Full coverage: ICT

27.06.2008 Individuals and organisations will be able to express their identities in variety of different ways, if a proposal to create unlimited domain names is accepted by Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It will be possible to use specific terms to define sites associated with categories of information.

26.06.2008 Health clinic workers in Uganda are increasing their efficiency and fishermen in the Philippines are aiding conservation efforts with the help of PDAs -- small, mobile computing devices that are easy to secure and use little energy.

26.06.2008 ‘Tikwere’ in Malawi is becoming hugely popular among students and teachers alike who are greatly benefiting from this innovative approach to learning through radio. Broadcast daily for half-an-hour, it has lessons on literacy, English language and life skills.

26.06.2008 Keeping in mind that European Union society is fast ageing, the member-states have decided to develop digital products and services to improve the lives of older people. A joint project in this regard will research to provide solutions to age-specific problems.

25.06.2008 With a view to help people gather information and communicate with others, the Telecentre.org is setting up an English-language academy in Africa. Its approach will be to create a global community of people and organisations committed to increasing the social and economic impact of grassroots telecenters.

25.06.2008 Ghana is on track to achieve the target of universal Internet access. The country has made a remarkable progress in last few years in connecting people through fixed phones and mobiles. It has now the telephone density of close to 40% and the Internet subscriptions are also growing at a steady pace.

24.06.2008 Unless the world learns to master ICTs in different languages, an inclusive information and knowledge society cannot be built, feels Adama Samassékou President of the World Network for Linguistic Diversity (MAAYA) and African Academy of Languages (ACALAN). According to him, linguistic diversity is needed to promote cross-cultural dialogue.

24.06.2008 In today’s digitally-driven world, podcasts are emerging as a popular medium of disseminating information. Though, electricity remains a major barrier to audio players penetrating remote areas, case studies from countries like Peru and Sri Lanka highlight the crucial role this technology can play in voicing the voiceless.

24.06.2008 A recent research paper titled: Recommendations for meaningful and successful e-governance in India published by IT for Change argues that the country’s e-governance strategies should be located within the overall public sector reform projects. It also discusses effective approaches to harness the potential of ICTs that are suitable to indigenous context.

24.06.2008 A new report by eMarketers has claimed that Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) represent the next great growth curve for both mobile and interactive marketing industry. Out of the 1.7 billion expected subscribers in the region, India is likely to have 560 million mobile users.

23.06.2008 International Telecommunications Union’s Telecom Asia 2008 will be held in Bangkok from September 2-5, 2008. The event, apart from showcasing Asia-Pacific’s latest technological innovations, will also provide a major networking platform for regional players to develop new business models.

23.06.2008 Computing technology giant Hewlett-Packard has released a guide that will help businesses in reducing their carbon emissions. The guide provides information on an array of products and services of the company, which operate with a lower carbon footprint.

19.06.2008 The conference, held from June 23-24 at Singapore, is a response to the industry demand for green IT initiatives. It will help IT practitioners to explore ways for efficient use in computing technology as reducing energy consumption becomes more of an economic imperative in today's world.

19.06.2008 After successful experiment in India, Vodacom has begun trials of Nokia Siemens Networks Village Connection system in Tanzania. The system so called is a partnership-based business strategy to increase the reach of mobile network further.

18.06.2008 TrustDefender, an Australian software security provider, has developed a unique software tool that enables consumers to secure their online banking transactions and verify the trustworthiness of the websites they visit. The product comes as an additional protection to prevent the hijack of legitimate banking sessions.

18.06.2008 UK’s hospitals have been equipped with infection-resistant keyboards fitted with Light-Emitting Diode (LED) that flashes when the device requires cleaning or when the medical staff is required to wash their hands. The Medigenic keyboards are completely flat and coated with a chemical that prevents bacterial growth.

18.06.2008 In a recent interview, Patrick Downing of Microsoft Healthcare Solutions Group reflects on reasons why the healthcare industry is lagging behind in adopting technology. He admits the task of transforming healthcare is much arduous for the company – ‘a marathon as opposed to a sprint.’

17.06.2008 Terrapinn, an international business media company, is organising WiMAX World 2008 from July 14-17, 2008 in Cape Town, South Africa. The event will be a premier meeting place for the wireless, fixed line and mobile industries looking for cost-effective marketing solutions.

17.06.2008 IBM in partnership with a Japanese firm will produce affordable solar energy products that will be easier to install than those available today. The use of thin film technology will help in reducing the overall cost of solar cells and further their widespread adoption.

17.06.2008 TERI’s latest publication E-waste: Implications, regulations, and management in India and current global best practices highlights the urgent need to adopt environment-friendly, simple technology for recycling hazardous e-waste. The book is a useful reference guide for IT developers and consumers.