Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September. Internet-based Communication for Transferring Technology to Developing Countries Duminda Nishantha [email protected]Master Course Graduate Student Graduate School of Science and Engineering Saga University March 14, 2003 Supervisor: Prof. Yukuo Hayashida This paper is submitted to the 6 th International Cooperation-related Thesis Contest for University Students conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) http://www.wink.ac/~konekodo/jica/bosyu.htm
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Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September.
Internet-based Communication for Transferring Technology
This paper is submitted to the 6th International Cooperation-related Thesis Contest for University Students conducted by Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) http://www.wink.ac/~konekodo/jica/bosyu.htm
Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September.
ii
Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................. iii
1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 1.1 Internet-based communication in international cooperation................................1
1.1.1 Strengths of the Internet...............................................................................2 1.1.2 Potential of the Internet in developing countries .........................................3
2 Deployment of Internet-based multimedia communication for transferring technology to developing countries...................................................................................4
2.1 Enhancing technology transfer through Internet communication........................5
2.2 Internet specification requirements for multimedia communication ...................7
2.3 Strategic considerations for deploying the Internet .............................................8 2.3.1 Correct software and equipment ..................................................................8 2.3.2 Proper use of offline and online transmission of information .....................9 2.3.3 Selection of time ........................................................................................10
2.4 Areas anticipating international support ............................................................11
3 Practical realization- a pilot project .....................................................................12 3.1 Background ........................................................................................................13
Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September.
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Internet-based communication for transferring technology to developing countries
Abstract
International cooperation and assistance hold substantial promises for developing
countries to overcome their socio-economic problems. In this case, the potential of
Internet-based communication opens a vast stream of opportunities for developing
countries to acquire international assistance. However, developing countries are facing
many problems in utilizing the Internet due to poor infrastructure and lack of technical
skills. In this paper, we identify technology transfer activities from developed countries to
developing countries as the best point to start the deployment of Internet communication
in international cooperation. Some specification requirements for multimedia
communication are presented as guidelines for using an existing Internet access facility
for international cooperation. We present how technology transfer activities can be
enhanced through the Internet and propose strategic issues to be realized in Internet
communication in developing countries. We also point out the areas which require
international support to promote Internet communication. Finally, our practical
experience in deploying the Internet for medical collaboration activities between Japan
and Sri Lanka is presented to show a glimpse of the Internet potential for international
cooperation. We conclude that our approach in using the Internet to support medical
collaboration can be applied to other international technology transfer activities in a
similar manner.
Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September.
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1 Introduction
International cooperation and collaboration are important and essential for the
development of any country. This involves cooperate activities, or more appropriately
assistance, from developed countries to developing countries as well as cooperate
activities among developed countries with objectives ranging from starvation-prevention
to space-research. Recently, the developed nations have been paying more attention to the
problems of the developing nations and have been providing assistance to solve them.
Organizations like WHO, UNICEF, JICA, ADB are providing an immense amount of
assistance to the developing nations to solve a number of socio-economic problems in
health, education, commerce, politics and other areas which require attention. Moreover,
these assistances are offered in forms of food, clothing, housing, materials, monetary
funds, pharmaceuticals, expert services, technical assistance, peace efforts, etc. However,
organizations like Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have been providing
assistance aiming at transferring technology and knowledge that can serve sustainable
socio-economic development of most of the developing countries [1]. In this paper, we
propose Internet-based communication as a potential means to enhance technology
transfer activities in international cooperation.
1.1 Internet-based communication in international cooperation
The advent of modern communication technologies has unleashed a new wave of
opportunities for international cooperation. Emergence of the Internet with its
communication and information delivery capabilities can immensely benefit the
international cooperation activities [2], which are continuously increasing in velocity,
scope and complexity.
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1.1.1 Strengths of the Internet
The Internet brings unparalleled opportunities for international cooperation compared to
conventional forms of electronic communication such as telephony, facsimile, and email.
The following characteristics can be considered as strengths of the Internet compared to
the conventional communication methods:
• The Internet integrates different types of media: text, images, photos, animations,
moving video and sound.
• The Internet facilitates interactive delivery of multimedia information between two
parties or among many parties.
