Govt. to set up Nationwide Internet Connections

The union Government has decided to provide Internet connectivity in all parts of the country. This was heralded during the inauguration of CeBIT '97, a major exhibition on Information Technology held recently at Hannover, Germany. India offers automatic approval for foreign equity up to 51 percent in manufacturing projects in the telecom sector and has permitted a maximum of 49 per cent foreign equity in the telecom service sector following the opening up of the telecom sector to private enterprise.

— AIS Tech News Vol. 8 No.2, 1997

Happy Surfing

Last minute lobbying by an unlikely coalition of scientists, outraged librarians and Internet surfers has headed off attempts to restrict access to information in cyberspace. At a three week conference in Geneva held recently attempted to drag the 1886 Berne Convention for the protection of literary and artistic works into the Internet age. Software companies attempted to make piracy of their products more difficult. The changes could have required Net users to obtain permission from the copyright owner before browsing a page on the world wide web. Critics feared the changes could mean that scientists would be cut off from vital sources of research information. The controversial clauses have been watered down and the web is now covered by "fair use" rules designed to allow researchers to trawl through copyright material.

— AIS Tech News Vol. 8 No.2, 1997

Internet Library Fund

The Chief Executive of Microsoft Corp. Mr Bill Gates and his wife Melinda French Gates have set up the Gates Library Foundation to bring the Internet to public libraries in low-income areas. The Foundation has been funded with $200 million with an equal participation with software from Microsoft Corp.

This will ensure that children and adults from all walks of life will have access to the wealth of information and understanding through computers and digital information systems. The libraries in US will be made online with the support of American Library Association to bring the information technology and training to public libraries

The pilot programme has reached more than 200 libraries in over 40 North American library systems.

— AIS Tech News Vol 8 No.2, 1997

MPT Aims to Connect School to the Internet

A Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications discussion group, focusing on the fusion of communication and broadcasting, has revealed the contents of an interim report on the realization by the year 2000 of connecting the nation's public elementary and middle schools by Internet. The report cites US President Clinton's ambition to hook schools nationwide to the Internet by 2000. The Ministry group emphasizes the importance of quality learning in the multimedia society and the use of available information and communications processes to foster education. The report also states that in the US, the proliferation of Internet-capable schools was 35% in 1994 and 50% in 1995. In comparison, there was no data on elementary and middle schools on Japan, and as of March 1996, there were very few home pages for schools only 2.4% of elementary schools nationwide and just 4.6% of middle schools nationwide.

Source : Dr. VT Chitnis, Embassy of India, Tokyo

`Brainy' Computer

Gen. Matsumoto, a brain science researcher with the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research in Wako, Saitama Prefecture, have developed the first neural-network processor. His development of a processor that incorporates artificial neurons will have a driving force in realizing an artificial intelligence that has a self-learning ability. The neural network processor consists of elements that function like nerves in a human body. Conventional computers cannot function unless programmes are written for them and they receive commands. In other words, they can only do what they are told. However his processor programmes itself through the equivalent of the human brain's learning processes. Each element automatically changes a circuit according to what information is entered. This allows the circuit to make its own programmes and function like a human brain.

Source: Dr. V.T. Chitnis, Embassy of India, Tokyo

Memory Device Shrinks

Toshiba Corp. has developed a new memory cell structure for ferro-electric memory that will shrink the size and boost the speed of this promising next-generation type of random-access memory. The memory cell is the basic unit of data storage in a memory device, and with Toshiba's new structure, the ferro-electric memory cell can be designed almost 60% smaller than now possible. It can also operate three times faster, at 7 nanoseconds, which puts it on per with dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) cells. Toshiba will next fabricate ferro-electric-memory prototypes to verify the performance, aiming to develop a practical technology for use in cellular phones and personal digital assistants.

Source : Dr. VT Chitnis, Embassy of India, Tokyo

MITI to Experiment with Information System for Textile Industry

In Autumn, Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) will begin a verification experiment for an information system in order to improve the information flow in the textile industry on all stages. The experiment is a part of the `Textile Industry Infrastructure improvement Project (TIIP). MITI will provide 25 different systems for each target, and about 1000 companies will participate in the project. Downstream and upstream companies in the textile industry will be integrated in an information network, especially in order to reduce response times between order and delivery.

Source : Dr. V.T. Chitnis, Embassy of India, Tokyo

Digital Pen

Designers at the Carnegie Mellon University Engineering Design Research Centre in Pittsburgh came up with the digital pen as part of a project on wearable computers commissioned by Intel. Called Digital Ink, the pen has a small LCD screen, a mouthpiece and speaker. To send commands, e-mail or faxes, users simply write on a piece of paper. Accelerometers in the pen's tip measure the direction and force of the pen to work out what is being written and handwriting-recognition software in the pen converts this into text or diagrams. A ballpoint tip allows users to see what they have written and the pen's display can also be used to check that the information has been correctly entered.

