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Literate or illiterate, cutting edge tech for all
By | Thursday, 11 March 2010, 03:29 Hrs |
5 Comments
Shankar uses his cellphone to shoot a picture of the list of goods and items his assistant has written down. The list also has an email address at the end of the text. When he takes the picture of the text, the device application that resides on his cellphone identifies the email address (identifies @ sign) and automatically transfers the data to the recipient's email address. To help people living in rural areas, HP Labs India is also working on applications that can help users keep an eye on what their kids are doing at home, using their cellphones. It is working on an application that will synchronise images from the camera installed at a user's home with the handset.
Talking to Business Standard, Sudhir Dixit, Director, HP Labs India said, "There are three components to intuitive and rich user experiences. First is developing compelling application services for the emerging markets especially for the small and medium enterprises and home users. Second is creating intuitive human computer interaction. Finally, developing a standard authoring tool so that people can develop any application they want."
Even labs of other companies are also working on similar projects. IBM's 'Spoken Web' project, for instance, is a voice-enabled technology developed by IBM Research-India, which complements the internet, and enables people with little or no literacy, or those with visual impairment, to access and share information, perform business transactions, and create social networks using mobile or landline phones. Manish Gupta, Director, IBM Research - India and Chief Technologist, IBM India/SA said, "This collaborative research programme will result in critical insights to the accessibility requirements of the elderly and people with little or no education in developing nations. With mobile phones becoming ubiquitous, these technologies will make key information sources accessible and relevant to a vast population."
Microsoft Research India, one of the six global Microsoft Research labs, also has its eye on innovation in the world of mobiles and PCs. Along with its global counterparts, the India lab is contributing to a project which aims at leveraging the power of the cloud for mobile applications. Even a mobile-based advisory platform 'mKrishi', which has started pilot projects in Maharashtra. The information system for farmers will help them access localised information and advice on agricultural issues through graphic and voice formats in local languages. mKrishi has been developed to provide personalised information and expert advice to rural farmers in their local language, using sensor technology. It is also adaptable to illiterate farmers, who can make a query from a cell phone using voice-specific functions.
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Reader's comments(5)
1:
I read with great interest the article. In India Rural People are very intelligent. They may be ILLITERATE but not ILL INFORMED. The Success of Green Revolution, Usage of Mobiles are classic examples of ADOPTABILITY by local people.
Since independence India has made rapid strides in every walk of life. Phenomenal progress is seen in its industrialisation international trade technical education and scientific and industrial research.
However there is something amiss in Indian canvas. About 30 per cent of our people still live below the minimum subsistence level. Eighty six per cent of such people live in our villages. It only proves that the rural people have not been brought into the mainstream of our national endeavor to contribute to the progress and share the fruits of our economic and industrial growth. It is true that a large number of these rural poor are illiterate but not ill-informed however. These poor and illiterate people have learnt that a better life is not only possible for them but they have a right to better life. They cannot wait in line indefinitely for the better days to come. We have to plan and work in this direction so that better days for them could come sooner than expected. This is the imperative need of the nation and a challenge before all thinking Indians.
It is well recognised that science and technology are the propellants for progress and prosperity and catalysts for growth and development. The greater the capacity of a nation to generate, transfer and to utilise the technology the faster is its growth, progress and prosperity. Technology flow should be coupled with financial flow. With the same capital, but with a twist in technology greater outputs can be obtained. Technology not only brings about change in production system but also influences social relations in this system, changing the lifestyles values and attitudes which in turn change technology. Technology is thus culture specific. Therefore the welding of capital cultural and technology factors is essential for rapid development.
The major question is how can science and technology help to fulfill the expectations of people. In an attempt to catch up with the west its modernisation and consumer civilization we have only landed ourselves in the pockets of affluence in a sea of distress and destitution. We now realise mere increased production is not enough it should be coupled with the distributive justice. Economic development must be coupled with social development.
Social development is centered around man. The country is not just soil. The country is people. Development is really the development of the people development of the capabilities in the people to be self confident, self competent self dependent and self reliant: to live in harmony with the environment and to have a sense of values of human dignity.
