organises important notes and articles, and maintains expenses and income lists. It also helps keep track of operation/surgery notes. http://www.medicservices.com or email [email protected] ################################################################# MEDIA VIDEO PLANS LOW-COST PCs FOR INDIAN EDUCATION SECTOR Courtesy: Irfan Khan <[email protected]> [email protected] ################################################################# By T S Vishwanath NEW DELHI A little-known computer software company, Media Video Limited, is now entering the world of computers with a pricing strategy that will give it a large slice of the low-end market. "We are entering the educational computers arena with computers priced between Rs 1,250 and Rs 2,750 (US$ 30 to 65) for the semi-urban and rural market," company managing director Prem Adip Rishi said. "The idea is to import the low-end, 8-bit computers from south- east Asian countries and sell them in the local market. The price of eight-bit chips has fallen drastically in the international market and we hope to capitalise on that. The import duty on this is also very low," Mr Rishi said. The company is, in fact, importing all the hardware at around 40 per cent duty. The kit will have to be attached to the television and used as a computer, Mr Rishi said. The company hopes to sell over half-a-million of these computers in the country through its retail network of over 1,500 distributors, Mr Rishi said. Research has proved that there is a good demand for such educational computers in the country especially in the semi-urban and rural markets where the high priced computers have not been able to make much headway, he said. Industry insiders, however, feel that the market for this product is not as large as the company thinks. However, the novelty element may play a major role in making these systems popular. The sources said it depends on Media Video handles the markets. What the industry sources, however, find as the company's strength will be the pricing strategy. With television having penetrated the rural markets they may be ready to invest an additional couple of thousands on a computer even if it is the low-end, sources said. Industry sources expect the computer prices to come down once the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) comes into force. With ITA in place products can be imported at zero duty and that would bring down prices, sources said. India had, in March last year, joined the ITA-I -- signed by about 27 countries. ITA-I covers computers (including printers, scanners, monitors, hard-disk drives and power suppliers), telecom products (including fax machines, modems and pagers), semi-conductor manufacturing equipment, software products (like diskettes and CD-Roms) and scientific instruments. http://www.economictimes.com/today/01tech02.htm ################################################################# BAMAKO 2000: INTERNET CONFERENCE Information courtesy: [email protected] ################################################################# The "Bamako 2000: Internet: Bridges to Development" conference site has been updated, "schnazzed" a bit, and moved to: http://www.anais.org/bamako2000/index.html ################################################################# INFO RICH, INFO POOR... BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE From: "Irfan Khan" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] ################################################################# Title: Information Rich - Information Poor, Bridging the digital divide Author: Jane Black Date: 28/10/1999 Abstract: The Internet has ushered in the greatest period of wealth creation in history. It's rocked the way we deliver and receive information and the way we do business. http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3980 ################################################################# PAKISTAN: DEALING WITH THE Y2K CHALLENGE ################################################################# Jan Willem van Nus writes on 'The Y2K challenge' in an article dated October 22, 1999. Abstract: Dealing with the Millennium Bug in Pakistan http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3942 ################################################################# INTERNET'S GLOBAL SPREAD NOT SMOOTH ################################################################# Marguerite Reardon of Data Communications is the author. Abstract: ITU forum discussion centers on how developing countries' experiences with the Internet. http://www..iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3932 ################################################################# CONNECTING THE OTHER FIVE BILLION ################################################################# Author: Karen Lynch, tele.com Date: 13/10/1999 Abstract: New technologies put lofty goal within closer reach Http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3929 ################################################################# SDNP-PAKISTAN: PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO ICTs FOR DEVELOPMENT ################################################################# Hasan A. Rizvi, Project Director of SDNP Pakistan, visited the IICD. Jan Willem van Nus in an article penned in October 1999 says the Project Director of the Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP) in Pakistan has an approach to ICTs for development which is pragmatic and involved at the same time: "I have a vision that the Internet permeates to the community," says Mr. Rizvi. http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3906 ################################################################# BROADCASTING AND THE INTERNET IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ################################################################# Author: Bruce Girard Date: 4/10/1999 Abstract: "Converging Responsibility: Broadcasting and the Internet in Developing Countries" was a conference held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 4-6 September 1999. The proceedings are out