The pen communicates through a small built-in colour. LCD screen, allowing e-mail and Web pages to be read a line at a time. Digital Ink will have 10 Mb of memory and will use an Intel processor. A digital docking station, or "ink-well", will connect the pen to a user's computer so that notes and data can be transferred without the cost of cellular communication. The "ink-well" will also recharge the pen's liquid gel batteries. Designers believe Digital Ink will first replace mobile phones, then laptop computers and even desktop machines.

— Sunday Times, Oct 29, 1997

ISI Announces Launch of Research Alert Direct

Institute for Scientific Information has launched Research Alert Direct (RAD), an innovative suite of six profile-based alerting services, that delivers customised research information over the internet to your desktop. The profiles are run against the ISI database of over 8000 journals. It gives users bibliographic data and complete author abstracts in English from the most recent publications in sciences. RDI enables the researchers to acquire full-text documents, through a convenient electronic ordering capability, by placing orders with ISI's document delivery service, `The Genuine Article'.

Through RDI, you can avail free consultation from ISI information specialists for all customized profiles, each of which designed to make sure that you receive and pay for only the information that you require. RDI's six flexible, unique services are : Journal Tracker, Corporate Alert, Personal Alert, Professional Alert, Topics Select and Focus On.

For more information contact:

Informatics India Pvt. Ltd, CD-ROM Division
337, 3rd floor, `Karuna Complex'
Sampige Road, Malleswaram
Bangalore - 560003.

Current Technology Index Re-Launched as ANTE Plus

Current Technology Index (CTI) has been re-launched as ANTE PLUS, a revised version which now includes new technologies and engineering. The database from 330 major publications in the US and the UK and science news from national newspapers. ANTE PLUS, updated quarterly with the addition of 3000 records, has 240,000 entires. The database carries a unique index of names from its source journals, CATNI (Catchword and Trade Name Index), with 7500 new entries added every year.

— U & I News Vol 6, No 6-8, 1997

Elsevier Relaxes Copyright Rules

Elsevier Science BV, a leading publisher of science journals, has announced a new set of copyright rules covering articles published by them. The rules relating to electronic publishing gives the authors and their institutions more leeway in using their articles for purposes complementary to publication. The new rules stipulate that the author can do the following without charge or prior permission:

• Photocopy or make single electronic copies for personal and their classroom use.

• Photocopy or make single electronic copies for the use of their colleagues provided they are not offered for sale or distributed in a systematic way outside the institution.

• Post the file on their internal university or corporate network to be used in their institution.

• Use the article or parts of it in their own printed compilations.

— U &I News Vol 5 No. 6-8, 1997

Firm Offers Virus Fix

If you've been plagued by the One-Half virus, Israel's Iris Software has a product for you. The Company says it has developed a cure for the mysterious virus, which has caused havoc with computer users for more than two years. The virus, which first appeared in 1994, shows up mostly on Internet downloads. The company is offering computer users its cure for free during the next two weeks. It can be downloaded from the Iris website at http://www. irisav.com.

— Reuters Technology Summary Aug 26, 1997

Multimedia Law approved in Germany

The Federal Assembly approved the Law on Information and Communications services, shortly called Multimedia Law, on 4th July, 1997. The Multimedia law creates clear legal principles for central issues:

1. It comprises unlimited access : Anybody who wants to set up a business in the electronic market place can do so with a trade license.

2. The Law removes existing uncertainties by clearly determining the responsible for their own contents, for foreign contents when they know about the contents and when it is technically feasible and reasonable to stop criminal contents, and they are not responsible for foreign contents transported by them.

3. The Multimedia Law regulates the general conditions for using digital signatures in the open legal and commercial exchange. This is the legal precondition for the electronic commerce and guarantees the security of transactions.

The Multimedia Law of the federal government creates the legal foundations of electronic commerce. The text of this bill can be found at http://www.iid.de

Source: Dr. R Balasubramaniam, Embassy of India, Bonn

TV Conference System for Five Places Simultaneously

Hitachi Ltd., has commercialized and started marketing a TV conference system "View work PV-400' with a personal computer incorporating a TV conference function which enables TV conferences as well as applied joint operations to be held simultaneously at a maximum of five places without having to install an external multipoint TV conference control system. The multipoint linkage system adopts the ring type connection system, so the system running cost (basic service charge, communications cost) is less than when using a star type linkage system. In addition, the sound from the other participating points are heard in a mix, so the voices of more than two places can all be heard. The images of the four other points are monitored simultaneously and displayed in four quartered sections on the display, so all participating points can be seen at once, and the sectional display can also be switched over to a single display.

For further information contact:

Hitachi Ltd., Public Relations Secretary's Office,
4-6, Surugadai Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 101
Tel.: (81-3)-3258-1111 Fax: (81-3)-32585480

NICIntroduces Desktop Video Conferencing

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has introduced desktop video-conferencing in the country at high quality and less cost. This is available on both national and international, and the interaction is like the internet with a difference of an audiovisual provision. The facility would be available to public with a one time investment of Rs.95000/- after getting permission from the concerned Government department. Presently this desktop facility would be available at cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chennai and Patna. The studio based group videoconferencing centres are at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Delhi and Pune.

— AIS Tech News Vol 8, No.2, 1997.

On Line Cancer Information Service

The Sitaram Bhartiya Institute of Science and Research here has started a free of charge online information service on all aspects of cancer.

