e-Society

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e-Society Standardisation Sri Lankan Experience

• ST NandasaraSenior Lecturer
• Institute of Computer Technology
• UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO
• stn_at_cmb.ac.lk

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e-Society

• The society that would be created by the
  extensive use of Information and Communications
  Technologies throughout the world.

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e-Society will be based on

• Information
• Knowledge
• Availability
• Access
• Use

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The Knowledge Society

• A Knowledge based society
• Not necessarily with the use of ICTs
• Our own Knowledge Society of the past
• Mahavihara 200BC
• Abhayagiriya 100BC
• Aluvihara 100AD
• Yoda Ela 100AD
• Sigiriya 600AD
• Maduru Oya Dam 600AD
• Mihintale 800AD

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Sri Lankas priority status for Education

• Temple based education
• The Pirivena system of education
• Free Education up to University Level

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ICTs in Sri Lanka

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

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

• be Knowledgeable
• be Adaptable
• be Creative
• be Innovative
• have analytical skills
• Continue to learn
• Communicate

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

• Management Security of ICT systems
• Laws, Procedures and their Implementation
• Admissibility, Crime, Fraud Data Protection
• High Cost of Equipment and Services
• GST Other levies
• Absence of Internet Exchange(IX)
• Lack of coordination, collaboration and
  commitment
• Large numbers of half baked IT personnel

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Infrastructure needs for an e-Society

• Awareness
• Easy Access
• Communications Infrastructure
• Backbone
• Access points
• International Bandwidth
• Affordable tariffs
• e - Security
• Cyber Laws
• Content

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Some examples of e-Society based activities in
Sri Lanka

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

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Election results
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National Portal www.lk
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ISO10646/ UNICODE STANDARD

Sinhala Standard Code and Key Board
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Live Radio Programme (every Tuesday 9000-1000)
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Kotmale Community Radio (www.kirana.lk)
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Kotmale Community Radio (www.kirana.lk)
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Users at Kotmale, Nava Tispane, Gampola and
Nawalapitiya
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The New Sltnet Service

• 10Mbps Bandwidth
• access speeds upto 128 kbps
• Single Access Number 150 to dial from any
  location in Sri Lanka
• 1500 dial up calls simultaneously
• Optical Fibre backbone
• International Roaming in 150 countries

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The Rural Community

• In most countries of the developed world, the
  majority consist of the rural community
• In Sri Lanka this is 80 of the population
• They are aware of the benefits of ICTs but are
  unable to obtain them.

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The Have-nots suffer from

• Poverty
• lack of educational opportunities ( schools,
  teachers, books etc.)
• lack of information
• lack of expertise
• lack of clout
• and lack of ICT facilities

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The consequences of the Digital Divide

• Isolation of certain societies
• Collapse of the global economy
• Rejection of an e-society
• Anarchy and chaos
• Repercussions on the future stability of the
  international community

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Ways of reducing the Digital Divide

• E-Democracy
• e-Government
• e-Health
• Trust
• Cooperation
• Competitiveness
• Access
• e-learning opportunities
• encourage micro e-commerce
• Open source software
• Tariff free communications
• Affordable ICT costs
• Identify and support talent

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Technological Developmentsthat would help
reduce the digital divide

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

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What should Sri Lanka do?

• ICT Policy
• Very high priority for ICT
• Integrated Approach
• Vision
• Infrastrucuture
• Develop Centres of Excellence (not degree
  factories)
• Do not kill the state sector Universities
• Avoid levelling down and poverty distribution
• Utilise expatriate community and encourage
  exchanges
• Encourage Public-Private sector cooperation

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EXPLOITATION OF IT FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• THE USE OF IT FOR EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION AND
  MANAGEMENT
• THE USE OF IT FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN
  FINANCE, TRADE AND COMMERCE
• THE CAPTURE OF PART OF THE GLOBAL SOFTWARE AND IT
  SERVICES MARKET
• THE USE OF IT IN PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE
  COUNTRY AND ITS CULTURE TO THE WORLD AT LARGE AND
  AS A TOOL FOR THE ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION BY
  ALL SECTORS OF THE POPULATION
• CREATION OF AWARENESS AND AN IT CULTURE
• THE USE OF IT IN ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF THE
  NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORT

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Some initiatives of the ICT

• Sinhala standard code (1987-2000)
• National Portal www.lk (1995)
• Live Radio Programme (1998)
• Live TV Programme (1999)
• Election results processing, TV display release
  to internet Trilingual(1982-2000)
• Display of Cricket scores on SLRC
• Multi media development and training including
  TCTP
• Graduate Training Programme (1999)
• Multimedia Centre (2001)
• IT for Schools (2001)
• Internet Based e-Leaning Project (2001)
• External Degree - BIT (2000)

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External Degree - BIT
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ICT based learning(e- learning)

• ICTs have changed the traditional methods of
  learning
• Distance does not matter
• Expertise can be shared
• Technology can replace the Expert
• Can be very interactive and on line
• Can be timed and developed to suit individual
  needs
• Achievement can be tested and subsequent lessons
  provided accordingly
• Many features such as graphics, animation and
  simulation can be used.
• Reference material is available on line

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• THANK YOU
• stn_at_cmb.ac.lk