[Nettime-bold] Re: <nettime> BytesForAll * Feb 2003

[Martin Hardie <auskadi@cwpanama.net>]

FN

intersting. Last week we had some discussion about Uganda. I then wrote 
and asked if any one had any contacts in Mozambique. As I will move 
there in a couple of months I would like to find some people in that 
aprt of the world with interests in the net, culture, empire etc etc
I had no takers last week, any this week??
Mrtin

wrote:

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>_/  B y t e s   F o r   A l l ---  http://www.bytesforall.org
>_/  Making  Computing  Relevant to the  People of  South Asia
>_/  FEB 2003 * FEB 2003 *  FEB 2003 *  FEB 2003 *  FEB 2003 *   
>_/
>_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
>
>Helping the blind
>-----------------
>
>Visually impaired students can now learn any language with the help of a new
>computer-based technology developed in India. The teacher uses a "talking
>keyboard" which talks aloud what is being typed and the print of the text
>also appears in Braille on a mini printer given to each student. 
>http://www.propoor.org/news/xar0203.asp#7
>
>WaterIssues
>-----------
>
>Want to keep abrest with what's happening on the critical water front in
>India? Check out a new group (mailing list) called 'waterindia'. Group home
>page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/waterindia To join send a blank email to
>waterindia-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>See also http://www.wotr.org, for WOTR
>
>The Watershed Organisation Trust (or, WOTR as it is aptly called) is a
>development support team of professionals, having core competency, and
>"committed to motivating and facilitating, rural communities and NGOs,
>towards sustainable, integrated watershed development with the help of
>local and external resources". It's based in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
>
>Software Swatantrata
>--------------------
>
>What's this? It's a  Compact Disc that contains 'swatantra software' for the
>various versions of Microsoft® Windows Operating System. 
>
>We're told by its compiler, advocate Mahesh T Pai of Ernakulam North:
>"Swatantra, in several Indian languages means the same thing -- freedom --
>freedom from dependence; from slavery. It stands for being able to do what
>you want to do with / on your computer. Swatantrata - the state of being
>free - means being able to chose the software you want to use.
>
>"Your are not enjoying Swatantrata if you have to buy a particular software
>because it is used at your workplace or school, or by your business
>associates. Swatantrata is about not having to upgrade (and pay for) your
>software every time your employer or friends up grade theirs. Swatantrata is
>about not having to depend on a monopolist for fixing every little bug in
>the software which you paid for. Swatantrata is not only your freedom; it
>means the community's freedom and liberties.  It is about being able to help
>your friends and neighbours."
>
>Among the packages this CD contains include
>
>Further details from: paivakil@yahoo.co.in Maybe, this CD might be available
>for sale at some of the outlets in India that sell low-cost copies of Free
>Software (www.linuxplaza.org in Mumbai or www.LinCDs.com in Banglore and
>lincdz.2ya.com from Pondicherry. 
>
>Cygwin (simulates the GNU/Linux environment in Windows), database tools
>(MySQL, GUI, MySql ODBC for Win9* and WinNT), developer tools (Gtk, or the
>Gimp Tool Kit to develop GUI widgets for programs), RPMBrowser, Developer
>CPP, Minimalist GNU for Winows,  Prima, Python the programming language),
>several tutorials, guides and HOWTOs, and information on "why you should use
>Swatantra software". 
>
>There are also editors, ranging from the simple text editors (Yudit, a
>unicode tool for many languages including Indian; JEDIT using Java; the
>much-famed Stallman's GNU EMACS, ASPELL spell checker, GhostView to view PDF
>files, Malayalam TeX, Perl, etc).
>
>Graphics tools, Internet software, langauge support, multimedia and office
>tools are thrown in too. Quite a good collection! 
>
>microPower:
>----------
>
>Infrastructure is a major issue any ICT enabling effort - be it the
>Simputer, Village Internet, WiFi... About every hamlet among your potential
>sites may even have an educated, sometimes computer-aware if not entirely
>PC-literate person as your potential user. But the supporting utilities such
>as transmitting-receiving networks, land-lines and basic to all these --
>reliable mains power at a reasonable voltage -- are often insufficient if
>not absent, while the local administration and official figures may point
>otherwise.
>
>By way of a solution, microPower promises autonomous power solutions for the
>rural / semi-urban beneficiary and says it will soon follow this up with
>OEMs in the ICT sector with appropriate built-in solar power and energy
>storage devices.
>
>To elaborate on this initiative, a data sheet on microPower solar
>photovoltaic battery chargers as well as PDFs on the product range
>(35KB) and its underlying concept (115KB) are available on request.
