Full coverage: South Asia

31.01.2008 The next generation Nokia cell phone, loaded with software that turns text on photographed documents into speech, promises to make lives convenient for the visually impaired.

29.01.2008 Säätietoja, ennakkovaroituksia kasvitaudeista ja vaikkapa ohjeita karjan pitoon. Kaikkea tätä lupaa Intian Rajasthanin osavaltion uusi tekstiviestipalvelu, jonka viljelijät ovat viranomaisten mukaan ottaneet innokkaasti vastaan.

28.01.2008 First of its kind in India, the Rajasthan State Cooperative Department has launched the ‘Kisan SIM card’. Farmers can now get free tips on various aspects of farming from weather updates to guidance on livestock rearing to crop infection through SMS and voice messages.

28.01.2008 First of its kind in India, the Rajasthan State Cooperative Department has launched the ‘Kisan SIM card’. Farmers can now get free tips on various aspects of farming from weather updates to guidance on livestock rearing to crop infection through SMS and voice messages.

23.01.2008 Recently in north India’s prosperous state of Punjab, another telemedicine project has been inaugurated. Using the modern Broad Band VPN technology, the tele-linking will be used to make available the health facilities and expert opinions to those in need of urgent medical attention in far-flung areas.

23.01.2008 Recently in north India’s prosperous state of Punjab, another telemedicine project has been inaugurated. Using the modern Broad Band VPN technology, the tele-linking will be used to make available the health facilities and expert opinions to those in need of urgent medical attention in far-flung areas.

22.01.2008 An initiative to boost computer literacy in southern India’s Kerala has achieved a new milestone under an ambitious scheme that has provided a software to 15,000 primary school children in their mother tongue. Learning computer skills in one’s own language greatly enhances the grasping power.

22.01.2008 An initiative to boost computer literacy in Kerala in southern India has achieved a new milestone under an ambitious scheme that provides a software to 15,000 primary school children in their mother tongue. Learning computer skills in one’s own language will greatly enhance the grasping power of these children.

21.01.2008 Bangladesh’s caretaker government has made substantial cuts in the rentals and tariffs of submarine cable. The country has a very low Internet penetration, where only 0.3% of the population can access it. It is now hoped that by this move more people will be able to use it.

18.01.2008 With computerisation of local governing bodies, e-governance in India is likely to take deep roots. If central government accepts the recommendations submitted by an expert group, some 250,000 panchayats will go online over next three years, benefiting grassroots organisations and bringing in transparency.

17.01.2008 Video Volunteers and local NGOs are helping rural communities in India voice their issues to a global audience. Locally relevant video produced by community video units, are empowering people to lead, change and take action.

15.01.2008 The Delhi Cabinet in the Indian capital has given the nod to online Project Jeevan that would provide a single-window facility on various government services to its citizens. To begin with, computerised kiosks will enable easy payment of various bills, issue of forms, applications and information brochures.

14.01.2008 New technological innovations in agriculture, electronics and medicine have helped boost income and reduce the number of people living in poverty, says a new World Bank report. Developing countries also need to strengthen the spread of technology through better infrastructure and improved research, the report adds.

09.01.2008 Maharashtra government is planning to set up thousands of Internet kiosks in this western state of India to boost e-governance. Once operational, the move will greatly help people in accessing various government services while making the process transparent and less time consuming.