now. http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3904 ################################################################# ICTs CAN BE USED TO ERADICATE POVERTY ################################################################# "We are absolutely sure that if we could find the proper ways of introducing technologies at the appropriated points poverty can be eradicated", says Mr. Ventura, special advisor on science and technology to the prime minister of Jamaica. http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3957 ################################################################# ICTs FOR IMPROVED GOVERNANCE ################################################################# Bhavya Lal's paper reviews the issues facing African countries in adopting information and communication technologies (ICTs) to enhance governance in four areas -- reducing poverty, providing basic human needs, improving public administration, and enhancing democratization. It summarizes the use of ICTs in these areas -- both successes and failures -- around the world and in Africa. The theme in our overview of ICT in governance is that ICTs are neutral and that human choices will determine how ICT will be used and whether the revolution in ICTs will benefit all of Africa. The paper focuses on many of the caveats that should accompany ICT deployment and ends with an action framework for practitioners anxious to get started. http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3956 ################################################################# ANDHRA PRADESH STATE wan IS ONLINE Info: Irfan Khan <[email protected]> [email protected] ################################################################# Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu today inaugurated the Andhra Pradesh State Wide Area Network or APSWAN, connecting capital Hyderabad with all the 23 district headquarters. The APSWAN, the first of its kind in India, will serve as the backbone for all state government intranets. The multimedia network, carrying voice, data and video traffic, forms the core of the Andhra Pradesh government's initiative to promote the use of information and provide information technology infrastructure. APSWAN is to be the most powerful tool in the hands of the government to monitor welfare schemes. It will also provide easy public access to government information. The unique network would ensure efficiency and transparency in the functioning of all departments. http://www.rediff.com/computer/1999/nov/01apswan.htm ################################################################# PROPOSAL FOR i-KERALA ON CARDS Info: Irfan Khan <[email protected]> [email protected] ################################################################# By S Sanandakumar A blueprint for transforming the sleepy villages in Kerala (in South India) to world class technology service centres will be submitted to the government by Javad K Hassan, the chairman of the Rs 250-crore NeST Group of companies. Mr Hassan said his project for creating an 'intelligent Kerala', was actually submitted to the government three years back. "I have decided to re-submit the proposal to the government," he said. Mr Hassan is also the chairman of the Electronics Development Commission for the government of Kerala. The project is aimed at bringing Internet to the masses, Mr Hassan said. It will provide Internet services through cable in a cost effective manner, he said. The multimedia super-highway that Mr Hassan is planning will provide a network that will provide Internet services through cable to households with television. "We can supply the technology for receiving and storing data in television," he said. Explaining that this will be the first step towards the creation of 'intelligent Kerala' he said small groups of youngsters with software development capability can make use of the facility in every village. "This will lead to the development of e-commerce, technology and software services and related services," he said. Mr Hassan has 20 years service in IBM and held such important positions like corporate director for worldwide engineering and technology and head of IBM's tape drive division and semiconductor development. He was also the president of the communications group in AMP Inc. He said though the government has not acted on his original proposal, he is re-submitting it since the use of high technology for rural development is his pet theme. A fibre optic backbone for the state can achieve this development by making the multimedia technology available to the rural households, he said. Interestingly, the proposal assumes significance in the light of the reported plans of World Tel of Mr Sam Pitroda to set up similar Internet kiosks and information superhighways in six states including Kerala. The total cost of the project is around Rs 3000 million, according to reports. http://www.economictimes.com/today/04tech04.htm ################################################################# AN INTERNET STRATEGY FOR FIGHTING WORLD POVERTY Info from NewsScan Daily, 4 November 1999 ################################################################# Allen Hammond of the World Resources Institute makes the point that "one education Web site translated into Hindi, Mandarin, Swahili and Spanish would have a potential user base of two billion people. It can help even the poorest people invent their way out of poverty." Taking up that theme, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman calls attention to www..PlaNetfinance.org, the brainchild of French banker Jacques Attali, who wants to use the Internet as a way of making "micro-loans" to poor people. "Micro-loans range from $10 to $1,000. They go mostly to women and are given without any collateral. Micro-loan recipients use them to buy everything from sewing machines to a cell phone the whole village can use, to beauty supplies to start a salon in a Bangladesh slum. These people have the will to better themselves, they just don't have the basic cash, and that's what micro-loans provide." PlaNet Finance hopes to rate and link all the micro-banks, to