>
>For enquiries: The microPower Initiative c/o Udit Chaudhuri, Unika
>Enterprises e-mail: unika@softhome.net Tel - Fax: +91-22-26045595
>
>Knoppix
>-------
>
>Kapil Karekar <kapil_karekar@vsnl.net> of Libre Technologies
>(www.libretech.com) in Mumbai informs us that he and others are working to
>make a customized distribution of Knoppix. Perhaps, he says, even an Indian
>language support-bundled version.
>
>What is Knoppix? It's a bootable CD with a wide collection of GNU/Linux
>software, automatic hardware detection, and support for many grapics cards,
>sound cards, SCSI and USB devices and other peripherals. 
>
>It is one of the Free Software demo tools that became immensely popular
>within months of its release. Knoppix can be used as a GNU/Linux demo,
>educational CD, rescue system or can even be adapted and used as a platform
>for commercial software product demos.
>
>http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
>
>IndicComputing
>--------------
>
>We could never emphasise enough on this. Given the enormity of the task, and
>the relevance of its work, attempts at IndicComputing need all support. 
>
>Check out the Indic-computing-users mailing list
>http://indic-computing.sourceforge.net/
>Indic-computing-users@lists.sourceforge.net
>https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/indic-computing-users 
>
>(Other Indic-Computing mailing lists: -devel, -standards, -announce)
>
>Govts for Free Software?
>-----------------------
>
>Free Software or proprietary? "While some developing countries such as India
>seem to be moving towards proprietary software, a growing number such as
>Malaysia are going up the open source path," sais a recent newsletter of the
>GKD (Global Knowledge for Development) partnership.
>
>Why? 
>
>Apart from lower costs, champions of Free/Libre and Open Source Software are
>quick to point out that governments have a role in cracking existing
>software monopolies, such as Microsoft, giving a chance to other players to
>flourish. 
>
>The question raised is: should a government adopt proprietary software, the
>requirement for compatibility with proprietary standards makes the system
>biased towards specific software vendors, perpetuating a dependency?
>
>This charge is strenuously denied by supporters of proprietary software who
>argue that the General Public License model promoted by open source
>threatens to destroy commercial software, undermine intellectual property,
>stifle innovation, and limit entrepreneurism -- ultimately reducing choice
>in the market. 
>
>Their arguments are, of course, premised on the supposition that commercial
>organisations tend to have deeper pockets and therefore, the ability to
>invest in longer-term-solutions -- unlike cost-conscious supporters of
>FLOSS, who may be pushed into creating short-term solutions.
>
>What are basic skills?
>----------------------
>
>In the first of a series of Briefing Papers, the UK-based humanITy called
>for a radical debate on basic skills. The paper says that the gap is
>widening between ICT development and skills policy so that what we consider
>important will soon be economically irrelevant.
>
>Launching the Paper, humanITy Director Kevin Carey said: "I don't doubt the
>good faith of the UK Government in wanting to use ICT training to decrease
>social exclusion, but we must be careful that the skills that we teach don't
>pin people down at the bottom of the heap. The ICT industry is moving faster
>than skills policy and we must stop travelling into the future with our
>backs to the engine".
>
>Full details of the Paper can be found at:
>http://www.humanity.org.uk/articles/pub_ictdevelopment.shtml
>
>sadhanaconcepts.com 
>-------------------
>
>This is a site dealing with "the most powerful and advanced breathing
>program available in Conscious Breathing on the planet". Created with an
>introduction and three progressive breathing patterns for synchronous
>breathing. 
>
>Conscious Breathing, we are told, is using a circular breath where the
>inhale and exhale are connected together with out any gaps in between. The
>more circular your breath becomes the more energy you are able to generate,
>releasing blockages in the body, negativity, stress, and tension that can be
>dissolved by the breath. 
>
>Breathing patterns on this CD were recorded with the most efficient and
>natural breath possible by using sound and frequency analyzers to achieve
>the waveform that reflects the correct breathing pattern of Conscious
>Breathing. 
>
>Promoting tourism
>-----------------
>
>India's southern state of Kerala is trying to use IT to promote tourism. It
>has put out some slick CDs, on a range of subjects -- Ayurveda, a
>picture-book of Kerala, and another called 'Kerala: Temple of Healing,
>Watercolours by God'. More details from www.keralatourism.org or via email
>deptour@vsnl.com
>
>GKP in Asia
>-----------
>
>The Global Knowledge Partnership organized a knowledge sharing session on
>"Information Society Issues: Asia Pacific Concerns, Challenges and
>Solutions" in conjunction with the WSIS Asian Regional Conference in Tokyo,
>Japan on 11 January 2003.
>
>Participating for the first time in a GKP activity were 20 representatives
>from Pacific island states. A highlight of the session was the spontaneous
>offers of intra-regional support and assistance in response to voiced
>concerns and needs by various participants, particularly those from the
>Pacific Island States. 
>
>One special offer was made by the representative from the M.S. Swaminathan
>Foundation (Chennai,India), who indicated the willingness to assist in the
>training of development workers from the Pacific Island States on how to set
>up and manage effective community access or information centers.