• Ability to disseminate large amount of data/information very quickly compared to the
conventional methods.
• Rapid transformation of information to electronic media makes worldwide
information resources available to an increasingly global audience through the
Internet.
• Information transmission through the Internet is always in electronic form and hence
it can be easily recorded on the hard disk of the computer that is used to access the
Internet. The recorded information can be retrieved at any time.
• Today, the Internet is a huge knowledge base rich with information in every area,
which can be accessed by any computer having access to the Internet.
• Information on the Internet can be instantaneously updated.
• Since the Internet is a shared medium, it is a very economical way of communication
due to low running cost.
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1.1.2 Potential of the Internet in developing countries
Thirty years ago, network applications were confined to military use in the developed
countries. Today, the Internet has embraced most of the developed countries and has
scattered in most of the urban areas as well as some rural areas in developing countries.
The increasing growth of the Internet forecasts a substantial spread to developing
countries in the near future. This rapid expansion of the Internet holds substantial promise
for the developing nations [2], which can benefit greatly from Internet communication
and its information delivery capabilities.
Through Internet communication, the developing countries get the privilege of
exchanging information and thus participating in international cooperate events.
Cooperation among nations helps ensuring long lasting peace, foster growth, and increase
prosperity. Nations working together towards common goals counter isolationism, reduce
scope for confrontation, and create an environment where resources can be brought to
combat poverty. The link between the free flow of information and movements towards
democratization also cannot be downplayed.
The strengths of Internet communication can be deployed in international activities with
substantially broad scope and complexity. However, in most of the developing countries,
the network infrastructure is not yet established well enough to reap the potential benefits
of the Internet in most of the areas mentioned above. In this paper, we identify cooperate
activities between the developed countries and the developing countries as the best
opportunity to deploy the Internet in international cooperation. According to the
distribution of the Internet infrastructure in the developing countries, technology transfer
activities can be considered as having the best potentiality to exploit the Internet.
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2 Deployment of Internet-based multimedia communication for
transferring technology to developing countries
International assistance for technological development in developing countries is
generally offered in 3 forms, namely 1) provision of material and equipment 2) dispatch
of experts and 3) foreign training. This technology transfer process takes place in the form
of training programs, for which the experts visit the recipient country and/or some agents
of the recipient country undergo training in the developed country. In this case, provision
of material is to facilitate training and propagation of technology through already trained
personnel to the rest of the community [1].
In this kind of technology transfer programs, the developed countries strategically target
institutions or groups of institutions in the developing country best suited for reception of
such technology [2]. It is the role of these institutions to disseminate the technological
know-how throughout the respective sector/sectors of the country. In this case, the agents
being selected for training or collaborative activities are often belonging to leading
institutions in the government/non-government sector of the developing country, and they
themselves hold leading positions in these institutions. Surgeons in base hospitals,
lecturers in universities, engineers in technical institutions, researchers in agricultural
institutions, directors and managers in the commercial sector are some examples for
agents who acquire the technology from the developed countries in the technology
transferring process. Therefore, the deployment of Internet-based communication is very
feasible as almost all of these agents have access to the Internet and are familiar with
general computer procedures such as word processing, Internet browsing and emailing.
This provides a conducive environment to deploy the Internet in technology transferring
activities rather than other areas of international cooperation. Moreover, the promotion of
such activities through the Internet provides mutual benefits for the improvement of the
Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September.
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Internet infrastructure in the developing countries thus enabling an overall socio-
economic development.
2.1 Enhancing technology transfer through Internet communication
Internet based-multimedia communication can be employed in enhancing and expediting
the process of obtaining technical know-how and skills from the developed countries.
Transmission of multimedia information over the Internet can enhance the process of
dispatching experts, through 1) reducing the number of experts 2) reducing the number of
visits of a single expert 3) minimizing the experts’ duration of stay in the foreign country
4) enhancing the quality and quantity of expert service during the period of stay and 5)
replacing dispatch of experts completely to remote expert services. Moreover, Internet
communication can support foreign training as well as enhancing the propagation of
technology within the country. All these lead to a better service and reduction in cost. The
areas that can benefit from the Internet communication are described in detail below:
• When the experts are dispatched to a foreign country, they need to get accustomed to
the social environment, resources available and the nature of problems etc. Through
multimedia communication over the Internet, the experts can obtain prior knowledge
of this before leaving for the foreign country, thus enabling them to conduct the expert
activities effectively and efficiently during the period of stay.