make them more efficient and more effective. Friedman says, "If the processing and transaction costs of these micro-loans can be reduced, they can be bundled together and sold on a commercial basis to the Citibanks of the world... That's how you change the world -- get the big market players to do the right thing for the wrong reasons." (New York Times 3 Nov 99) http://www.nytimes.com/library/opinion/friedman/110399frie.html ################################################################# INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION PRIZE: ################################################################# The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) have announced the creation of the APC Betinho Communications Prize for the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in promoting social justice. The first Betinho Prize will be given in May 2000 by the APC, to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The US $7,500 prize will be awarded to a non-profit organization, community-based group, coalition or social movement that has used ICTs in its work to endorse sustainable and equitable development, democratic participation, and social justice. "Our award is unique," said APC Chair Roberto Roggiero. "It is intended to highlight Internet uses -- Web sites, e-mail, electronic mailing lists, databases, and telecentres -- that promote appropriate solutions to social problems. APC wants to publicize innovative ICT practices that help improve people's lives and that can be reproduced economically by other agencies throughout the world." The APC decided to name the award in honour of the Brazilian visionary who died in 1997. A renowned sociologist, social activist, and exemplary communicator, Herbet de Souza (Betinho) was an ardent and charismatic promoter of social reform in Brazil and the founder of the Brazilian Institute of Social and Economic Analysis (IBASE). Details: http://www.apc.org/english/betinho ################################################################# INTERNET IS FOR EVERYONE ################################################################# INTERNET IS FOR EVERYONE. Join the Internet Society and help to make it so, says the Internet Society. http://www.isoc.org ################################################################# GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE PARTNERSHIP: LOOKING OUT FOR JOURNALISTS Info from: Tudor Lomas <[email protected]> [email protected] ################################################################# Lomas works with the Global Knowledge Partnership and preparing for the GKII Conference in Malaysia. Says Lomas: "We are trying to identify three or four key journalists in every country who are interested in issues of information technology/ knowledge/ communications and development, so that we can keep them informed about GKP and invite them to GKII. Ideally they should be senior, influential and/or very enthusiastic about the potential of knowledge for development." They need the names of the journalists, their newspapers, news agencies or broadcasting stations and, ideally, the contact details (e-mail, phone, fax and postal address). Send suggestions to <[email protected]> and cc the GKD moderators <[email protected]> ################################################################# MULTIPURPOSE COMMUNITY TELECENTER IN AFRICA Info courtesy: Birama Diallo <[email protected]> [email protected] ################################################################# In Mali, a pilot Multipurpose Community Telecenter (MCT) project has been set up in Timbouctou. This is a three-year project, which started in May 1998. The project is run by technical staff and a steering committee, which includes the mayor, business people, artisans, librarians, health workers, women's associations and other members of the community. The hope is that at the end of the project, the project will be run by the community. There is also the hope that the project will expand to 701 rural communities. After the pilot phase we estimate the cost of running MCT in other rural communities will be around US $3,175. The pilot telecenter is equipped with 11 computers. It serves 4 regions with an approximate population of 200,000 people. It offers copying, telephone, fax, and Internet services. A major emphasis of the telecenter is to provide training to artisans to set up their web page to sell their handicrafts. Our hope is that we can help them develop new global markets. The telecenter also serves a wide range of other community groups, such as teachers, rural radio animators, students and librarians. Another important area of service is support for healthcare. Telecenter staff train health workers in using the computers and the Internet to do research. Also, healthworkers in outlying areas communicate with doctors using the Internet. Keeping the community's limited income in mind, services are subsidized. There are also special discounts for women and children. The telecenter website is <http://www.tombouctou.org.ml> Birama Diallo, the MCT country coordinator is [email protected] ################################################################# AFRICAN DIGITAL LIBRARY ON-LINE / CENTRE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING Info: John Walker <[email protected]> [email protected] ################################################################# A digital library for the benefit of users throughout Africa, went on-line on 3 November 1999. In response to the need for library books in Africa, Technikon SA (TSA) has provided an initial sponsorship of R1m to set up the African Digital Library. It will provide Internet access to African users throughout the continent to a library of full-text books at no cost to the user. Over 60 publishers will provide full-text books. Encryption will ensure that only one user will access a book at any one time, and loan periods will be a few hours as users work with the books. Persons in any Africa country with a server having an African domain, will be able to access the library via http://www.AfricaEducation.org/adl/. Servers