>
>Partners
>--------
>
>Partners is a monthly newsletter featuring the latest news on ICT for
>development.  Currently, its circulation stands at 1,500 subscribers:
>reaching GKP members, partners and interested parties around the globe. Each
>issue of Partners is emailed to the subscribers as well as uploaded onto the
>GKP website. Previous issues of the newsletter can be viewed at
>www.globalknowledge.org.
>
>Established in 1997, the GKP aims to facilitate knowledge sharing,
>networking and advocacy to promote sustainable development using information
>and communication technology. 
>
>It sees itself as the first broad based multistakeholder partnership that
>operates at the global level.  Our members hail from all levels, from grass
>roots to international organizations; all sectors, from governments and
>their agencies to private sector organizations, civil society groups and
>think tanks; and all countries, from those that are 'least developed' to
>those that are fully industrialized. For more information, please email
>gkps@gkpsecretariat.org.my or visit www.globalknowledge.org
>
>$2.5B on e-learning
>-------------------
>
>Is this realistic, or is this just another set of soon-to-be-forgotten
>promises?
>
>The Indian government, PTI reports, announced a plan to spend 120 billion
>rupees (USD $2.5 billion) to bring e-learning to 600,000 schools across the
>country. The project, to be funded by the government as well as private
>industry, would set up computer labs in schools over the next four years.
>
>Terming India's population of one billion as both "a digital opportunity and
>digital challenge," Shah called on the IT industry to explore new ways to
>tap into the national market. She also announced plans to set up "citizens
>portals" in each of India's states to help facilitate e-government
>activities.
>
>Open Source Network
>-------------------
>
>Isa Seow <isa@apdip.net> informs us that the Asia-Pacific Development
>Information Programme (APDIP) has launched the International Open Source
>Network (IOSN), which will serve as a Centre of Excellence on Open Source
>technologies and applications. 
>
>It will aid countries in sharing information on Open Source (OS), assist
>with the development of needed toolkits and resource materials, support
>"localization" efforts and, generally, help facilitate and co-ordinate OS
>programmes and initiatives through networking. 
>
>Let's hope many from South Asia too can take advantage of this.
>
>For more information, please see http://www.apdip.net/iosn/default.asp A
>dedicated IOSN web portal http://www.iosn.net is to go online soon.
>
>Mallapuram plans
>----------------
>
>There's an ambitious project that seeks to provide computer education to
>make Mallapuram district in southern India's Kerala state the country's
>first totally e-literate district. 
>
>See http://www.propoor.org/news/xar0210.asp#8
>
>Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh is talking of extending the fruits of IT to
>farmers and village women with upgrading of 5,000 telephone booths into
>Interent kiosks. http://www.propoor.com/news/xar0206.asp#5
>
>India-Drug
>----------
>
>The INDIA-DRUG discussion group is a partnership between SATELLIFE
>(www.healthnet.org), WHO Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy (www.who.ch),
>and the Delhi Society for the Promotion of the Rational Use of Drugs
>(DSPRUD) in India.
>
>To send a message to india-drug, write to: india-drug@usa.healthnet.org
>
>To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@usa.healthnet.org in the
>body of the message type: subscribe india-drug OR unsubscribe india-drug
>
>To contact a person, send a message to: india-drug-help@usa.healthnet.org
>
>Farmers via HAM
>---------------
>
>SridharL <SridharL@murugappa.co.in>, a long-time friend looking for
>solutions that work in ICT4D (information and communication technologies
>for development front) writes in to say:
>
>"I found some interesting article in which they have used HAM radio as a
>tool for agri extension. I have always wondered why we always go for a high
>end tools like computers for agricultural extension. The project was funded
>by Inetrnational rice research institute in Philippines. I think it is an
>excellent idea and also a low cost technology facilitating two way
>communication with mobility. See the Rice Towards Optimal Productivity (RTOP
>bulletin 1/2002)."
>
>(This explains the use of HAM radio for agricultural extension in Tamil
>Nadu, India. Farmers in South India are now provided with a means to
>interact with scientists and extension officers involved in different
>aspects of agriculture via an interactive delivery system, amateur radio or
>HAM.
>
>The IRRI-COL-TNAU-CER project aims to enhance the value of the HAM radio by
>recording, editing and disseminating useful conversations through local
>radio stations for the benefit of farmers at large.
>
>The recording can cover farmers' local knowledge or wisdom expressed through
>conversations with researchers, and comments and responses from the
>scientific community. The idea is to enrich scientific research through
>including farmers' local experience and wisdom, and at the same time
>providing up-to-date scientific knowledge to the rural populace for their
>information and education.
