E-Society & Standardisation Sri Lankan Experience ST Nandasara Senior Lecturer Institute of Computer Technology UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO [email protected].

e-Society & Standardisation e-Society & Standardisation Sri Lankan ExperienceSri Lankan Experience

ST NandasaraST NandasaraSenior LecturerSenior Lecturer

Institute of Computer Technology Institute of Computer Technology

UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBOUNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO

[email protected]@cmb.ac.lk

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e-Societye-Society

The society that would be created by the extensive The society that would be created by the extensive use of Information and Communications use of Information and Communications

Technologies throughout the world.Technologies throughout the world.

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e-Society will be based one-Society will be based on

• InformationInformation• KnowledgeKnowledge• AvailabilityAvailability• AccessAccess• UseUse

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The Knowledge SocietyThe Knowledge Society

• A Knowledge based societyA Knowledge based society• Not necessarily with the use of ICTsNot necessarily with the use of ICTs• Our own Knowledge Society of the past: Our own Knowledge Society of the past:

– MahaviharaMahavihara 200BC200BC

– AbhayagiriyaAbhayagiriya 100BC100BC

– AluviharaAluvihara 100AD100AD

– Yoda Ela Yoda Ela 100AD100AD

– SigiriyaSigiriya 600AD600AD

– Maduru Oya DamMaduru Oya Dam 600AD600AD

– MihintaleMihintale 800AD800AD

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Sri Lanka’s priority status for EducationSri Lanka’s priority status for Education

• Temple based educationTemple based education• The Pirivena system of The Pirivena system of

educationeducation• Free Education up to Free Education up to

University LevelUniversity Level

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ICTs in Sri LankaICTs in Sri Lanka

• Computers (hundreds of thousands)Computers (hundreds of thousands) Communications (800,000 fixed lines)Communications (800,000 fixed lines) Multi-Media (millions of potential users)Multi-Media (millions of potential users) Internet (100,000 connections)Internet (100,000 connections) Human Resources (potential of hundreds of Human Resources (potential of hundreds of

thousands)thousands) Products and Services Products and Services

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In order to service all these sectors, ICTs In order to service all these sectors, ICTs depend on knowledge workers.depend on knowledge workers.

They must : They must :

• be Knowledgeablebe Knowledgeable• be Adaptablebe Adaptable• be Creativebe Creative• be Innovativebe Innovative• have analytical skillshave analytical skills• Continue to learn Continue to learn • CommunicateCommunicate

MOST OF OUR YOUTH COULD EASILY ACQUIRE THESE MOST OF OUR YOUTH COULD EASILY ACQUIRE THESE ATTRIBUTES GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITYATTRIBUTES GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY

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Concerns TodayConcerns Today

• Management & Security of ICT systemsManagement & Security of ICT systems• Laws, Procedures and their ImplementationLaws, Procedures and their Implementation

– Admissibility, Crime, Fraud & Data ProtectionAdmissibility, Crime, Fraud & Data Protection

• High Cost of Equipment and ServicesHigh Cost of Equipment and Services– GST & Other leviesGST & Other levies

• Absence of Internet Exchange(IX)Absence of Internet Exchange(IX)• Lack of coordination, collaboration and Lack of coordination, collaboration and

commitmentcommitment• Large numbers of half baked “IT personnel”Large numbers of half baked “IT personnel”

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Infrastructure needs for an e-SocietyInfrastructure needs for an e-Society

• AwarenessAwareness• Easy Access Easy Access • Communications InfrastructureCommunications Infrastructure

– BackboneBackbone– Access pointsAccess points– International BandwidthInternational Bandwidth

• Affordable tariffsAffordable tariffs• e - Securitye - Security• Cyber LawsCyber Laws• ContentContent

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Some examples of e-Society based Some examples of e-Society based activities in Sri Lankaactivities in Sri Lanka

• Election Results 1982-2000Election Results 1982-2000• Mobile Computer Unit 1987Mobile Computer Unit 1987• National Portal (www.lk) 1995National Portal (www.lk) 1995• ISO/UNICODE standard for sinhala 1986-1999ISO/UNICODE standard for sinhala 1986-1999• Character Shapes, Translation & OCRCharacter Shapes, Translation & OCR• Live Radio Programme (National Broadcaster)Live Radio Programme (National Broadcaster)• Live Television Programme (National Channel)Live Television Programme (National Channel)• Kotmale Community Radio & Internet (www.kirana.lk)Kotmale Community Radio & Internet (www.kirana.lk)• Multi Purpose Telecentres ( Kahawatta)Multi Purpose Telecentres ( Kahawatta)• Sltnet Sltnet

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Election resultsElection results

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National Portal www.lkNational Portal www.lk

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ISO10646/ ISO10646/ UNICODE UNICODE STANDARDSTANDARD

Sinhala Standard CodeSinhala Standard Codeand Key Boardand Key Board

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Live Radio ProgrammeLive Radio Programme(every Tuesday 9000-1000)(every Tuesday 9000-1000)

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Kotmale Community Radio Kotmale Community Radio (www.kirana.lk)(www.kirana.lk)

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Kotmale Community Radio (www.kirana.lk)Kotmale Community Radio (www.kirana.lk)

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Users at Kotmale, Nava Tispane, Gampola and Nawalapitiya Users at Kotmale, Nava Tispane, Gampola and Nawalapitiya

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The New Sltnet ServiceThe New Sltnet Service

• 1010Mbps BandwidthMbps Bandwidth• access speeds upto 128 kbpsaccess speeds upto 128 kbps• Single Access Number 150 to dial from any Single Access Number 150 to dial from any

location in Sri Lankalocation in Sri Lanka• 1500 dial up calls simultaneously1500 dial up calls simultaneously• Optical Fibre backboneOptical Fibre backbone• International Roaming in 150 countriesInternational Roaming in 150 countries

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The Rural CommunityThe Rural Community

• In most countries of the developed world, the In most countries of the developed world, the majority consist of the rural communitymajority consist of the rural community

• In Sri Lanka this is 80% of the populationIn Sri Lanka this is 80% of the population• They are aware of the benefits of ICTs but are They are aware of the benefits of ICTs but are

unable to obtain them.unable to obtain them.