• When the experts are in the recipient country, they can communicate with the experts
in other areas or colleague staff in the host country over the Internet. This is useful in
reporting activities to home centers as well as solving complicated problems that need
group consultation.
• When the experts return to home country after completing their service period in the
foreign country, they can monitor the progress of the technology transfer activity,
Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September.
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evaluate the performance of trainees and attend to forthcoming problems while being
in the home country.
• When new experts are dispatched to a certain technology transferring activity,
sometimes it is required to contact the previous experts for advice or explanations.
Such contact can be facilitated through Internet communication.
• An expert who has visited the recipient country can simultaneously provide expert
training to geographically isolated groups through Internet communication. This
activity can be conducted realistically since the local Internet channels are usually
faster than the international Internet channels. Moreover, Internet communication
within the country will result in rapid penetration of the technology acquired from the
developed countries.
• Some of the experts engaged in these programs are volunteers and they hope not to
stay for a long time in the recipient country. In such cases, repetitive traveling is a
costly and tiresome exercise. Moreover, these volunteer experts might prefer involve
in the collaborative work while attending to their own work. This could be realizable
through Internet communication irrespective of the experts’ location.
• In some applications, experts would be able to provide remote expert services without
visiting the recipient country through the powerful features of Internet communication.
• In situations like war, heavy infections, and other hazardous environments, the experts
may be reluctant to visit the country that needs their expertise. Internet
communication can be exploited in these situations.
• Students in the developing countries who wish to study in the developed countries can
find opportunities through remote collaboration with foreign academia. Sometimes
this can be extended to remotely supervised graduate and undergraduate studies.
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• Different forms of technology transfer activities (e.g. technical knowledge for
software development and treatments for cancer) can be combined for better results.
2.2 Internet specification requirements for multimedia communication
In order to conduct multimedia communication between two countries, the Internet
channel should meet the minimum specification requirements to transmit the required
information. These specifications significantly depend on the application requirements. In
this section, some general specification requirements are provided as guidelines for
deciding whether the existing network is capable of facilitating the required activities to
support international cooperation.
• Textual communication
Textual communication includes interactive form of text transmission as well as text
documents. Interactive text-chatting can be generally accommodated over all Internet
channels unless heavily congested. Bandwidth requirements for transmission of text
documents vary with the size of the document as well as tolerance to the transmission
delay.
• Audio communication
Generally, audio communication is used for real-time conversations and the network
should meet the real-time delivery specifications. Minimum bandwidth requirement (8-
bit resolution/ mono/ GSM encoded) for an interactive audio conversation is around
12kbps. However, high quality conversations such as distance language teaching may
require a higher bandwidth above 44kbps (16-bit, stereo, GSM). In interactive audio
conversations, transmission delay is another constraint apart from the bandwidth
Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September.
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requirement. Transmission delay less than 500ms is typically acceptable for interactive
audio communication. Some applications can tolerate even longer delays.
• Video communication
Internet bandwidth required for video communication depends on the video parameters
such as image resolution, frame rate, and compression quality. Today, due to the advances
of video compression technology, near TV quality (640*480 size, 25frames/s, MPEG4
compression) can be accommodated in an Internet channel with 5Mbps capacity. On the
other hand, a live video conversation with mere facial visibility can be accommodated
even through modem connections (56kbps). Through motion JPEG technology, it is
possible to transmit images at varying size and quality (e.g. 360*240 size, high-quality
images at 1 frame/sec rate or 180*120 size, low-quality images at 8 frames/sec through a
100kbps link) as required by the application. According to our own experience in video
transmission for international cooperation, sometimes channel bandwidth as low as
20kbps can be used for video transmission effectively [3]. However, around 1Mbps
channel bandwidth is recommended to conduct high-quality and smooth video
conferencing sessions using motion-JPEG.
2.3 Strategic considerations for deploying the Internet
Although the Internet is a powerful communication tool, its deployment for international
cooperation in the developing countries requires the following strategic considerations.