The task of the leadership should basically be to modernise the traditional and traditionalise the modern. This task becomes more difficult in old countries like India imbued with traditions taboos superstitions rituals etc.
The need today therefore is for an integrated approach to couple natural and human resources with modern tools, techniques and technologies and management methods to practically demonstrate how the living and working conditions of the people could be improved. To people seeing is believing. Such an approach should provide gainful employment to the people help in building self competence to utilise their own skills and resources a feeling of adventure and pride in achievement a faith in science and inculcation of attitudes rational scientific attitudes to bring about a cultural change and always looking out for a change for better.
The object is to change the face of under development of the people through application of science and technology at the grass roots level and bringing science to the doors of the people that need it. The object is to fill the people with faith in science and involve them in creative and productive endeavours.
Late Prof.Y.Nayudamma a world renowned scientist who championed the cause and use of science for the people once said If Indian Scientists had made an effort to utilise the available knowledge and techniques to solve the everyday problems of the people they would have acted as social reformers or revolutionaries and builders of a new India. What scientists ought to have done is to give teeth to the philosophy of self reliance by applying scientific knowledge to meet the needs of the society ‘in which they were living and help the people amongst whom they were living to help themselves. Had they done so people when in distress would have turned to them for help themselves instead of going to mullah or a pundit. Moreover this would have ended their (Scientists) isolation form the people.
Our Motto is Science to Serve Society Society to Support Science.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore (AP)
Since independence India has made rapid strides in every walk of life. Phenomenal progress is seen in its industrialisation international trade technical education and scientific and industrial research.
However there is something amiss in Indian canvas. About 30 per cent of our people still live below the minimum subsistence level. Eighty six per cent of such people live in our villages. It only proves that the rural people have not been brought into the mainstream of our national endeavor to contribute to the progress and share the fruits of our economic and industrial growth. It is true that a large number of these rural poor are illiterate but not ill-informed however. These poor and illiterate people have learnt that a better life is not only possible for them but they have a right to better life. They cannot wait in line indefinitely for the better days to come. We have to plan and work in this direction so that better days for them could come sooner than expected. This is the imperative need of the nation and a challenge before all thinking Indians.
It is well recognised that science and technology are the propellants for progress and prosperity and catalysts for growth and development. The greater the capacity of a nation to generate, transfer and to utilise the technology the faster is its growth, progress and prosperity. Technology flow should be coupled with financial flow. With the same capital, but with a twist in technology greater outputs can be obtained. Technology not only brings about change in production system but also influences social relations in this system, changing the lifestyles values and attitudes which in turn change technology. Technology is thus culture specific. Therefore the welding of capital cultural and technology factors is essential for rapid development.
The major question is how can science and technology help to fulfill the expectations of people. In an attempt to catch up with the west its modernisation and consumer civilization we have only landed ourselves in the pockets of affluence in a sea of distress and destitution. We now realise mere increased production is not enough it should be coupled with the distributive justice. Economic development must be coupled with social development.
Social development is centered around man. The country is not just soil. The country is people. Development is really the development of the people development of the capabilities in the people to be self confident, self competent self dependent and self reliant: to live in harmony with the environment and to have a sense of values of human dignity.
The task of the leadership should basically be to modernise the traditional and traditionalise the modern. This task becomes more difficult in old countries like India imbued with traditions taboos superstitions rituals etc.
The need today therefore is for an integrated approach to couple natural and human resources with modern tools, techniques and technologies and management methods to practically demonstrate how the living and working conditions of the people could be improved. To people seeing is believing. Such an approach should provide gainful employment to the people help in building self competence to utilise their own skills and resources a feeling of adventure and pride in achievement a faith in science and inculcation of attitudes rational scientific attitudes to bring about a cultural change and always looking out for a change for better.
The object is to change the face of under development of the people through application of science and technology at the grass roots level and bringing science to the doors of the people that need it. The object is to fill the people with faith in science and involve them in creative and productive endeavours.
Late Prof.Y.Nayudamma a world renowned scientist who championed the cause and use of science for the people once said If Indian Scientists had made an effort to utilise the available knowledge and techniques to solve the everyday problems of the people they would have acted as social reformers or revolutionaries and builders of a new India. What scientists ought to have done is to give teeth to the philosophy of self reliance by applying scientific knowledge to meet the needs of the society ‘in which they were living and help the people amongst whom they were living to help themselves. Had they done so people when in distress would have turned to them for help themselves instead of going to mullah or a pundit. Moreover this would have ended their (Scientists) isolation form the people.