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• PovertyPoverty• lack of educational opportunities ( schools, lack of educational opportunities ( schools,

teachers, books etc.)teachers, books etc.)• lack of informationlack of information• lack of expertiselack of expertise• lack of “clout”lack of “clout”• and lack of ICT facilitiesand lack of ICT facilities

The Have-nots suffer fromThe Have-nots suffer from

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The consequences of the Digital DivideThe consequences of the Digital Divide

• Isolation of certain societiesIsolation of certain societies• Collapse of the global economyCollapse of the global economy• Rejection of an e-societyRejection of an e-society• Anarchy and chaosAnarchy and chaos• Repercussions on the future stability of the Repercussions on the future stability of the

international communityinternational community

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Ways of reducing the Digital DivideWays of reducing the Digital Divide

• E-DemocracyE-Democracy

• e-Governmente-Government

• e-Healthe-Health

• TrustTrust

• CooperationCooperation

• CompetitivenessCompetitiveness

• AccessAccess

• e-learning opportunitiese-learning opportunities

• encourage micro e-commerceencourage micro e-commerce

• Open source software Open source software

• Tariff free communicationsTariff free communications

• Affordable ICT costsAffordable ICT costs

• Identify and support talentIdentify and support talent

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Technological DevelopmentsTechnological Developmentsthat would help reduce the digital dividethat would help reduce the digital divide

• Mobile InternetMobile Internet• Voice over IP ( local and international )Voice over IP ( local and international )• Interactive TVInteractive TV• Kiosks and Multipurpose Tele CentresKiosks and Multipurpose Tele Centres

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What should Sri Lanka do?What should Sri Lanka do?

• ICT PolicyICT Policy– Very high priority for ICT Very high priority for ICT – Integrated ApproachIntegrated Approach– VisionVision– InfrastrucutureInfrastrucuture

• Develop Centres of Excellence (not degree factories)Develop Centres of Excellence (not degree factories)– Do not kill the state sector UniversitiesDo not kill the state sector Universities– Avoid levelling down and “poverty distribution”Avoid levelling down and “poverty distribution”

• Utilise expatriate community and encourage exchangesUtilise expatriate community and encourage exchanges

• Encourage Public-Private sector cooperationEncourage Public-Private sector cooperation

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EXPLOITATION OF IT FOR NATIONAL EXPLOITATION OF IT FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

• THE USE OF IT FOR EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION THE USE OF IT FOR EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENTAND MANAGEMENT

• THE USE OF IT FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE USE OF IT FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN FINANCE, TRADE AND COMMERCEFINANCE, TRADE AND COMMERCE

• THE CAPTURE OF PART OF THE GLOBAL SOFTWARE THE CAPTURE OF PART OF THE GLOBAL SOFTWARE AND IT SERVICES MARKETAND IT SERVICES MARKET

• THE USE OF IT IN PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE THE USE OF IT IN PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE COUNTRY AND ITS CULTURE TO THE WORLD AT COUNTRY AND ITS CULTURE TO THE WORLD AT LARGE AND AS A TOOL FOR THE ACQUISITION OF LARGE AND AS A TOOL FOR THE ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION BY ALL SECTORS OF THE INFORMATION BY ALL SECTORS OF THE POPULATIONPOPULATION

• CREATION OF AWARENESS AND AN IT CULTURECREATION OF AWARENESS AND AN IT CULTURE

• THE USE OF IT IN ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF THE THE USE OF IT IN ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORTNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORT

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Some initiatives of the ICTSome initiatives of the ICT

• Sinhala standard code (1987-2000)Sinhala standard code (1987-2000)• National Portal www.lk (1995)National Portal www.lk (1995)• Live Radio Programme (1998)Live Radio Programme (1998)• Live TV Programme (1999)Live TV Programme (1999)• Election results processing, TV display & release to Election results processing, TV display & release to

internet [Trilingual](1982-2000)internet [Trilingual](1982-2000)• Display of Cricket scores on SLRC Display of Cricket scores on SLRC • Multi media development and training including TCTPMulti media development and training including TCTP• Graduate Training Programme (1999)Graduate Training Programme (1999)• Multimedia Centre (2001)Multimedia Centre (2001)• IT for Schools (2001)IT for Schools (2001)• Internet Based e-Leaning Project (2001)Internet Based e-Leaning Project (2001)• External Degree - BIT (2000)External Degree - BIT (2000)

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External Degree - BITExternal Degree - BIT

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ICT based learningICT based learning(e- learning)(e- learning)

• ICTs have changed the traditional methods of ICTs have changed the traditional methods of learninglearning– Distance does not matterDistance does not matter

– Expertise can be sharedExpertise can be shared

– Technology can replace the ExpertTechnology can replace the Expert

– Can be very interactive and on lineCan be very interactive and on line

– Can be timed and developed to suit individual needs Can be timed and developed to suit individual needs

– Achievement can be tested and subsequent lessons provided Achievement can be tested and subsequent lessons provided accordinglyaccordingly

– Many features such as graphics, animation and simulation can Many features such as graphics, animation and simulation can be used.be used.

– Reference material is available on line Reference material is available on line

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THANK YOUTHANK [email protected]@cmb.ac.lk