such as those with a .com suffix which cannot be identified as African should provide the Director of the Centre for Lifelong Learning with their IP address range so that the service can become accessible free of charge to their subscribers also. Users will then be able to open an account with the library free of charge. "At this point the library contains 3000 books, and the collection will be built as fast as funds permit," said Paul West. "The African Digital Library is yet another venture initiated by TSA's Centre for Lifelong Learning to bring learner support to learners in Africa." More information from Paul West, Director CLL at Technikon SA at [email protected] http://www.africanews.org/science/stories/19991108_feat7.html ################################################################# SITE FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS' PROFILES Info courtesy: Akash <[email protected]> ################################################################# One stop site for getting sufficient information about Non Government Organisations (NGOs), especially those working in India. Links to existing NGO databases and archives, information on volunteering - how to get physically and mentally involved with NGOs, donate, (links to) read or subscribe some newsletters of NGOs/organisations. Or, find some helpful links on how to kick start a new NGO of your own. http://members.rediff.com/15aug1947/welcome.html ################################################################# RADIO BRIDGE OVERSEAS, ZIMBABWE Info courtesy: [email protected] Klaus Juergen Schmidt ################################################################# Klaus Juergen Schmidt of Radio Bridge Overseas in Zimbabwe writes in to say about BytesForAll: We were impressed by your page, and we took the liberty to create a link from our page to be found at: http://members.forfree.at/~rbo ################################################################# DEVELOPMENT, ETHICAL TRADING AND FREE SOFTWARE Info: Jagdish Parikh [email protected] [email protected] ################################################################# This paper by Danny Yee makes the political and ethical case for the adoption of free software by development agencies. Free software has obvious pragmatic advantages for community development processes, most notably in its empowerment of users. But the ideological foundations and social structure of the free software movement are also consistent with community development at a theoretical level. Feedback appreciated. http://www.anatomy.usyd.edu.au/danny/freedom/ip/aidfs.html Or write to [email protected] for a copy. ################################################################# PAPYRUS NEWS, STUDYING THE IMPACT OF IT ################################################################# Papyrus News is a free e-mail distribution list on the global impact of information technology on language, literacy, and education. To subscribe, see http://www.lll.hawaii.edu/web/faculty/markw/papyrus-news.html ################################################################# WHERE HAVE ALL THE FEMINIST TECHNOLOGY CRITICS GONE? Info courtesy: Partha Sarker <[email protected]> BYTESFORALL ################################################################# Long-time feminist technology activist and critic Ellen Balka reviews the history of feminist engagement with many kinds of technology. But "where," she asks, "have all the feminist information technology critics gone? They've been seduced by the potential of the World Wide Web everywhere..." The Loka Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making research, science and technology responsive to democratically decided social and environmental concerns. To be added to the Loka Alert E-mail list, send a message to <[email protected]>. ################################################################# INDIAN SOUTHERN STATE INTRODUCES COMPUTER EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS Info courtesy: Irfan Khan <[email protected]> [email protected] ################################################################# India's southern state of Tamil Nadu has kept aside Rs 1.12 billion to impart computer education to higher secondary students. Computer science will be introduced as an optional subject in the 11th and 12th standards in all government higher secondary schools. The state thus expects 30,000 computer- literate students to pass out from various government schools of the state in 2001. Till now computer science was a luxury reserved for those in the urban areas alone. http://www.rediff.com/computer/1999/nov/22tn.htm ################################################################# THE MIGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE WORKERS Source: News reports ################################################################# This new book by Binod Khadria looks at the second-generation effects of India's brain-drain. It takes a positive approach and explores how a nation losing its valuable human resources to another one can make the best of the situation. To this end, the author analyses the migration of knowledge workers from India to the USA over three decades and locates this phenomenon within the context of a civil society seeking to reconcile the dual loss of human capital and knowledge resources. Focussing primarily on the second generation of migrants, Binod Khadria proposes various ways in which to turn this apparent loss to the home country's advantage. 