Our Motto is Science to Serve Society Society to Support Science.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore (AP)
Posted by:Dr.A.Jagadeesh
- 11 Mar, 2010
2:
I agree with Dr.Jagadish's "They may be ILLITERATE but not ILL INFORMED". This article didn't make me curious purely because of the reason that I have already seen something like this in my locality.
We have a flower vendor in our locality. He sells flower to daily to his regular customers at their doorstep. I am one of his customer to be frank. I started buying flowers from him and after some days, I received a computerised bill from him (with my name and address on it), stating the amount I had to pay for him. I was impressed. I thought he was literate and he was doing this as part-time earning.
I invited him once to my home and asked about him. He was actually a Class II dropout and hails from UP. He added that he hsa been selling flowers from long time but the computerised billing started recently.
He has a laptop and a printer of his own. Everyday he updates his database of the flowers sold to his clients on his Laptop which has both name and address of all his clients. After every month he gives the bill to all his clients. And THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is that he has registered his flower vending company and pays all his taxes.So simple. So easy. But well INFORMED.
IN my opinion he has set an example to lot of people where people dont give or ask for bills(eg in provision stores) where every commodity should be billed.
This is really an appreciatve initiative by Microsoft-HP Labs. Hope to read more articles like this in future.
We have a flower vendor in our locality. He sells flower to daily to his regular customers at their doorstep. I am one of his customer to be frank. I started buying flowers from him and after some days, I received a computerised bill from him (with my name and address on it), stating the amount I had to pay for him. I was impressed. I thought he was literate and he was doing this as part-time earning.
I invited him once to my home and asked about him. He was actually a Class II dropout and hails from UP. He added that he hsa been selling flowers from long time but the computerised billing started recently.
He has a laptop and a printer of his own. Everyday he updates his database of the flowers sold to his clients on his Laptop which has both name and address of all his clients. After every month he gives the bill to all his clients. And THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is that he has registered his flower vending company and pays all his taxes.So simple. So easy. But well INFORMED.
IN my opinion he has set an example to lot of people where people dont give or ask for bills(eg in provision stores) where every commodity should be billed.
This is really an appreciatve initiative by Microsoft-HP Labs. Hope to read more articles like this in future.
Kiran Replied to: Dr.A.Jagadeesh
- 14 Mar, 2010
3:
we sure hv interesting ideas coming up in the labs!thnx to the MNCs very few recognise Indians' contribution though!would love to see more such innovations enter the market rather thn stay bck in the office registries:)!
Posted by:Archana
- 11 Mar, 2010
4:
I think this is what is called empowerment it is very good
microsoft .hp labs India are actively working towards applications ,My grandfather was a farmer I remember he used to grow sugarcane and supply it to nearby KCP Sugars factory ,the factory used to send a rep to the village ,but he is overbooked and the appointment was easily missed.
But now thanks to mobiles information such as this will help and encourage Indian farmers who are the backbone of rural india.
If a farmer smiles and his family looks satisfied ,that means rural india doing well which means most of India doing good ,so iam very happy to see such empowerment for Indian farmers.
rama mohana rao anne
sydney australia
microsoft .hp labs India are actively working towards applications ,My grandfather was a farmer I remember he used to grow sugarcane and supply it to nearby KCP Sugars factory ,the factory used to send a rep to the village ,but he is overbooked and the appointment was easily missed.
But now thanks to mobiles information such as this will help and encourage Indian farmers who are the backbone of rural india.
If a farmer smiles and his family looks satisfied ,that means rural india doing well which means most of India doing good ,so iam very happy to see such empowerment for Indian farmers.
rama mohana rao anne
sydney australia
Posted by:rama mohana rao anne
- 11 Mar, 2010
5:
I think it is a brilliant platform laid by HP Labs India
Posted by:Rajeev
- 11 Mar, 2010
Beautiful and dress selection, please go to Dresses
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