BYTESFORALL * MAY 2007 * SUMMARY * * * SOFTWARE PIRACY IN INDIA DROPS BY ONE PERCENT: STUDY. And Patrice Riemens informs that a most interesting article in yesterday's Financial Times Digital Business supplement details the stunning costs, direct and indirect, that are associated with the 'management' of software licenses for business and other professional organisations. It's called "The hidden cost of being too cautious" and is by Alan Cane Published: May 30, 2007. Source Patrice Riemens patrice@xs4all.nl * * * GOOGLE OFFERS HELP to Mysore University (Karnataka) to digitize 8,00,000 books. The Mysore University library has around 100,000 manuscripts that are written both on paper as well as palm leaves. These would include India's first political treatise, the 'Arthashastra' written in the 4th century BC by Kautilya. The idea behind digitising for free is to get free links to these materials once the necessary patenting is complete. Google will also provide expertise, software, and manpower for the digitization work. Whereas, Mysore University is training some of its select Physics students to help in the digitization process. http://www.techshout.com/internet/2007/21/google-to-digitize-800000-books-at... http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10340 * * * LET'S MAKE POVERTY A 'COPYRIGHT FREE ZONE'! Nalaka Gunawardene argues that we all know the power of moving images. Used strategically, moving images can move people to change lifestyles, attitudes and behaviour. Indeed, the right kind of information -- whether about microcredit, contraception, home gardening or immunisation -- can vastly improve the quality of life, and even save lives that are needlessly lost. Says Nalaka: "Broadcasters need to let go of development related TV content after initial broadcasts. They must also allow educational and civil society users greater access to vast visual archives, gathered from all over the world. In this context, I would like to repeat a proposal I first made last year, which I have since presented at the UN Headquarters and other forums. It's simple: Let us make poverty a 'copyrights free zone'." http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10338 * * * TELECENTRE.ORG BLOG, some highlights: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10336 * * * CHEAPER LAPTOPS FOR CHILDREN: A programme to provide millions of low-cost laptops to students in poor countries is set to start production in September even as commercial competitors prepare to offer even cheaper models. The idea from Nicholas Negroponte, a co-founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Laboratory, who proposed the project at the World Economic Forum in Davos two years ago, has moved closer to fruition. Negroponte sees the computers, to be sold in bulk to governments of certain countries, as a linchpin of education and development. The non-profit organization he formed -- One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) -- attracted support of leading businesses and institutions and will start production later this year, Michail Bletsas, chief connectivity officer at OLPC, said. The laptop is being made by the Chinese firm Quanta: the goal is for Quanta to manufacture 40,000 laptops a month beginning in September, then step up production to 400,000 per month by the end of the year. "OLPC would like to manufacture at least three million units in the first round of production," he said. But OLPC could not say which countries were planning to order the laptops, spokeswoman Jackie Lustig said. Volume shipments to developing nations were planned for later this year, she said. "OLPC is in talks with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Peru, Nigeria, Thailand, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda and many other countries -- but nothing definite just yet," she said. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1099381 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10332 * * * * SOFTWARE, FROM A BANGLADESHI HACKER: "These are some of my hacks that you might find useful. I wrote them in my own time (weekends, after work and in my vacation), my employer has nothing to do with them. All the software are available with source for free. If you have any questions or suggestions please email me at muquit@muquit.com If you find the software useful, please let me know as well. Share and enjoy!" http://www.muquit.com/muquit/software/software.html * * * CELLPHONE CALL FROM EVEREST: British climber Rod Baber on Monday became the first man to use a cellphone for making a call from Mount Everest. He used the GSM technology. Earlier, satellite phones had been used to make calls from the Everest summit, but this is for the first time that a call has been made using the 3G technology. The call was made possible with the help of a cell tower installed by China Telecom in Rongbuk, about 12 miles from the mountain peak. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10321 * * * FOR MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPERS: The Institute for the Future is holding a roundtable of developers or programmers working on mobile applications or services in Delhi. If you know anyone working in this sphere, please ask them to get in touch with Steve Cisler, Center for Science Technology and Society, Santa Clara University http://scu.edu/sts/ <sacisler AT yahoo.com> * * * STOCKHOLM CHALLENGE: Earl Mardle in Sydney meanwhile calls on mobile developers from anywhere to take part in the Stockholm Challenge. "We are very aware that mobile is vital to many areas of development and the more interesting and innovative programmes we can contact, the better," says he. You can find out more about the Challenge here or register and take part here or contact earl.mardle@stockholmchallenge.se Earl Mardle is with KeyNet Consultancy/ Using Information Technology in the Real World at 29 River St Earlwood Sydney NSW 2206 Australia. * * * TELECENTRES IN THE MADRASA: The school based telecenter project of RI SOL has launched internet-enabled telecenters in two Bangladeshi madrasas (Islamic religious schools), in Khulna and Dhaka. See Khulna Alia Madrasa Advocates for an Inclusive Information Society on World Information Society Day Link to the news story and photos of the celebration: http://www.connect-bangladesh.org/content/view/418/101/ Source: Nazrul Islam <nazrul07@gmail.com> * * * Search Engine for Malayalam: http://www.guruji.com/ml/ Source: Ridhi D'Cruz, independent journalist, web designer, photographer, ICT4D enthusiast and BytesForAll volunteer. * * * ...Trimmed for reasons of length. See full issue at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/10395 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To join the mailing list http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/join OR contact fred at bytesforall.org and request to be subscribed. 1682 members. Founded June 2001. Reaches all those who care about the social impact and fairness of computing and information technology. This issue compiled by: Frederick Noronha, co-founder. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * -- FN M: 0091 9822122436 P: +91-832-240-9490 (after 1300IST) Skype: fredericknoronha Yahoochat: fredericknoronha http://fn.goa-india.org http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com Email fred at bytesforall.org Res: 784 Saligao 403511 Goa India