28 March 2002, KL Issue 3

eSurprises at eWorld

THERE'S MONEY for innovators, an attempt to make affordable GNU/Linux-based PCs,computers that recognise your eye's iris... and a whole lot of other surprises.

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
This is Malaysia's at looking into the future. Some other show-cased technologies include the 'Bestari Home' (or Smart Home) system that would allow you to "control from a distance anything that goes through the powerline". Even feeding the fish in your tank!

VIDEO ON DEMAND TOO
Video on demand is another possibility. Jaring, Malaysia's first ISP, is also a subsidiary.
Parked nearby is the Mobile Internet Unit, that takes the Net to remote and rural school chilren.
DAGS, the project aimed at funding innovation, has already seen an infusion of some RM150 million. It has funded an estimated 50 projects.

Because of IT, we (women home-based workers) can work from home, doing a lot of things. From proposals to invoices... we can send it across as an attachment, and avoid the need for frequently meeting clients.... Once women get to know about what IT can do for them, they get the kind of enthusiasm that money cannot buy.

Others in the donor community still wonder whether we should be spending money on ICT, or on borewells. ICT is not seen as pro-poor. -- Olive Chikankheni, Participant from Malawi.

We must get into this game, even if it is to combat HIV/AIDS. ICT can be used to transfer information, even with existing problems. If we don't (get in), the exsisting gap will get bigger and bigger. -- Narayan Kanan, Multimedia Development Corporation.