Linux, PDAs, storage, and portable consumer products drive ICT growth

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October 9, 2006

The ICT industry is expected to grow by 6% in 2006, mainly driven by Internet-related investments, Linux servers, digital storage, personal digital assistants and new portable consumer products. But any return to the heady days of 20% and 30% growth in many products and market segments in the 1990s are unlikely, according to the latest edition of the OECD's Information Technology Outlook 2006.

Many new technology applications may have major economic and social impacts. Among these emerging technologies are ubiquitous networks, which make it possible to follow persons and objects and provide real-time tracking, storing and processing of information. Applications of enabling network technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID) and other sensor technologies are increasingly affordable, investment is rising and applications are moving into commercial use. Location-based services use a variety of position-determining technologies to follow the location of objects and users. The two most common applications are navigation and asset tracking.

Natural disaster prevention and warning technologies (tsunami early warning systems)are becoming more important for preventing disasters that result in large economic losses(USD 170 billion in 2005). Participative web (Web 2.0) refers to the active participation of Internet users in creating content, customising the Internet and developing applications for a broad variety of fields. Blogs are one of the most popular forms, with around 50 million in mid-2006. In Asia, the number is disproportional to the general use of the Internet.

Open source (the 'Linuxeffect'), online delivery of IT services (the “Google” effect) and new digital products are also disrupting how technology is developed and delivered. Widespread restructuring is expected to continue in IT services, telecommunications and digital content as industries and firms adapt to changing technologies and markets.

With the emergence of new growth economies in Eastern European and non-OECD developing countries, world ICT spending was up 5.6% a year between 2000 and 2005. China was the sixth largest ICT market in 2005 at USD 118 billion (after the United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom and France), although total ICT spending there is still only about one-tenth of the United States but about two and a half times the spending of India (USD 46 billion). ICT spending in non-OECD countries is still more focused on hardware than on services as the basic physical ICT infrastructure is still being built.

After overtaking the United States in 2004 as the world's leading ICT exporter, China has continued strong ICT exports in 2005 and 2006. China imports electronic components

e-Education package begins in Ghana

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digitalLEARNING Network

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October 9, 2006

Accelon Ghana, a broadband via satellite service provider in Africa, is partnering with Standard Trust Bank Ghana Limited, one of the latest financial institutions in the country, to provide Internet connectivity to basic and secondary schools in Ghana. The package under the brand name, “The e-Educational Package” is an initiative designed to facilitate the creation of computer laboratories in educational institutions to provide Internet access and connectivity.

This would be made possible through a flexible loan scheme for interested basic and secondary schools, provided by Standard Trust Bank and complemented by the technical and infrastructure support of Accelon Ghana for broadband Internet connectivity. Interested schools would benefit from free web design and hosting, free domain name registration, free e-mail account and cost effective broadband Internet access via VSAT anywhere in Ghana.

Information literacy programme in Indian colleges

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digitalLEARNING Network

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October 9, 2006

The Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kerala in India is preparing to place before the Syndicate a proposal for implementing an information literacy programme in colleges affiliated to the university.

The programme aims at bridging the awareness divide between colleges in the urban and rural areas and to enable students in the latter category of colleges access subject-related information across a variety of formats. The Information Literacy package will aim to provide students the basic information about IT tools, to introduce to them electronic sources of information, train them in searching for information stored in a multi-media format, train students to use computer-aided instruction packages, introduce various online search programmes and methods to identify sources of information, including subject gateways, in the Internet and train students to use the `Online Public Access Catalogue. The proposed literacy programme will combine lectures with audio-visual presentations, computer-assisted teaching and printed course material.

Periyar University library soon be digitised

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digitalLEARNING Network

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October 9, 2006

Periyar University at Salem district of Tamil Nadu in India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre, UGC and ERNET for getting the UGC-Infonet connectivity in a phased manner. < ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Accordingly the university library would be soon digitised ensuring its status in select group of higher education centers. The traditional library, already has 22,000 books, subscribing to 147 national and international journals. Once, digitised it would be a major resource centre for the researchers and scholars for tapping the up-to-date information. It will also help the students to access more than 2,600 e-journals on various subjects. The university also facilitates the students in the affiliated colleges to access the database of the digital library through the Internet in near future.

Nepad e-Schools Project launched officially

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digitalLEARNING Network

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October 9, 2006

Rwanda is the fifth country to launch the project after Uganda, Ghana, Lesotho and Kenya, but is the first country to have completed implementation in all the six schools.

The NEPAD e-Schools Project is led by the NEPAD e-Africa Commission-the NEPAD Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Task Team responsible for developing the NEPAD ICT Programme and implementing related projects. The project focuses on providing end-to-end ICT solutions that will connect schools across Africa to the NEPAD e-Schools Network and the Internet. Solutions also include the provision of content, learning material and the establishment of health points at schools.

This is the first time that African governments, NEPAD and the private sector are cooperating on an ICT Project of this scale and scope in the NEPAD framework, developed and driven by Africans, and for African people. The CISCO Systems and Microsoft Consortia, and a number of other private companies are sponsoring the Demonstration Project, consisting of six schools in each of the 16 participating African countries, for a period of 12 months. In each country, the project aims to transform all African secondary schools into NEPAD e-Schools within five years of implementation start date and all African primary schools within ten years of implementation start date. In total, more than 600 000 schools across the continent will enjoy the benefits of ICT and connectivity to the NEPAD e-Schools Satellite Network upon completion of the project.

International ICT congress to serve as venue for sharing info

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digitalLEARNING Network

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October 9, 2006

The government is inviting all stakeholders of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector to participate in the International Congress on ICT: Global Challenge in Education, which will kick off on November 16 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Philippines.

