Centre for Internet and Society

National Workshop on Web Accessibility

radha — 2011-08-31T10:46:56Z

The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) and Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment (SPACE) are organizing a workshop on web accessibility for web developers from the public and private sector from September 25th to 26th, 2009.

The workshop seeks to bring together practitioners from Government Departments, as well as from small and medium enterprises across the country. The primary aim of this workshop is to demonstrate the importance of creating accessible web sites and to educate the developers of government and private web sites on how to incorporate accessibility features into new as well as existing web sites.

The training comprises both theory-oriented and practical sessions. The trainers are specialists in various aspects of web accessibility. The main focus will be on WCAG 2.0 guidelines. The workshop is for persons already involved in developing web sites with good knowledge of HTML, XML, CSS, etc. In addition to training web developers in accessibility, the workshop will also serve as a platform for capacity building by training potential accessibility trainers.

The programme is supported by Kerala State IT Mission, which runs INSIGHT - ICT Centre for the differently abled in association with SPACE.

The workshop will take place at Christ Nagar International School, Kowdiar, Thiruvananthapuram, between 09:30-17:30 hours each day.

Hurry! Interested persons are requested to register immediately as seats are limited.

Candidates may register directly on the website at http://c11.space-kerala.org/webw/ OR fill the application form attached and post/ submit to SPACE office (contact@space-kerala.org, thomas@space-kerala.org)

SPACE Office Address
Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment
C-11, Elankom Gardens,
Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala, India

To download the registeration form, please click here

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/events/announcement-of-national-workshop-on-web-accessibility

Wiki Academy

radha — 2009-09-17T10:56:47Z

More information on press coverage on the workshop held in Mangalore on Wiki Academy

Pre-event:

Press Coverage:

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/article6940.ece - “You can edit Wikipedia in your own language”
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/article6904.ece - “Learn Wikipedia today in Mangalore”

http://deccanheraldepaper.com//svww_showarticle.php?art=20090822q_003100017 – Deccan Herald

Post-event:

Press Coverage, Blogs:

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/article6904.ece – The Hindu (“Tale of another Mangalore on Wikipedia”)
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/article7437.ece?viewImage=1 – release of St. Aloysius media booklet/mag.
http://staloysiuscollege.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/ - St. Aloysius wrap up.
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=64564&n_tit=Manglore%3A+State-level+%27Wiki+Academy%27+Daylong+Seminar+at+St+Aloysius – Daiji World
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/21128/information-should-allowed-travel-freely.html

Translation of press account:

ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಕಿಮೀಡಿಯಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರ
(ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯಾದಲ್ಲೂ ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಉಂಟು!)
ತುಂಬಿದ ಸಭೆಯ ನಡುವಿನಿಂದ ಒಬ್ಬ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಕೇಳಿದ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಎಲ್ಲರನ್ನೂ ಚಕಿತಗೊಳಿಸಿತು. 'ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಅಂತ ನೀವು ಹೇಳೋದು ಯಾವ ಊರಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ? ಅದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಕಡಲನಗರಿ ಮಂಗಳೂರಾ ಅಥವಾ ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯಾದ ಪಟ್ಟಣದ ಬಗ್ಗೆಯಾ?'
ವೇದಿಕೆ ಮೇಲಿದ್ದ ಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳಾದ ಹರಿ ಪ್ರಸಾದ ನಾಡಿಗ್‌ ಮತ್ತು ಜಿ.ಎನ್‌. ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಅರೆಕ್ಷಣ ಅವಾಕ್ಕಾದರು.
ಆಗಸ್ಟ್‌ ೨೧ ಹಾಗೂ ೨೨ರಂದು ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಸೇಂಟ್‌ ಅಲೋಷಿಯಸ್‌ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಮ್ಮಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗಿದ್ದ ವಿಕಿ ಮೀಡಿಯಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರ ಶುರುವಾಗಿದ್ದು ಹೀಗೆ. ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂವನಹ ವಿಭಾಗ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ವಿಕಿ ಮೀಡಿಯಾ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ ಜಂಟಿಯಾಗಿ ಹಮ್ಮಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಕುತೂಹಲ ಕೆರಳಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ, ಸಭೆ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗುತ್ತಲೇ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ಶುರುವಾದವು.
'ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರ ಹಮ್ಮಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ತುಂಬ ಸಂತಸವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ' ಎಂದು ಮಾತು ಶುರು ಮಾಡಿದ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್, ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾದ ವಿಶೇಷತೆಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿವರಿಸಿದರು. 'ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರು ಬೇಕಾದರೂ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸೇರಿಸಬಹುದು, ಎಡಿಟ್ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು, ಇದು ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಕೋಶ ಇದ್ದಂತೆ. ನಿತ್ಯ, ಹೊಸ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸೇರ್ಪಡೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಲೇ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ' ಎಂದೆಲ್ಲ ಹೇಳಿದರು. 'ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಕುರಿತು ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಮಾರು ೨೫ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪ ಇದೆ' ಎಂದು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ, ರೋಮಾಂಚನ.
ಆಗ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೇ ಎಲ್ಲರನ್ನೂ ಚಕಿತಗೊಳಿಸಿದ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ: ಸಭೆಯ ನಡುವಿನಿಂದ ಎದ್ದು ನಿಂತ ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಕರೊಬ್ಬರು, 'ನೀವು ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಯಾವ ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ? ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಮಂಗಳೂರಾ ಅಥವಾ ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯಾದ ವಿಕ್ಟೋರಿಯಾದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಮಂಗಳೂರಾ?' ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿದಾಗ, ಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳಾದ ಹರಿ ಪ್ರಸಾದ್ ನಾಡಿಗ್‌ ಮತ್ತು ಜಿ.ಎನ್‌. ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ, ವೇದಿಕೆಯ ಮೇಲಿದ್ದ ಪ್ರಾಚಾರ್ಯರಾದ ಸ್ವೆಬೆರ್ಟ್‌ ಡಿಸಿಲ್ವಾ, ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥ ರಿಚರ್ಡ್‌ ರೇಗೊ ಕೂಡ ಚಕಿತರಾದರು.
ತಕ್ಷಣ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಶಬ್ದ ಟೈಪಿಸಿ ಶೋಧ ನಡೆಸಲಾಯಿತು. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಇದ್ದರೂ, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯಾದ ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಎಂಬ ಪಟ್ಟಣದ ಬಗ್ಗೆಯೂ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪವಿರುವ ಅಂಶ ಬೆಳಕಿಗೆ ಬಂತು. ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯಾದ ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ರೈಲ್ವೇ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಮಾನ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣವೂ ಇದೆ ಎಂಬ ವಿಷಯ ಗೊತ್ತಾಯಿತು. ಅದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯ. ನಮ್ಮೂರಿನ ಹೆಸರಿನದೇ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಊರು ದೂರದ ದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿದೆ ಎಂಬ ಅಂಶ ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಂಡ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ.
ಇಂಥ ಹಲವಾರು ವಿಷಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಎರಡು ದಿನದ ವಿಕಿಮೀಡಿಯಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯಾಯಿತು. 'ಒಂದೇ ಹೆಸರಿನ ಎರಡು ಸ್ಥಳಗಳ ವಿಷಯ ಬಂದಾಗ, ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ ಅದನ್ನು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಗುರುತಿಸಿ ನಿಮ್ಮೆದುರು ಆಯ್ಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಇರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ನಿಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದ ಸ್ಥಳದ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ನೀವಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಲಭವಾಗಿ ಪಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬಹುದು' ಎಂದರು ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಮತ್ತು ನಾಡಿಗ್. ವಿವಾದಾತ್ಮ,ಕ ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಕುರಿತಂತೆ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟ ನಿಲುವು ಹೊಂದಿದೆ. 'ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಬರಹ ಪೂರ್ಣವಲ್ಲ, ಈ ಕುರಿತಂತೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಅಥವಾ ಇನ್ನೂ ನಿಖರವಾದ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಒದಗಿಸಬಹುದು ಎಂದು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟಪಡಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಎಷ್ಟೋ ವಿಷಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ, ಇಲ್ಲಿಯ ಬರವಣಿಗೆ ವಿಕಿಮೀಡಿಯಾ ಒಪ್ಪಿದ ಮಾದರಿಯಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನೀವದನ್ನು ಸೂಕ್ತವಾಗಿ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಬಹುದು ಎಂಬ ಸೂಚನೆ ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ, ಇದು ನಿತ್ಯ ಬದಲಾಗುವ, ಸಮೃದ್ಧವಾಗುವ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ' ಎಂದರು ಅವರು.
ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭದ ದಿನದಿಂದ ಸಕ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡಿರುವ ಹರಿ ಪ್ರಸಾದ್‌ ನಾಡಿಗ್‌ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾದ ಹುಟ್ಟು, ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ, ನೀತಿ, ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಳ್ಳುವಿಕೆ ಮುಂತಾದವನ್ನು ವಿವರಿಸಿದರು. ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ಸೇರಿಸುವುದು ಹೇಗೆ? ಎಡಿಟ್‌ ಹೇಗೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು? ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾಯೋಗಿಕವಾಗಿ ತೋರಿಸಿದರು. ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳಿಂದಲೇ ಎಡಿಟ್ ಮಾಡಿಸಿದರು. ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ ಬರಹಗಳಲ್ಲಾದ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಬರವಣಿಗೆಯನ್ನೂ ನಿರ್ವಾಹಕರಾಗಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುವ ಸ್ವಯಂ ಸೇವಕರು ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ, ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ ಕಾಪಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಬರಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದು ನಾಡಿಗ್ ವಿವರಿಸಿದರು.
ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳಕಿಗೆ ಬಂದ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಮಹತ್ವದ ವಿಷಯವೆಂದರೆ, ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಹಲವಾರು ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಸೇರಿಸಿರುವುದು. ಮಿಲಿಟರಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ತಾನು ಬರೆದಿರುವ ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಆತ ತೋರಿಸಿದಾಗ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ, ತಾವು ಕೂಡಾ ಈ ರೀತಿ ಸಕ್ರಿಯರಾಗಬಹುದು ಎಂಬ ಖುಷಿ.
ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾದ ಹಲವಾರು ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆಗಳ ಕುರಿತೂ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವರಿಸಲಾಯ್ತು. 'ಯಾರು, ಯಾವ ವಿಷಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆಯೂ ಲೇಖನ ಬರೆಯಬಹುದು, ಬರೆದಿದ್ದನ್ನು ಎಡಿಟ್ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾದ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಬಹುದು, ಚರ್ಚೆ ನಡೆಸಬಹುದು. ಈ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕೆಲಸದಿಂದ ಸಿಗುವ ಲಾಭವೆಂದರೆ, ತೃಪ್ತಿ' ಎಂದರು ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಮತ್ತು ಹರಿ ಪ್ರಸಾದ ನಾಡಿಗ್‌.
ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ ಕನ್ನಡ ಆವೃತ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ೬,೫೦೦ಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಲೇಖನಗಳಿವೆ. ನಿತ್ಯ ಹೊಸ ಲೇಖನಗಳು ಸೇರ್ಪಡೆಯಾಗುವುದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ, ಹಲವಾರು ಲೇಖನಗಳು ಪುನರ್ ಸಂಪಾದನೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಲೇ ಇವೆ. ಇದೊಂದು ಚಲನಶೀಲ ತಾಣ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರ ಬಿಂಬಿಸಿತು. ಹಲವಾರು ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ ಕೆಲಸದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಯಮಿತವಾಗಿ ತೊಡಗುವ ಉತ್ಸಾಹ ತೋರಿದರು.
ಎರಡು ದಿನಗಳ ಅವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರ ಪಾಲಿಗೆ ಹೊಸ ಜಗತ್ತೊಂದು ತೆರೆದುಕೊಂಡಿತ್ತು.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/openness/blog-old/uploads/wiki-academy

Agriculture, ICT and Community

radha — 2011-04-05T04:29:16Z

Sampada Foundation in collaboration with Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore and Institution of Agricultural Technologists present: 'Agriculture, ICT and Community'

Sampada Foundation in collaboration with Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore and Institution of Agricultural Technologists present:
Agriculture, ICT and Community on the 21st of September, 2009 at 10am. The agenda for the day will be as follows:

Sampada Community - an overview (15 minutes)
Introduction: Krushi Sampada (15 minutes)
Launch of e-book - By Nagesh Hegde
Talk by Addoor Krishna Rao: “Transformations in Agricultural Sector”
Discussion: Agriculture, ICT and Community

There will be no entry or registration fees. All are invited and are welcome to bring their friends along.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/events/agriculture-ict-and-community

User generated content, citizen journalism and news

radha — 2011-04-05T04:28:42Z

Public Talk by Jamillah Knowles who is an online and radio journalist for the BBC on the 26th of September, Saturday at 16:00 hrs

Jamillah Knowles is an online and radio journalist for the BBC. She has 15 years experience working in the new business on many platforms. Starting in newspapers as a photographer she spent a great deal of time in print, moving on to radio for several years with BBC Radio Five Live and World Service before making a jump to online news.