>
>This is believed to be the first and pioneering attempt in the whole of Asia
>to link farmers with researchers and extension staff through HAM radio
>network. More information from V Balasubramanian, IRRI email
>v.balasubramanian@cgiar.org )
>
>Sign language
>-------------
>
>INB Education & Science <INB_Education_&_Science@internetnewsbureau.com> had
>this story on how there could be a drastic way in which people learn
>sign-language.
>
>It said Signing Online, LLC has launched a "revolutionary new learning web
>site", http://www.signingonline.com. The web site brings sign language
>education to anyone with an Internet connection, 24 hours a day, 7 days a
>week.
>
>"Thirty million Americans have some degree of hearing loss," said David
>Stewart, CEO of Signing Online and a prolific author/educator of the deaf
>and hard of hearing. "Many people have complained in the past that they have
>no time to take a sign language course, or no courses are offered where they
>live, or they feel intimidated sitting in a classroom. Signing Online
>addresses these concerns."
>
>At its launch, http://www.signingonline.com contains a series of four
>American Sign Language (ASL) courses that teaches the basic skills to become
>fluent in signing. 
>
>"Once people have successfully completed the Signing Online ASL courses,
>they will have made a solid entry into the world of sign language. They will
>be able to carry on a conversation, understand the basics of ASL grammar,
>and be in a good position to decide whether they wish to pursue further
>their interest in learning sign language," said Stewart.
>
>Debate on this issue via the BytesForAll_Readers mailing list however
>suggested that the US$49.95 price for a six-month enrolment could exclude
>those who didn't have the dollars to pay. 
>
>Health Internetwork India  
>-------------------------
>
>India was selected as the first HIN pilot country. The pilot is intended to
>develop best practices, determine the best use of resources and parterships,
>and demonstrate impact. 
>
>According to this website, "the Health InterNetwork aims to support and
>strengthen public health services and to provide access to high quality,
>relevant and timely health information". 
>
>It further aims to improve communication and networking among public health
>care workers, researchers and policy makers. The cornerstone of the project
>is an electronic/Internet-based Health InterNetwork (HIN) portal which will
>provide access to this information and to networks of policy makers,
>researchers, and health service providers. 
>
>As part of the HIN, connectivity and training will be also be provided at
>over 10,000 information access points across developing countries. (Thanks
>to Irfan Khan's excellent s-asia-it@apnic.net mailing list for this and a
>number of other inputs.)
>
>http://www.hin.org.in/index.htm
>
>SACHET, from Pakistan
>---------------------
>
>Zubair Faisal Abbasi" <zfa@comsats.net.pk> reports on SACHET, what is
>believed to be the first Pakistani ICT-for-development model.
>
>SACHET, one among very few Pakistani Non Profit Organizations is ambitiously
>working on a Pakistani model of ICT for Development. The model envisages a
>sustainable, home grown, self-reliant Information & Communication Technology
>for Development strategy based on result oriented components of capacity
>building, research and development of innovative e-commerce solution for
>rural crafts marketing.
>
>It is  divided into different phases is currently offering capacity building
>opportunities for the rural youth of Rawalpindi/Islamabad districts. 
>Equipped with latest hardware/software material and audiovisual aids the
>rural community is being imparted skills of demand at these Centers.
>
>Other activities under SACHET's ICT for Development initiative are
>development of an online documentation center (with an offline presence as
>well) envisioned to serve as a comprehensive searching facility for
>researchers interested in issues of socio economic importance. 
>
>SACHET's newly designed corporate web site that now contains more
>information and research material on gender, health, education and poverty
>alleviation cum income generation. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) of its
>own kind is also on cards and is expected to be launched later during the
>year.
>
>"Using a sophisticated LAN and intranet applications at its corporate
>offices has helped SACHET gain a competitive edge on other players in terms
>of quality of services, smooth, swift and result driven decision making and
>realization of mandated goals of human development of the disadvantaged in
>Pakistan," say its promoters.
>
>>From the Philippines
>--------------------
>
>This is an interesting idea, coming from someone in the faraway Philippines,
>who's work one has often admired from a distance
>
>Roberto Verzola <rverzola@gn.apc.org> has recently taken on a new job as
>coordinator of the sustainable agriculture program of a national
>confederation of farmers called PAKISAMA.
>
>"We are just starting to learn to use video technology ($30 VCD players,
>VHS-to-VCD conversion, etc.) to do information work among farmers," says he,
>and explains that he is also looking for funding to set up a pilot
>micro-power radio station for a farmers' organization.
>
>SoftwareForAll
>--------------
>
>Twenty-one year old Ajay Sinai Cuncolienkar of Goa came up with this
>interesting idea of sharing software. You just visit his SoftwareForAll site
>http://sofall.vze.com and punch in the titles of distributions you're
>willing to share with others. Interesting concept. 
>
>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. To subscribe to our main mailing list, send a blank email to
>bytesforall_readers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com If you've missed out
>recent debates, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers
>
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>
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