2.3.1 Correct software and equipment
Internet-based communication invariably involves the use of computers, software, and
other peripherals. The decision on the selection of computers and software is of prime
importance, which leads to the following considerations:
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• Priorities should be given to use the equipment that is available in the developing
countries. However, consideration should be given to meet the required performance
standards of the equipment.
• The software used for Internet communication should be customized to the
application requirements.
• Generally, many people involved in these activities are not very skilled in computer
operations. Hence, the software must provide a user-friendly operational environment.
Moreover, the complicated operational procedures should be automated.
• The software should be customized to operate under various network heterogeneities
encountered in both developing and developed countries. Dynamic or local IP
addresses, firewall barriers, very low speed channels are some typical examples of
different network situations, which can be addressed by adopting appropriate network
programming techniques (e.g. web based, peer to peer and client server programming
architectures).
• Application issues like security and reliability (e.g. information security and reliability
issues in some tele-medicine activities) should also be incorporated in the software.
2.3.2 Proper use of offline and online transmission of information
In any kind of international collaboration activity for technology transfer, irrespective of
the field of specialization, a certain amount of real-time multimedia discussion is required
among the experts in the developed countries and trainees in the developing countries.
For lightweight information like voice and text messages, this real-time transmission is
not difficult. However, when it involves bulk data such as high-quality images and large
document files, it will be a challenging problem or perhaps even impossible to realize
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real-time transmission over the low speed Internet channels. This can be overcome to a
certain extent by proper use of online and offline transmission as described in detail
below.
• Online transmission
Real-time information such as live audio, video and text are required to be transmitted
online (real-time), provided that the internet channel meets the minimum requirements as
described in Section 2.2.
• Offline transmission
Most of the bulk data information may be available well before the actual collaboration
sessions (e.g. an X-ray image of a patient, PowerPoint presentation file, engineering
drawing, student report to a overseas supervisor). These types of information can be
transmitted to the respective parties prior (offline) to the actual sessions, and can be used
during the sessions without experiencing a time lag.
• Information caching
Caching (temporarily store) of information anticipating future reuse is a very effective
method. This prevents duplicated transmission of information over the network channels
releasing the bandwidth for transmission of fresh information.
2.3.3 Selection of time
The Internet traffic profile is heavily changing with respect to time in developing
countries. Since most of the users of the Internet are government/non-government
companies, country wide Internet is heavily congested during the office hours. However,
a significant amount of bandwidth of the Internet channels is unused in the early morning,
night and on public holidays. Hence, conducting Internet communication during off-peak
Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September.
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times is a feasible option for smooth collaboration sessions. However, there are
constraints in time fixation due to the geographical time difference between the two
collaborative countries.
2.4 Areas anticipating international support
Although the Internet has so much of potential to enhance technology transfer, the
developing countries require international assistance to prepare the basic network
infrastructure and support equipment necessary for Internet communication. This form of
assistance may be viewed as costly, tedious, or irrelevant by the international
organizations that facilitate technology transfer. However, by attending to certain
strategic points which do not require much investment and effort, Internet communication
could be made available for international cooperation. The following areas need
international assistance to establish Internet communication facilities in developing
countries:
• Provision of user equipment
User equipment required for Internet collaboration such as computers, video devices and
other research equipment may not be available in the recipient country. Provision of such
equipment either as donations or on lending basis furnishes the basic setup for Internet
collaboration in the developing country.
• Provision of software
Most of the institutions in the developing countries already have access to the software
for setting up the computer environment (operating system, word processors etc.).
However, the application specific software used for Internet-based communication must
be provided by the developed country.
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• Provision of technical know-how
The collaborative parties in both countries may not be equipped with the appropriate
computer and network skills to conduct Internet collaboration on their own. Therefore,
the required technical support must be provided to both parties by capable institutions.
This may be provided either by dispatching technical experts to the recipient country or
by providing technical expertise through remote means. Directing capable institutions
located in the developing and developed countries to attend to the technical problems of
the respective parties would be an appropriate and sustainable solution.