Currently she works in the User Generated Content Hub at the BBC providing contacts, images, case studies and eyewitness accounts in multimedia form for all news outlets across the corporation.

In her spare time she makes the Pods and Blogs radio show for BBC Radio Five Live about digital life online. Over the past year she has been working on developing relationships with online citizen reporters and looking at how social networks can play a role in creative news making.

This talk is about how the BBC has embraced user generated content and how it has changed our news environment in the way we research and provide news for radio, television and online.

VIDEOS

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/events/user-generated-content-citizen-journalism-and-news

Wiki Academy

radha — 2011-08-18T05:01:57Z

An article by Hari Prasad Nadig on Wiki Academy, a workshop based on usage of Indian languages, editing and its applications in academics of Wikipedia - the free online encyclopedia, was held at Eric Mathias hall in St Aloysius College in Mangalore on Saturday, August 22.

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;

Where knowledge is free; - Rabindranath Tagore

ಜ್ಞಾನವೆಂಬುದು ಯಾರೊಬ್ಬರ ಸೊತ್ತಲ್ಲ. ಅದು ಎಲ್ಲರದೂ ಆಗಬೇಕು. ಮಾನವಕುಲದ ಒಟ್ಟು ಅರಿವು ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬರಿಗೂ ಸಿಗಬೇಕು, ಜ್ಞಾನವನ್ನು ಮುಚ್ಚಿಟ್ಟು ಅಥವ ಹಿಡಿದಿಟ್ಟು ಪ್ರಯೋಜನವಿಲ್ಲ. ಹಂಚಿಕೊಂಡ ಜ್ಞಾನ ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತದೆ - ಇದು ಒಂದು ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಯೋಜನೆಯ ಹಿಂದಿರುವ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತ.

ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಒಂದು ಮುಕ್ತ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ. ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ತಮ್ಮ ಅರಿವು ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬಹುದಾದ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ. ಯಾರೊಬ್ಬರೂ ಎಡಿಟ್ ಮಾಡಬಹುದಾದ ಪುಟಗಳ ಗುಚ್ಛ. ಇದನ್ನು ನಡೆಸುವುದು ಜಗತ್ತಿನಾದ್ಯಂತ ತಮಗರಿವಿರುವ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತ ತಾವೂ ಹೊಸ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ಅರಿತುಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಉತ್ಸುಕರಾಗಿರುವ ಆಸಕ್ತರ ಸಮುದಾಯ. ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದ ಕೆಲವೇ ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲದ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ವೆಬ್ಸೈಟುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಾದ ಯೋಜನೆ ಇದು. ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಬಳಕೆಯಾಗುವ ಮೊದಲ ಐದು ವೆಬ್ಸೈಟುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೂ ಒಂದು.

ನಾಲ್ಕಾರು ವರ್ಷಗಳೇ ಈ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳೆದವರಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲರೊಡನೆ ಕುಳಿತು ಒಂದು ದಿನದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಕಿ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಬಹುದೊಡ್ಡ ಸವಾಲು. ಏಕೆಂದರೆ, ವಿಕಿ(ಪೀಡಿಯ) ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ನಮಲ್ಲಿರುವ ವಿಷಯಗಳು ನೂರಾರು. ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ್ಯಮಟ್ಟದ ಮೊಟ್ಟಮೊದಲ ವಿಕಿ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ ಆಯೋಜಿಸಿದಾಗ ನಮಗೆದುರಾದ ಸವಾಲು ಕೂಡ ಇದೇ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂದು ನೆರೆದಿದ್ದ ಇನ್ನೂರಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಜನ ಆಸಕ್ತರ ಸಮೂಹ ನಮಗಿದ್ದ ಸವಾಲನ್ನು ಇಮ್ಮಡಿಗೊಳಿಸಿತ್ತು.

"ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂಡ ಇದೆ. ಅದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಲೇಖನ ಉಂಟೋ?" ಎಂದು ಸಭಿಕರೊಬ್ಬರು ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಮುಂದಿಟ್ಟಾಗ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಟ್ಟ ನಮಗೂ ಕುತೂಹಲ. ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಆಂಗ್ಲ ವಿಕಿಯ 'ಮಂಗಳೂರು' ಪುಟ ತೆರೆದು ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯದಲ್ಲಿರುವ 'ಮಂಗಳೂರು' ಎಂಬ ಊರಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆಯೂ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಓದಿ ಹೇಳುವಾಗ ಎಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲದ ಖುಷಿ. ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ನಡುವೆ ಇರುವ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯ ತುಣುಕುಗಳು ಒಟ್ಟಾದಾಗ ಮಾತ್ರ ಹೀಗಾಗಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯ ಅಲ್ವ? ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ವಿಕ್ಟೋರಿಯ, ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಮಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ರೈಲ್ವೇ ಸ್ಟೇಶನ್ ಕೂಡ ಇದೆ, ಒಂದು ಏರ್ಪೋರ್ಟ್ ಕೂಡ ಇದೆ ಎಂಬುದಿರಲಿ, ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಪರದೇಶವೊಂದರಲ್ಲಿದೆ ಎಂಬುದೂ ತಿಳಿದುಬರದು.

ಇದೇ ರೀತಿಯ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ಉತ್ಸಾಹದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನಾಗಿಸಿತು ಆ ದಿನ. ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ವಿಕಿ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅಚ್ಚುಳಿಯುವಷ್ಟು.

ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಎಂದರೇನು, ಅದರ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತ ಏನು, ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರು ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಬಹುದು, ಹೇಗೆ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಬಹುದು? ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಲು ಬೇಕಾದದ್ದು ಏನು? ಇದೇ ಮೊದಲಾದ ವಿಷಯಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದೆವು. ಸೇಂಟ್ ಅಲೋಶಿಯಸ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ನೆರೆದಿದ್ದ ಆಸಕ್ತರು ನೆರೆದ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಡ್ಡಿದ ಸವಾಲು ನಮಗೆ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಉತ್ಸಾಹ ಮೂಡಿಸಿದ್ದು ಹೌದು. ಬಿಳಿಗಿರಿರಂಗನ ಬೆಟ್ಟವನ್ನು ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ಷೇತ್ರವಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ಡಾಕ್ಟರರಾದ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಎನ್ ಎಸ್ ನನ್ನ ಜೊತೆ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಟ್ಟವರು. ಇವರ ನಿತ್ಯದ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಎಡಿಟ್ಸ್ ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಅದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಅವರಿಗಿರುವ ಆಸಕ್ತಿ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಿಳಿಸದೇ ಇರದು.

ಈ ಯೋಜನೆಯ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯತೆಗೆ ಕಾರಣವೇನು? ಇದು ಹೇಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟು ದೊಡ್ಡದಾಗಿ ಬೆಳದದ್ದು? ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಎಂಬುದೊಂದು ಇಷ್ಟು ಅದ್ಭುತವಾದ ಯೋಜನೆಯಾದದ್ದು ಹೇಗೆ - ಮುಂತಾದ ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಾವು ಬೆಳಕು ಚೆಲ್ಲುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಮಾಡಿದೆವು. ಸಹಯೋಗದಲ್ಲಿ (Collaboration) ಮಾಡಿದ ಕೆಲಸ ಹೇಗೆ ಜಗತ್ ಸ್ವರೂಪ ಪಡೆದು ಉತ್ತಮವಾಗುತ್ತ ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ ಹಾಗು ವಿಶ್ವ ಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದು ಹೇಗೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂಬುದರ ಕುರಿತು ಮಾತಾನಾಡಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸಿದೆವು. ರಾಜ್ಯಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸುವಾಗ ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾಷೆ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಲ್ಕು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆಯೇ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗಿರುವ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಆವೃತ್ತಿ ಮರೆಯಲಾಗದು, ಅದರ ಕುರಿತು ಕೂಡ ಚರ್ಚೆ ಮಾಡಿದೆವು. ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಬಹುಭಾಷಾ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ್ವವಾಗಿ ರೂಪುಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕುರಿತು, ಅದರ ಪ್ರಾಮುಖ್ಯತೆ ಕುರಿತು ಕೂಡ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದೆವು.

ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಬಳಸುವುದು ಹೇಗೆ, ಈ ಯೋಜನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಹೇಗೆ ಎಂಬುದರ ಕುರಿತು ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರವಿತ್ತು. ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡವರು ಸ್ವತಃ ಮುಂದೆ ಬಂದು ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದಲ್ಲಿ ತಾವೂ ಒಂದು ಅಕೌಂಟು ತೆರೆದು ಎಡಿಟ್ ಮಾಡುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಿದೆವು. ಇದು ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೆರೆದಿದ್ದ ಹಲವರಿಗೆ ಬಹಳ ಖುಷಿಕೊಟ್ಟ ವಿಷಯವೆಂದು ಈಗ ನಾನು ಹೇಳಬಲ್ಲೆ. ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಯೋಜನೆಯಾಗಲಿ, ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನವಾಗಲಿ - ಅದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕೇಳುವುದು ಸುಲಭ, ಆದರೆ ಬಳಸಿ ನೋಡುವಾಗ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಎದುರಾದಾಗ ಕಷ್ಟ! ನೇರ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡವರನ್ನೇ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಲು ಕೇಳುತ್ತ ಅವರ ಕೈಯಲ್ಲೇ ಅಕೌಂಟು ತೆರೆಯುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡುವುದು, ಪುಟವೊಂದನ್ನು ಎಡಿಟ್ ಮಾಡುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡುವುದು - ಸಭಿಕರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳ ಸರಮಾಲೆಯನ್ನೇ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಾಕಿತು! ನಮಗೂ ಅದೇ ಬೇಕಿದ್ದದ್ದು. ಎಲ್ಲರ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ನಮಗೆ ತಿಳಿದ ಉತ್ತರ ನೀಡುತ್ತ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಎದುರಾದ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪರಿಹರಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಮಾಡಿದೆವು. ಒಟ್ಟಾರೆ, ನಮಗದು ಬಹಳ ಖುಷಿಕೊಟ್ಟ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರ!

ದಿನದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಮುಗಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು, ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸಕರು, ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರು - ಎಲ್ಲ ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದು ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಅವರ ಅನುಭವ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತ ಕಳೆದ ಸಮಯವಂತೂ ಮರೆಯಲಾಗದ್ದು. ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞರಾಗಿ ನಾವು ಕಾಣುವ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ತನ್ನದೇ ಮುಖವನ್ನು ಕಾಣಿಸುತ್ತದೆಂಬ ಅರಿವು ಈ ಯೋಜನೆಯ ಸಮಗ್ರತೆಯ ಪರಿಚಯ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿತು. ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಹತ್ತಿರವಾಯಿತು.

[ವಿಕಿ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿಯನ್ನು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಸೆಂಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಇಂಟರ್ನೆಟ್ ಎಂಡ್ ಸೊಸೈಟಿಯವರಿಗೆ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಪರವಾಗಿ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳು. ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನದೇನೂ ಅಪೇಕ್ಷೆಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದ ಸ್ವಯಂಸೇವಕರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹ ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ವಿಕಿ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನದಲ್ಲಿ ಇವರ ಪಾತ್ರ, ಕೊಡುಗೆ ಗಣನೀಯವಾದದ್ದು.

ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಆವೃತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಆಯೋಜಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಪಾತ್ರವಹಿಸಿದ ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಆಕಾಶವಾಣಿಯ ಸಾತ್ವಿಕ್, ಸೇಂಟ್ ಅಲೋಶಿಯಸ್ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಉತ್ಸುಕ ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸಕರೂ, ಸರಳ ಜೀವಿಯೂ ಆದ ರೆವರೆಂಡ್ ಫಾದರ್ ರಿಚರ್ಡ್ ರೆಗೋ ಇವರಿಬ್ಬರಿಗೂ ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಪರವಾಗಿ ಹೃತ್ಪೂರ್ವಕ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳು.

ಇದೆಲ್ಲದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ವಿಕಿ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿಯನ್ನು ಕುತೂಹಲದಿಂದ, ವಿಶ್ವಾಸದಿಂದ ನೋಡುತ್ತ ವಿಕಿ ಕುರಿತು ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮದೂ ಒಂದು ಪಾತ್ರವಿದೆ ಎಂಬಂತೆ ನಡೆದ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರಿಗೆ ನಾವೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಕೃತಜ್ಞರು. ಇವರಿಲ್ಲದೆ ನಾವು ಕೈಗೆತ್ತಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ಅರಿವು ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಅಭಿಯಾನ ಅಪೂರ್ಣ.

More information available here

Seminar held at Managlore - slides available here

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/openness/blog-old/wiki-academy

Information and Communication Technology For Improving Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods

radha — 2011-08-02T07:15:43Z

ಮೈಕೇಲ್, ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ಮತ್ತು ಗ್ರಾಮೀಣ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ (ಮೈಕೇಲ್ ರಿಗ್ಸ್ ಭಾಷಣ) - ಚಾಮರಾಜ ಸವಡಿ

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/information-and-communication-technology-for-improving-agriculture-and-rural-livelihoods

Manglore: State-level 'Wiki Academy' Daylong Seminar at St Aloysius

radha — 2011-04-02T14:58:06Z

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS/SB)

Mangalore, Aug 22: For the first time in India, Wiki Academy, a workshop based on usage of Indian languages, editing and its applications in academics of Wikipedia- the free online encyclopedia was held at Eric Mathias hall in St Aloysius College here on Saturday, August 22.
The daylong seminar based on talks and presentation was inaugurated by representatives from Wikipedia, Dr Prashanth and Hariprasad Nadig. Speaking after the inaugural, Dr Prashanth said that main feature of the Wikipedia is that the control is in the ends of end user and not seller. It is popular among the users for its style presenting information and accessibility that is user-friendly, he said.
The Wikipedia that started with a few hundred articles, now has over 13 million articles in over 100 languages including three million articles in English written voluntarily by college students, doctors and various professionals, he said. The Wikipedia also includes articles in Indian regional languages such Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu among others, he added.
Fr Swebert D Silva, principal, St Aloysius College said that Wikipedia plays a role that is very similar to the library which is that giving detailed information on the topic required. Students’ involvement with the Wikipedia helps improve their writing skills. The era of internet and blogging has helped students and youth express themselves more clearly, he said and called on students to improve their writing skill contributing to Wikipedia.
Fr Richard Rego, head, Journalism department, St Aloysius College said that it is a golden opportunity for students, professionals, teachers, scholars and librarians to be able to participate in the academy and also contribute and get information from Wikipedia.
Department of Mass Communication, Al-Madhyam, the media forum of St Aloysius College in association with Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore organized the workshop.

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=64564&n_tit=Manglore%

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/manglore-state-level-wiki-academy-daylong-seminar-at-st-aloysius

Class attendance rises after restriction on Internet use

radha — 2011-04-02T14:58:35Z

by Neha Bhayana, Hindustan Times (Mumbai, September 06, 2009)

When IIT-Bombay restricted Internet use on campus in March 2007, the decision created a furore.
The premier engineering institute was accused of taking students to the Dark Ages and likened with Chinese clinics that use shock therapy to ‘cure’ Internet addicts.
The American Psychiatric Association is now considering including Internet Addiction Disorder as a formal diagnosis.
Experts around the world are debating whether governments should monitor Internet use so that people don’t become addicted to the Web.
IIT-Bombay’s student welfare dean Prakash Gopalan is glad they had the foresight to keep a check on Internet use. “The attendance in morning classes has gone up, more students are participating in sporting and cultural activities and they are seen socialising in the common rooms,” he said.
IITians are not allowed to use the Net between midnight and 7 am. The institute had restricted its use after two suicides in 2005-06 were linked to it.
Nishant Shah from The Centre for Internet and Society at Bangalore, however, said the regulations were unnecessary.
“Internet is just a gateway. There is nothing wrong with the technology. We should educate people to make their engagement with the Internet more productive,” he said.
Reformed Net addicts Ramya (30), and Moksh Juneja (27) said there is no need to have regulations. “Adults should be allowed to decide what is best for them. It is not fair to govern Internet use,” said Ramya, who restricted her Internet use because of neck pain.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/class-attendance-rises-after-restriction-on-internet-use

Now, online books for disabled persons

radha — 2011-04-02T14:58:42Z

An article by L Subramani – Deccan Herald (6th Sept, 2009)

Bangalore: DAISY Forum of India (DFI), who promote talking books in DAISY (Digitally Accessible Information System) format for persons with disability, has provided an accessible consolidated list of DAISY books online for disabled persons across the country to browse.
“At the moment, we have catalogues from Saksham Trust (Delhi), NAB, Mitra Jyoti (Bangalore), BPA (Ahmedabad), Blind Persons Association (Calcutta) and Discipleship Centre. We would get more catalogues in the near future,” said Dipendra Manocha, President DSI, in an email announcement.
Bookbole.com, an online portal designed for persons with disability, is hosting the catalogue. “We have about 600 books in total,” said Nirmita Narasimhan, Project Manager with city-based Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), who have partnered in creating bookbole.
“Accessibility, especially books and printed materials has been a problem for persons with vision challenge. Daisy Talking Books (DTB) have been created to address the dearth of information in accessible format,” Nirmita said. Persons who access the catalogue at bookbole.com can contact the concerned organisation directly and get the book from them.
“On receiving the request for books, we would burn it on a CD (in DAISY format) and post it to the concerned individual. This is the first time we have a consolidated list of DAISY books in the country, which is good for both people looking for books and organisations like us who have been developing them,” Madhu Singhal, Managing Trustee of Bangalore-based Mitra Jyothi.
DAISY format allows readers to access the books both in text and audio format. It is also easier for the readers to understand certain finer aspects of the book such as page numbers. “If someone wants to re-read a particular page in a book, it is entirely not possible in traditional audio format. Whereas, DAISY format lets them know exactly the place they are reading and let them go back and forth quite the same way as an able-bodied person would do with the printed page,” Madhu said.

