DIGITAL DIVIDE
Edtech Crusaders Seek D.C. Bucks
Uganda's UNAB Opens up a Computer Institute for the Blind
Hindi "Chatbot" Breaks New Ground
PIRACY
RIAA: Feeling Burn of Ripped CDs
DIGITAL DIVIDE
EDTECH CRUSADERS SEEK D.C. BUCKS
The Digital Promise project advocates a greater investment in the research
and development of educational technology. The group is seeking to create a
Digital Opportunity Investment Trust (DO IT), which would be financed by
revenue generated from the auction of spectrum. "The payoffs are so broad
for society," said Henry Kelly, president of the Federation of American
Scientists and a support of the trust. Kelly points out that computers and
Internet connectivity are widely available, but content is not. Funds
funneled into DO IT would be made available as grants to fund development of
new learning simulations and models. Grants would also be awarded for
workforce development, adult learning and teacher training. DO IT would also
fund the digitizing of materials in museums, libraries and universities
across the country, making these materials readily available to anyone with
an Internet connection.
[SOURCE: Wired News, AUTHOR: Katie Dean]
(http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,54543,00.html)
UGANDA'S UNAB OPENS UP A COMPUTER INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND
The Uganda National Association for the Blind (UNAB) has created an
institute for visually impaired people to learn how to use computers. The
institute's introductory class teaches students to navigate a computer's
operating system and how to use basic word processing features. After
mastering these skills, students are trained in the use of software that
enables them to scan printed material (such as books and documents) for the
computer to read aloud. While the project was set up to equip blind people
with digital skills, the center is open to all people. UNAB encourages
anyone without computer skills to seek training at the center.
[SOURCE: All Africa, AUTHOR: Catherine Ntabadde, New Vision]
(http://allafrica.com/stories/200208260276.html)
HINDI "CHATBOT" BREAKS NEW GROUND
Computer science students in Chandigarh, a city in northern India, have
developed an interactive software program that can converse intelligently
with people. Called Deepti, the "chatbot" program uses natural language to
interact with people. "Deepti speaks in Hindi, and since the majority of
people in India are computer illiterate and don't speak English, this
feature is really great," explains Ritvik Shajpal, one of the chatbot's
developers. The developers hope that, combined with touch-screen technology,
Deepti will provide computer accessibility to people with little or no
knowledge of computers. They are optimistic about Deepti's future, saying
that the program and its source code should be ready for release within four
months. The developers hope that making their research available freely will
encourage further research and improvements on Deepti.
[SOURCE: BBC News, AUTHOR: Alfred Hermida]
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2209775.stm)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
RIAA: FEELING BURN OF RIPPED CDs
In a new report, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) claims
an increase in music downloads and piracy resulted in a seven percent drop
in CD sales during the first six months of this year. "There are numerous
red flags and warning bells that illustrate conclusively the harmful impact
of illegal downloading on today's music industry," said RIAA President Cary
Sherman. According to the study, consumers of music on the Internet are
downloading more files and burning more CDs. However, the study does not
report on specific reasons for the increases, and ignores the impact of
online subscription services such as PressPlay and MusicNet. According to
GartnerG2 analyst P.J. McNealy, "The music industry is going through another
disruptive technology period like it did 30 years ago, and it will take some
time to reverse revenues back in the right direction."
[SOURCE: Wired, AUTHOR: Brad King]
(http://www.wired.com/news/mp3/0,1285,54773,00.html)
----------------------------------------------------------------------