e-Society & Standardisation Sri Lankan Experience

1. e-Society & Standardisation Sri Lankan Experience ST NandasaraSenior Lecturer Institute of Computer Technology UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO stn@cmb.ac.lk

2. e-Society The society that would be created by the extensive use of Information and Communications Technologies throughout the world.

3. e-Society will be based on • Information • Knowledge • Availability • Access • Use

4. 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

5. Sri Lanka’s priority status for Education • Temple based education • The Pirivena system of education • Free Education up to University Level

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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”

9. Infrastructure needs for an e-Society • Awareness • Easy Access • Communications Infrastructure • Backbone • Access points • International Bandwidth • Affordable tariffs • e - Security • Cyber Laws • Content

10. 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

11. Election results

12. National Portal www.lk

13. ISO10646/ UNICODE STANDARD Sinhala Standard Code and Key Board

14. Live Radio Programme (every Tuesday 9000-1000)

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

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

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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Technological Developmentsthat would help reduce the digital divide • Mobile Internet • Voice over IP ( local and international ) • Interactive TV • Kiosks and Multipurpose Tele Centres

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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)

27. External Degree - BIT

28. 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

29. THANK YOU stn@cmb.ac.lk