-DH News Service

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/now-online-books-for-disabled-persons

Handy Origins of the winds of change

radha — 2011-04-02T14:59:01Z

A seminar in Bangalore revealed how mobile technology is being harnessed across India to bring about development and social change, reports Shrabonti Bagchi - DNA (6th Sept, 2009)

The Internet, for all the celebrated changes it has made in our lives, still had limited penetration in our country with about 80 million, largely urban and prosperous users. This severely limits its viability as a vehicle of development and social change. The mobile phone, on the other hand, has 400 million users in the country, and has undoubtedly become the first mode of communication in India to gain almost universal reach, cutting across barriers of location, region, community and social classes.
“The mobile phone has unprecedented penetration into classes of society that were largely unconnected with the outside world till now,” said Sunil Abraham, executive director of the Centre for Internet and Society, which along with Mobile Monday Bangalore, the Bangalore chapter of a global community of wireless industry professionals, organised a seminar, “Mobile Technology 4 Social Change”, in the city recently.
The idea for the event came from one of the co-organizers, Mobileactive.org, which is a network of NGOs interested in taking advantage of the mobile telephony revolution to bring about changes, informed Abraham.
Attended by NGOs, non-profit organisations, researchers, donors, and of course, mobile application developers, the seminar intended to throw open doors of communication between these varied groups of people.
Take the case of IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL), for instance. This farmers’ co-operative formed under the aegis of fertiliser manufacturer IFFCO has tied up with cellular service provider Airtel to develop a special SIM card which enables users to receive voice and text messages everyday containing nuggets of information about various farming practices. It has around 2,75,000 subscribers in Karnataka alone, informs IKSL state manager G Raghunatha, and has made a huge difference to the lives of farmers.
A similar case is related by Subbaih Arunachalam who is involved with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, which has tied up with Tata Tele-services and Qualcomm and telecom developer Astute to create special GPS-enabled mobile phones (costing less than Rs.3, 000) that helps fishermen track weather reports, send out emergency messages in case they are lost at sea, etc., and also engage in price-point discussions with local wholesalers.
Several NGOs have also been quick to utilise the advantage of the versatility and ease-of-use of the mobile phone to disseminate vital information. Sreekanth Rameshaiah, director of Bangalore-based NGO Mahiti, spoke of an endeavour started by his group in Calcutta called My SME News which targets small and micro enterprises, sending out customised information for 11 micro-industries through text messages in the local language. They also plan to launch a voice platform soon.
Mobile payments brand mChek started an initiative on similar lines in Bangalore. The company uses its SMS-based mobile payment technology, which is embedded on all new Airtel and Docomo SIM cards, to enable slum dwellers to access banking and explore micro-finance options through micro-finance institution Grameen Koota.
Valerie Rozycki, head of strategic initiatives at mChek, said, “Access to low-cost banking over the mobile and being enabled with safe ways to save and convenient ways to make payments is life-changing for these customers. This is a sustainable business model to serve the un-banked and under-banked. So, these services will continue to thrive."

Let’s raise our mobile phones to that.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/handy-origins-of-the-winds-of-change

Highest wiki taker

radha — 2011-04-02T15:04:18Z

Bangaloreans are beginning to debate if Wikipedia is a reliable source of info, reports Shweta Taneja. TimeOut Bangalore, published an article on the upcoming WikiWars event that the Centre for Internet and Society is organising in January 2010. Nishant Shah, Director Research, was interviewed for his views and ideas about the event and the rise of Wikipedia as a global knowledge production system.

Link to the original article on the Time Out site.

“When we use the term Wikipedia, most of us mean the English version of it,” said Hari Prasad Nadig, a 26-year-old software professional. “It’s only in the last couple of years that even editors [of the popular online encyclopaedia] have started working on regional languages.” Nadig is one of several wiki editors who, much like the encyclopaedists in Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, are dedicated to putting together unbiased and objective information about India in English and other languages. Authenticity and accuracy of information being a subject of serious contention, Wikipedia flags dubious-sounding articles and invites editors from across the world to ‘cleanup the article to meet its quality standards’.

Nadig started as an editor for English Wiki on topics related to Kannada and Karnataka five years ago, but soon saw the need for articles and pages in regional languages. While the new Kannada and Sanskrit Wikipedias have been online for a few months now, Nadig also found himself making note of several problems that they had begun to face – the biggest being an affair commonly referred to as “WikiWars”, fought over the need to keep information accurate. To discuss such issues, and to present problems being faced by regional language Wiki groups like Nadig’s, the city’s Centre for Internet and Society, which has become a centre for Wikipedians to meet every month, has announced plans to host a conference called WikiWars in January 2010 (in association with the Institute of Network Cultures, Amsterdam), for which the registrations open this fortnight.

“The open structure of Wikipedia has led to warring factions when it comes to the content on important issues,” explained Nishant Shah, Director-Research at CIS. For example, when Bangalore was renamed Bengaluru, there was a quick succession of edit-wars, he said, where the proponents and critiques of the move constantly kept editing and changing the information provided by other parties. “In the absence of an editorial board, these wars create the neutral point of view that assures objectivity in content,” he said.

The event WikiWars will aim to bring together perspectives, approaches, experiences and stories on such concerns, he added. “The platform is not only for active Wikipedians, but also for people who have the ability to critically examine Wikipedia.”

Nadig explained that several writers and administrators work to protect the Wiki pages, so that no unauthorised changes can be made. But many of these writers are yet closed to the ideas of online communities and concepts of user-generated content. “The subject should be open to changes by others – that is the democratic way,” he said. Like in any open system, there is a pressing need to look at Wikipedia holistically, and what it means for different groups of people. Shah agreed, “On one hand, people swear by this peer-to-peer system of knowledge production and sharing, looking at it as a symbol of the information revolution. On the other hand, people question the validity and authority of the Wikipedia to serve as a global system of referencing, questioning the lack of structure in the system.”