1999 * 236 pages * Rs 350 Publishers: Sage, PB 4215, New Delhi 110 048 Fax 91.11.6472426 ################################################################# WWW.INDEV.ORG One stop shop for development info on India Source: News reports ################################################################# Indev is the British Council's initiative to address problems faced by development managers in accessing development information on India. It is an electronic gateway to development information, a web site, a web-hosting service, a training centre, a meeting room, a daily newsmagazine, a mailing office, and a discussion forum. http://www.indev.org ################################################################# CYBERFARMING COMES TO INDIA Source: News reports (The Week, Oct 31, 1999) ################################################################# A gateway to Indian agriculture has been crated by senior agricultural extension scientist Dr Sandhya Shenoy with technical support of Dr JOhn Schmitz, of the Agricultural Instructional Media Lab at Illinois University. This site gives information on animal sciences, crop sciences, agribusiness, fisheries, home science, horticulture, natural resources and sustainable agriculture. Links to agriculture- related organisations worldwide, programmes, publications and libraries, and pages on weather, agricultural issues and policies, gender issues, infotech and human resources enrich the site. It also has a good map of India with hyperlinks. "It is a good prototype of how to efficiently distribute farming and extension information in any country, said Schmitz, manager of AIM Lab. http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/aim/diglib/india/ ################################################################# BEST HINDI COMPUTER PACKAGE AWARD Source: News reports ################################################################# To promote and boost the morale of industries working towards the development of facilities for working on computers in Hindi, the Indian Dept of Electronics has instituted a Best Hindi Computer Package Awad. Nominations ended on Nov 30. Details from Rajiv Rastogi, DoE [email protected] ################################################################# VIRTUAL CAMPUS INITIATIVE IN INDIA Source: News reports ################################################################# Indira Gandhi National Open University, India's main open university at the national level, is moving towards a "more significant web presence" and to deliver IT courses entirely over the Internet. It is seeking expertise in developing and maintenance of the web, part-time and on-line content experts, and admin and management personnel comfortable with on-line working. Before responding, please visit http://www.ignou.org Details on participating in the Virtual Campus Initiative can also be got form [email protected] ################################################################# EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE Source: News reports ################################################################# Educomp Datamatics, a developer of educational technology software and products, is working to make education delivery via the Internet and make web-based learning a practical reality. "Our campus management system eCampus 4.0 is the world's first enterprise management system for educational institutions, which can manage both online learning and instructor-lead administration," says Educomp Datamatics. http://www.edumatics.com Email: [email protected] ################################################################# THE BLIND CAN ALSO LEARN COMPUTERS Source: News reports ################################################################# Efforts towards this end are being made by the Indian Association for the Visually Handicapped. Contact their Mumbai office at [email protected] ################################################################# POVERTY RESOURCES ON THE INTERNET Source: Shahin Yaqub, Poverty Research Unit, Univ of Sussex [email protected] ################################################################# http://www.worldbank.org Gateway, hard to beat http://www.worldbank.org/poverty/wdrpoverty World Dvpt Report http://www.undp.org/poverty/ Broader selection of views http://gssd.mit.edu/Gssd/gssd.nsf?Open Knowledge networks http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/Case/ Social exclusion http://www.undp.org/hdro/ Human Development Reports http://www.ids.susx.ac.uk Participatory approaches http://action.org/resource.html Links to grassroot sites http://www.oneworld.net One World http://www.wfp.org/links/links.html World Food Programme http://www.info.usaid.gov/about/resources USAID http://www.grameen-info.org/ Grameen Bank http://www.accion.org/ ACCION http://www.soc.titech.ac.jp/icm Virtual library on microcredit http://www.brown.edu/Departments HungerWeb http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO FAO on food security http://www.cgiar.org/ifpri/ IFPRI on nutrition http://www.oneworld.org/odi/hpg/index.html Relief http://www.unicef.org/ Children and poverty http://www.iied.org Urban poverty http:/www.oxfam.org.uk Oxfam http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/irp/ Poverty in the First World http://lissy.ceps.lu/index.htm Poverty in the First World ################################################################# ProPoor, WEB REPOSITORY FOR SOUTH ASIAN NON-PROFITS ################################################################# ProPoor is a web repository of South Asian NGO, their leaders, projects, success cases, events, publications, donors, jobs, and links. ProPoor gives free webpage/link to non-profit organisations. Contact: Jayesh, ProPoor InfoTech Centre, 12 Prince Edward Road, 04-09 Podium B Bestway Building, Singapore 079212 Phone: 227-1184 Fax: (65) 227-1180 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.propoor.org ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo bYtES For aLL * Compiled jointly by Frederick Noronha, Journalist 403511 Goa India [email protected] and Partha Pratim Sarker, Drik Multimedia, Dhaka 1209 [email protected] Compiled in public interest * May be freely circulated * Pls credit source http://www.bytesforall.org * CopyLeft May be reproduced without permission if full despatch is kept intact. We seek volunteers to support this venture with news and information inputs from all over the Third World... specially from South Asia. Our thanks to all those who have contributed to this issue, and specially to the mailing-lists where some of the items have been reproduced from... in particular South Asia IT. 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