• Improvements to the network infrastructure
Improving the network infrastructure of a country is a costly issue. However, there may
be network situations, which do not require much investment, but result in significant
improvements of Internet communication capabilities after modifications (e.g. extending
a network connection to the operation theater of a hospital, broadening a short distant
network link etc.). Moreover, simultaneous international support projects, which are
directed towards improving network infrastructures can be combined with technology
transfer activities, while realizing both objectives.
3 Practical realization- a pilot project
As a part of my M.Sc. research [4], I have been involving in designing an Internet-based
multimedia communication software, mainly focusing an international medical
collaboration activity between Sri Lanka and Japan. This example will provide a glimpse
of the Internet potential for international cooperation [5].
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3.1 Background
The Department of Oral Surgery of the Faculty of Dental Sciences of the University of
Peradeniya in Sri Lanka has been serving the Sri Lankan community by providing
surgical care to the people and providing training and research opportunities for the local
surgeons in the field of oral cancer, cleft lip and palate, jaw abnormalities, and maxillo-
facial deformities. These activities were facilitated with the assistance of JICA through
the provision of materials and the dispatch of experts. The staff of Saga Medical School
was periodically visiting the University of Peradeniya as JICA experts in this project.
The conventional methods of communication that had been used between Saga and
Peradeniya were not very helpful to carry out the medical activities effectively. The
surgeons in Peradeniya were communicating with Japanese experts mostly through e-mail.
Sometimes, international telephone and facsimile were also used. However, those
communication methods did not provide a conducive environment for the medical
collaboration activities. Although the Internet access was available in both universities, it
had not been sufficiently used due to lack of technology and resources. The Department
of Information Science of Saga University participated in this work as an independent
technology facilitator and provided the required resources and software enabling the two
universities to conduct Internet-based multimedia conferencing. The geographical
locations of Saga and Peradeniya are shown in Fig. 1.
3.2 Implementation
The Internet channel between Saga and Peradeniya is a 18-hop channel with Round-Trip-
Time (RTT) greater than 500ms and channel bandwidth averaging around 20kbps. In this
situation, commercially available software for Internet communication (e.g. NetMeeting,
Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September.
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CUseeMe etc.) was not capable of supporting the medical collaboration activities
satisfactorily.
Figure 1 : Geographical locations of Saga and Peradeniya
Therefore, we developed a software tool at Saga University by properly considering the
network conditions and application requirements to facilitate Internet collaboration
between Peradeniya and Sri Lanka. The designed software has the following features:
• No special devices are required except a camera (any type), microphone, personal
computer, and the access components to the Internet. These devices are popular
consumer products that are generally available worldwide.
• Capability to adapt from narrow to broadband Internet access channels while
preserving the high quality of real-time image and voice, enabling users to access the
Internet from anywhere in the world.
• Provision of offline-transmission and information caching to enhance the virtual
bandwidth of the network channels. This allows to transmit most of the patients’
Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September.
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information prior to the actual collaboration sessions and to use such information in
the actual sessions in real time.
• Operation of the software is simple and straightforward, enabling users such as
doctors who lack special knowledge and skills in computer technologies to use this
system in daily life frequently and actively.
• Providing tools such as shared-board, graphically pointing on the patients’ images,
text chat, etc., which gives useful supplementary support for interactive dialogues
between remote users.
3.3 Activities
With the introduction of software and technology to the medical personnel in both Saga
and Peradeniya, their range of activities expanded through multimedia communication.
The following activities have been carried by the two universities through Internet-based
communication:
• Surgeons in Saga Medical School, who wish to go to Sri Lanka for surgeries can get
accustomed to the Sri Lankan situation while being in Japan. Using the collaboration
system they can remotely observe their patients and the instruments available with the
help of local physicians, and plan properly before leaving for Sri Lanka. This enables
the Japanese experts to spend their limited time in Sri Lanka effectively, while
transferring the clinical know-how to the local doctors and serving a large number of
patients.
• While the Japanese medical experts are in Sri Lanka, they often require consulting
their superiors in Japan for advice. Such discussions can be carried out effectively
using the designed system.
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• After returning to Japan, the experts can observe their patients remotely and prescribe
necessary treatment and advice. The local physician may show these patients to the
experts in Japan, conducting web conversations at regular clinical sessions.