Nadig further explained that the concerns are most relevant to new initiatives like the regional language Wikis. “The numbers of articles on the Kannada Wiki have now crossed 6,000 pages,” he observed. But most of the problems that Nadig’s facing are because most regional language editors tend to treat the Wikipedia as a print medium rather than a dynamic online one. “People still do not understand how the Wikipedia works, and tend to treat a page like traditional media – where once printed, it cannot be changed, edited or questioned,” he explained. He added that there is a shortage of good editors as well, who can actively question and participate in projects: “Many people need the technological ability to edit, and understand how Kannada functions online.” To improve the technical skills of editors, Nadig also works offline, conducting hands-on training sessions. He now holds sessions for newbie Wikipedians, and trains them to use programs for editing and writing in regional languages.

But the main impediment for regional Wikis is that the community is broken into sub-groups, said Nadig. “If you want to work with the government and other organisations, you need a formal setup for Wikipedia, which can approach and actively engage them,” he said. Shah is hoping that the WikiWars conference will address this concern, including other issues like economic practices based around Wikipedia, the nature of freedom in usage, for instance in oral histories and unconfirmed information sources, and the space for dissent in the medium. He added that the event will aim to build a “knowledge network” that will start larger discussions, and also work to create public awareness.

Registrations for WikiWars are now open.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/highest-wiki-taker

Pushing the buttons for social change

radha — 2011-04-02T15:09:10Z

IMMENSE POTENTIAL: With its myriad applications, a mobile phone can be used as an instrument of social change. Meet on how mobile technology can be a power tool to this end - An article in The Hindu on 01st September 2009

BANGALORE: We have all seen the popular television advertisement that claims that mobile phone technology can be much more than a communication device and be used as a powerful tool for social change.

Here is a platform that brings together technology enthusiasts and non-governmental organisations, working in various social sectors, to drive this change.

The one-day camp, Mobile Tech 4 Social Change, to be held on September 4, aims at exploring the power of mobile technology to advance social change goals.

Organised by the Centre for Internet and Studies, in collaboration with Women’s Learning Partnership, Mobile Monday and Mobile Active, it will include informative and interactive sessions on the subject.

It will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Mother Tekla Auditorium on Brunton Road.

Participating NGOs will discuss problems and different ways to use, deploy, develop and promote mobile technology in health, advocacy, economic development, environment, human rights, and citizen media to name a few areas.

According to the Cellular Operators’ Association of India, there has been a growth in the number of subscribers by 1.86 per cent in July 2009 in the metros alone.

“A report on the impact of mobile phones in India reveals that Indian States with high mobile penetration can be expected to grow faster than those with lower mobile penetration rates, namely, 1.2 percentage points for every 10 per cent increase in the penetration rate.

This conference is a step in understanding how this can be taken forward,” says Sunil Abraham of the Centre for Internet and Studies. Participants for Mobile Tech 4 Social Change bar camps will include nonprofits, mobile applications developers, researchers, donors, intermediary organisations, and mobile operators.

While NGOs can gain information on various mobile applications and collaborate with those working in the core field of mobile technologies, enterprises can align their social responsibilities and use this potentially powerful medium.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/pushing-the-buttons-for-social-change

Deconstructing ‘Internet addiction’

radha — 2011-04-02T15:09:28Z

An article by Sruthi Krishnan and Shyam Ranganathan in The Hindu on August 30th,'09

CHENNAI: Earlier this week, the first rehabilitation centre for ‘Internet addicts’ was opened in the United States. De-addiction camps in China were in the news recently for the death of a teenager because of the brutal methods used there to cure ‘Internet addiction.’

‘Internet addiction’ for now is a catch-all term that not only stands for addiction to specific activities such as gambling or gaming but also refers to longer hours devoted to the computer network at the expense of other activities.

Though the Internet is only a medium of communication and information transmission like the printed book or television, ‘addiction’ is being used in this case with concern because of a fundamental dialectic: ‘quantity becomes quality.’

“A whole new world is just a click away with the Internet. It is a medium just like books and TV, but the amount of interaction it makes possible with others, sometimes replacing the need for real world interaction, makes it vastly different,” says E.S. Krishnamoorthy, consultant neuropsychiatrist, Voluntary Health Services, Chennai.

Though chemical changes may not be induced by the broadly repetitive action involved in gaming and general ‘Internet addiction,’ social behavioural modifications do take place, including sleep deprivation and aggression towards the depriver of access to the Internet, he says.

“It is somewhat between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and addiction due to substance abuse. Substance abuse-led addiction focusses on gratification which this form of attachment provides, though there is no chemical ingestion. At the same time, the behavioural modifications are similar to those with OCD. It is almost like the ‘rush’ gamblers get out of a purely gratification-oriented repetitive action,” Dr. Krishnamoorthy adds.

Generational gap

Sunil Abraham, director-policy, Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore, says what constitutes ‘Internet addiction’ is sometimes misunderstood because of a generational gap between those who grew up immersed in technology and those who adopted technology later in their lives.

Can a teenager’s extensive use of social networking be categorised as ‘addiction’? Not necessarily. Social networking could lead to forging new relationships which could be beneficial.

For now, such activities may not be the norm, but it could be the way our society is configured in the future, says Mr. Abraham.

The Internet itself offers solutions to balance your real and virtual activities. For instance, ‘Freedom’ is an application that disables networking on an Apple computer for up to eight hours at a time. In the settings of Google mail, you can enable ‘Email addict’ (a Google Labs feature) that disables your screen and makes you invisible on chat for 15 minutes. There are many such timer software that let you set a period for which a certain activity would be banned.

Dr. Krishnamoorthy advocates counselling and concerted effort to increase real world social interactions for “treating” Internet addiction. He warns that the problem is larger in that we are creating an “inward-looking society.”

“There is a big problem on hand if many people replace the real world with the Internet instead of using it as a device to enhance interactions,” he says.