The three-day event, which aims to gather more than a thousand delegates from more than 40 countries, is an initiative of the Philippine government to prepare the country's education sector for the global challenges and opportunities brought about by rapid developments in ICT. The congress, which is estimated to cost P15 million, will be funded by the Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP), a multi-stakeholder network promoting innovation and advancement in knowledge for development (K4D) and ICT for Development (ICT4D).

GKP, a network of over 100 members from 40 countries, brings together the public and private sector and civil society organizations with the goal of sharing knowledge and building partnership in K4D and ICT4D. The potential of ICT to improve the quality of education in the country has prompted the government – through Ched, Department of Education and the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority

Indian University to set up digital library

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digitalLEARNING Network

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October 9, 2006

Periyar University in the Indian State Tamil Nadu will soon join the select band of higher education centres with a digitised library. This knowledge bank will ensure its students and researchers latest information on a variety of subjects through the University Grants Commission's (UGC)-Infonet connectivity. As a part of the efforts to set up a `digital library,' the university has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre, UGC and ERNET for getting the UGC-Infonet connectivity, which would use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Internet to provide resources to the students.

The UGC-Infonet connectivity will help promote communication among academicians and researchers from this area. It would serve as a major resource for the researchers and scholars for tapping the up-to-date information. It will also help the students to access more than 2,600 e-journals on various subjects. The objective of getting the UGC-Infonet and establishing a digital library is to enhance the higher education and research programmes with the current and retrospective information with the support of latest technology. The connectivity will be established shortly.

The digital library has the potential to store more information than the traditional libraries. The resources of the digital library can easily be read by more number of people. In the first phase, the university has allotted Rs. 5 lakh to establish the digital library, particularly for subscription to the online journals and databases. Another Rs. 2.25 lakh has been allotted to purchase computers and digital copier for the library. In the second phase, it is being planned to digitise the university theses and dissertations. The Periyar University also proposes to establish facilities enabling the students in the affiliated colleges to access the database of the digital library through the Internet. Its traditional library however has 22,000 books and subscribing to 147 national and international journals.

24X7 programmes for distance learners

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October 6, 2006

24×7 Learning Solutions, a provider of e-learning consulting and implementation solutions, plans to offer employability enhancement programmes for distance learners, specially from tier II and tier III cities, who cannot afford to go for the top-notch colleges.

It is all set to start a management development and executive development programme. It launched the long-term education programme in January this year. With the programme cost coming to Rs 4,000-Rs 6,000 per student, most colleges buy it for a bunch of 500 students and shell out Rs 10-16 lakh. This total technology learning solution is useful for company top brass to brush up their technology education and also for the engineering graduates who receive their degrees from lower-rung colleges.

Non-formal schooling boosts access to basic education in Nepal

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October 6, 2006

Children who were out of school in 15 districts of Nepal now have the opportunity to learn how to read and write, thanks to the UNICEF-supported Out-of-School Programme (OSP).

Designed to provide basic education through a non-formal approach, the new strategy has helped approximately 15,700 children complete a 10-month course. The programme's main aim is to fulfill children's rights to basic education, especially for girls and low-caste children. The ultimate goal is to help the children continue their education in formal schools. In 2005, nearly 40 per cent of OSP graduates

Linux spreads its wings in India

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October 6, 2006

All the 2,600 schools in the state of Kerala making the shift from Microsoft to Linux. Each of the state's 1.5 million high school students will grow accustomed to working not in the Windows environment familiar to computer users worldwide, but in Linux. And over the next two years, computer science based on Linux software will be made mandatory in all of the state's high schools.

Two years ago, New Delhi said the best way to improve computer literacy in India was to adopt open source software in schools. Although Kerala is the first to introduce such a program statewide, 18 of India's 28 states either are using Linux or have pilot projects for its use in various government departments and schools. The education ministries in most states, and in Delhi the federal ministries of defense, transport, communication, and health, are all using the software on server computers. And eight state governments have put their treasury operations on Linux, while the western state of Maharashtra is using it to revamp health-care systems.

So far, most of the progress of Linux has been in server software, programs that government agencies and businesses use for their Web sites, payroll, and other key tasks. In June, Microsoft Corp. had 68% of the server market, vs. Linux' 21%, compared with 70% for Microsoft and 11% for Linux two years ago. The desktop is a different story: Just 3% of India's PCs use Linux. Still, that's about triple the level in the U.S.

Unlike proprietary software from companies such as Microsoft, Linux is based on an open-source model. That means its code is available to developers worldwide, who can tweak it to make it better or adapt it to their own needs. Since the software itself is often given away for free, revenue numbers for Linux don't add up to much. Researcher IDC (IDC) estimates that the Indian Linux market will grow by 21% annually, to $19.9 million in 2010, mostly for services provided by companies such as Red Hat (RHAT), IBM, and locals like Wipro (WIT) and Tata Consultancy Services. That's a modest amount compared with Microsoft's Indian sales of nearly $200 million last year. But Microsoft's lost opportunity is still substantial, since it sells Windows at $50 or more per copy to makers of PCs and servers, and then it typically sells other programs that run on top of it.

The shift in government has spurred more businesses to use Linux, too. One convert is state-owned Life Insurance Corp. of India, which in 2005 switched its servers to Linux. With the $2 million in savings from using the free software, LIC is adding more computers. Today it has 70,000 PCs, all running Linux, and by next year it expects to have more than 100,000. Others are taking a more measured approach. Eighteen months ago, when Bombay-based Unit Trust of India wanted to set up a call center, the bank settled on Linux for its servers even as it continues to use Windows on its PCs. The bank is putting its credit-card system on Linux as well.

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