• The medical experts in Saga can use the designed software tool to give educational
presentations or demonstrations to local physicians in Peradeniya.
The following figures illustrate some instances of medical collaborative activities
between Saga and Peradeniya, performed over the Internet.
Figure 2: An instance of a medical discussion (Dr. Koichiro Ihara of Saga Medical school on the transmit-window and Dr. Jayantha Weerasinghe of the University of Peradeniya on the receive-window.)
Final draft submitted to the Journal of International Cooperation Research, Published by JICA, Vol. 6, 2003-September.
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Figure 3: A patient’s face image loaded on the shared-board (The experts are using drawing tools to mark on the image during discussion.)
Figure 4: Presentation slide illustrating details of a child before and after treatment to an expert in Saga
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4 Conclusions
The potential of the Internet in international cooperation activities opens a number of
opportunities to the developing countries. However, developing countries are facing
problems in utilizing the Internet due to poor infrastructure and technological problems.
In this paper, we identified the technology transfer activities as the best point of
deploying the Internet. We proposed strategic issues that should be realized in using
Internet communication for transferring technology to the developing countries.
As a practical example, we have been deploying the Internet for medical collaboration
activities between Japan and Sri Lanka for two years. From the evaluation that we
conducted through questionnaires, it is understood that the Internet-based multimedia
communication activities immensely helped the academic staff of Peradeniya by having
live dialogues with Saga experts in their medical collaboration activities. Moreover, the
collaboration activities carried out during the past two years through Internet
communication have been warmly accepted by different people in the community [5]-[7].
We believe that our approach in using the Internet to support medical collaboration could
be applied to other international technology transfer activities in a similar manner.
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5 Acknowledgements
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my academic supervisor of Saga University,
Prof. Yukuo Hayashida for his valuable advice and guidance, which enriched me with the
knowledge and confidence to write this paper. I also thank the former President
Nobumichi Sako and the President Haruo Uehara of Saga University; the President
Hajime Sugimori of Saga Medical School; Mr. Minoru Tanaka, the Chairperson of
NetCom Saga Association; and Venture Business Laboratory (VBL) of Saga University
for offering research grants and resources for project activities.
I would like to convey my thanks to the Dean−Prof. Nihal Amarathunga, and Dr.
Jayantha Weerasinghe, Faculty of Dental Science, University of Peradeniya; Emeritus
Prof. Takeshi Katsuki, Prof. Masaaki Goto and Assistant Prof. Koichiro Ihara of Saga
Medical School for their cooperation and evaluating our software through medical
collaboration activities. I also thank Mr. Ranjith Aberathna of University of Peradeniya
and Dr. Shigemetsu of Saga Medical School for providing the technical support at the
respective universities. Cooperation offered by the JICA staff at the Dental Education
Project of University of Peradeniya is also thankfully acknowledged here.
Finally, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Associate Prof. Toshihiro Hayashi
and Associate Prof. Reijer Grimbergen of Saga University for their valuable advice
during my M.Sc. research work. My thanks also goes to the research associates Ms.
Akiko Maeda and Dr. of Eng. Nobuyuki Sugimachi for helping me in many ways in
educational as well as in administrative matters. I also thank my colleagues, especially Mr.
Shinji Hayashida and Ms. Rino Kido, graduate students of Saga University, for their
sincere cooperation in my research activities.
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6 References
[1] Home Page of JICA. http://www.jica.go.jp/english/index.html
[2] G. Shadowsky: “The Internet Society and Developing Countries”, OnTheInternet-
International Electronic Magazine of the Internet Society, November-December
1996.
[3] D. Nishantha, Y. Hayashida, T. Hayashi, T. Katsuki, M. Goto, K. Ihara, N.
Amarathunga, J. Weerasinghe, and N. Tokura: “Multimedia Medical Collaboration
between Sri Lanka and Japan”, Journal of Japanese Society for Information and
Systems in Education (JSiSE), Vol.1, No. 1, 2002.
[4] D. Nishantha, “Design and Implementation of a Multimedia Medical Collaboration
System over the Internet”, Master Thesis, Saga University, February 2003.
[5] Home page of the medical collaboration project between Japan and Sri Lanka.