Mr. Abraham says controls should come from a more open and informed discussion, of which even children are a part. Dubbing an activity not fully understood an “addiction” and imposing old-fashioned controls are not the right approach, he adds.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/deconstructing-2018internet-addiction2019

Value Added Services of Information & Communication Technology- Mobile Telephony for Farmers Benefit

radha — 2011-08-02T07:15:28Z

Mr. G Raghunatha, State Manager, IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Ltd., Bangalore and Secretary, Institution of Agricultural Technologists, Bangalore has written an article on how ICT - Mobile Technology can be used for the farmers' benefit.

The rural areas are suffering with extreme poverty and isolation. Such isolation has led to many miseries and tragic consequences in many families. This trend is more evident due to the absence of joint family system, which has deprived the supportive role of family members. It is seen that mobile phones have to some extent end isolation and therefore proved to be most transformative technology of economic development in recent times. The mobile phone technology has been so powerful and costs so little that it has now proved possible to sell mobile phone access to the poor.

The rural poor have access to wireless banking and payment systems. The mobile revolution is creating logistics revolution in farm to retail marketing connecting farmers to food retailers enabling them to sell the produce at high farm gate prices without delay.

Mobile telephony has become a part of everybody’s of life. This has also become a symbol of progress. If rural telephony grows by 1% there will be an increase of 0.6% in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showing the impact of growth of rural mobile telephony on Indian economy. 70% of the population of the country is still left behind so far as mobile telephone connectivity is concerned. This indicates that there is an excellent potential for growth in rural areas.

The rural population deserves to shift to mobile telephones in view of the delipitated, ancient and almost useless fixed line infrastructure. They have proved to be an effective instrument of empowerment of rural masses. It is a welcome sign that mobile operators have now shifted their focus to service the rural areas. The once neglected, non profitable areas with high operating costs with low income subscribers is now seen as a proverbial pot of gold with technological advancement and better network management.

Karnataka being in the forefront of Information technology revolution has not lagged behind to harness the Information and communication technology for strengthening the rural masses. Communication is a major challenge and serious impediment in taking the fruits of development to our farmers in the country. IFFCO has realized that a reliable and economical communication medium, as well as, useful services of relevance over this channel have the potential to transform the quality of living in our villages. The need of the hour is to take valuable information inputs to farmers- directly to their ‘ears’ & ‘eyes’ using latest information media like mobile technologies, in addition, rural friendly technologies which are simple, affordable and can address the basic needs of our farmers need to be designed, developed and supplied in all the villages of our country. IFFCO was amongst the first in India to realize the importance and benefits of information and communication technology (ICT) for the development of rural India and applied the technology under 'ICT Initiatives for Farmers & Cooperatives'.

As the country witnessed a boom in Communication in the past decades, most of the developments had been limited to urban areas. It is well known that communication plays a vital role in overall growth in country. It has been proved that mobile telephony has a positive and significant impact on economic growth. But communication infrastructure is still lacking in rural areas.

'IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL)' is IFFCO's initiative tying up with telecom giant “Airtel”to take further the application of ICT to the benefit of Rural India through a mandate to design, develop, source and supply state of the art, economical & environmentally friendly rural communication & other technologies with value additions of content & services. The focus is to empower people living in villages by taking advantage of appropriate technology to address issues relating to farmers who are in need of communication, access to input from experts and services of reliable quality.

IFFCO has always been in the forefront in spreading the benefits of latest in science and technology for the upliftment of quality of life in rural India. Service to farmers is an integral part of the marketing in gaining trust of rural masses. IFFCO has distinction of floating institutions with focus on rural India like IFFCO- TOKIO General Insurance (ITGI), CORDET, IFFCO Foundation, Kisan Sewa Trust and IFFDC. Unique initiatives of ITGI like 'Sankat Haran Bima Yojna' and ‘Barish Bima Yojana’ have become very popular

IKSL is harnessing domain strength of vast resources of expertise both within and outside IKSL by leveraging organizations engaged in communications & rural friendly technologies. Partnerships have been forged with giant companies like Airtel and Freeplay. Innovation, dynamism & sense of purpose guide IKSL in its journey towards harnessing technology for the betterment of life in rural India.

Value added services are designed to disseminate through mobile channel five voice messages of current importance to farmers in local languages every day free of cost. The broad areas covered are: recommendation on best agricultural practices, nutrient management, animal husbandry, problems & possible solutions for the specific location, information on mandies, weather & climate and several other areas. In Karnataka IKSL is entering into an MOU with University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore & Dharwad for developing content in the form of message bank and helpline services which is enhanced and updated on a continuous basis.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/value-added-services-of-information-communication-technology-mobile-telephony-for-farmers-benefit

Change is coming, thanks to the mobile

radha — 2011-04-02T15:09:50Z

An article by NT Balanarayan in the DNA on August 27th,'09

Bangalore: A simple mobile can do much more than all your friends or send you cricket alerts, this is not me saying it, this is what a bunch of mobile enthusiasts organised under the banner of different societies are trying to say with the upcoming unconference Mobile tech for Social Change.

The event which will be held in unconference style - read: casual atmosphere - will try to focus on mobile technology and applications which can help not just connect human beings, but also improve their lives. The event is being organised by Centre for Internet Society (CIS) in collaboration with Women's Learning Partnership, Mobile Monday Bangalore and MobileActive.org and will be held on September 1.

Sunil Abraham, executive director of CIS says that the event will bring together two groups of people and provide them a platform to interact and work on ideas.

"On one side, there are the NGOs and social entrepreneurs and on the other side there are the people who develop technology for mobile phones, the geeks and the hackers etc. So if this event works out like expected, there may be a mailing list in the future so that these people can keep in touch and help develop mobile technology that will help uplift the lives of people," he says.

So how important are mobile phones as a technology? According to Abraham, it might be the easiest way for an Indian to access the internet. "There are around 400 million mobile users in India against 80 million people who have occasional access to the internet. The mobile users end up using internet technology a lot in India through GRPS, EDGE and at times indirectly through SMS gateway. This platform however, needs more work so that much more can be provided to mobile users," he says.

The Mobile Monday initiative headed by Kesav Reddy, will be helping CIS to organise the event. "We are expecting not just NGOs and developers, but also, researchers, donors, intermediary organisations and mobile operators; all in all we are expecting 100-200 participants," he says.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/change-is-coming-thanks-to-the-mobile