The CIS (Cancer Information Service) provides information on:

• the nature of cancer,

• ways to detect it early,

• lifestyles to adopt to prevent some cancers,

• tests and techniques to diagnose cancer,

• location and the nearest facility offering treatment of cancer,

• management of side-effects,

• availability of medicines and disposables,

• psychological and social support groups in Delhi,

• rehabilitation services, and the like.

Contact or mail queries to:

Sitaram Bhartiya Institute of Science & Technology, New Delhi
Phone : 011-6867435,
E-mail : sbisr[at]giasdl01[dot]vsnl[dot]net[dot]in

Troodon 2.0 — Software For Library Automation

Comtek Services Pvt Ltd. has developed `Troodan 2.0, a user-friendly an integrated multi-user and retrieval software package for library automation covering Library operations as per standard procedures such as Online Public Access Catalogne (OPAC), Circulation control, Acquisition contol, Serials control and Data maintenance. Ver 1.0 has been tested on one lakh records.

The salient features are:

• Has extremely user friendly interface with very good search facilities

• Uses common communication format (CCF) to facilitate resource sharing among libraries r Is easy to operate and library staff/users can learn to use it without having any computer skill

• Has excellent and powerful data input feature with online help and validation during data operation to ensure high quality of the database.

• Developed on DOS and Unix platforms and is also available on Windows 95.

For further details, contact:

Comtek Services Pvt Ltd
L-26, II Floor, Malviya Nagar
New Delhi - 110017
Phone : 0238223, 623 8774
Tele Fax : 011-6479326
E-mail : reginold[at]giasd[dot]101[dot]usnl[dot]net[dot]in

New Internet Policy

The Government of India has cleared the Internet privatisation policy, aimed at increasing the Internet users (Netizens) in the country from 40,000 to 1.5 to two million by the turn of the century.

There will be no limit on the number of private Internet service providers (PISP), for whom port charges and leased line charges will be fixed at `promotional rates'. "Market forces will be allowed to determine the access fee which PISP will charge from their respective users," an official release said.

The Railways, Power Grid Corporation and state electricity boards have been permitted to lease out their excess capacity to PISPs, who have also been given the freedom to choose the gateway to be used, subject to the approval for the inter-ministerial implementation committee headed by the telecom secretary. The licence fee to be paid after the five-year licence waiver will be indicated three years later, after a formal review.

One of the features of the changes announced in the policy was that the exact quantum of the licence fee which the ISPs would have to give as a bank guarantee would be worked out by the implementation committee.

There would be no limit on the number of ISPs. Port charges and charges for leased lines would be fixed at promotional rates and market forces would be allowed to determine the amounts which the ISPs would be charging from their respective users.

The quantum of the licence fee that would have to be paid by the ISPs after the fifth year would be indicated after three years on reviewing the situation.

The access charges to be paid by the ISPs to their respective main carriers like VSNL would be fixed on a promotional basis, according to changes in the policy.

Voice on the Internet would not be permitted and the duopoly for voice services in the circles and monopoly of DoT/VSNL for national and international services would not be affected.

All licences of DoT, that is, basic service providers, pagers, cellular operators, can become ISPs on the same terms and conditions generally applicable to ISPs.

ISPs would have the freedom to use international gateway to VSNL or other gateways, to be leased by VSNL as well as any other gateway as necessary subject to approval and such conditions as may be laid down by the implementation committee. ISPs may create their own transmission network if authorised by the implementation committee.

— Economic Times, 1997

Intelligent Disk with Personal Computer Function

Optron, Inc., Japan, has developed an optical disk incorporating the kernel components of computers such as the CPU, ROM and RAM. Upon its commercialization, this system is anticipated to bring about a major revolution in computer hardware and software. Simply inserting an optical disk that may be regarded as an IC card into a special purpose hardware, the company plans to work together with a personal computer manufacturer to commercialize this advanced optical disk. The thin disk is called the Intelligent disk (ID). In addition to the CPU, ROM and RAM, the disk rearside incorporates electronic circuits such as communications functions such as CD-ROM and DVD. The special purpose rotary drive system mounts a superminiature antenna for radio wave transmission, and conduction coil for power generation on the disk side for use as circuit power unit.

Source: Dr. V.T. Chitnis, Embassay of India, Tokyo.

Software Lets Internet Users Operate Browser by Voice

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corn., Japan has developed software that enables a user to maneuver around internet pages using spoken commands. By melding voice-recognition and natural speech-processing technologies, the company has developed a voice-activated system that not onl controls the browser, but also the links presented as hypertext on the computer screen. All this can be done without first having to record the spoken commands. The company is now hurrying to develop the software into a practical replacement for conventional mouse-based input. The spoken interface would allow people unfamiliar or unable to use a mouse to enjoy the Internet. Combined with speech-synthesis software to read text on the screen, it could also upon the internet to the visually impaired. The new software uses speech recognition algorithms to convert spoken words into computer commands. Typical commands such as scroll, forward and back are stored on file, so the user simply speaks the commands into the computer's microphone to control the browser.

Source: Dr. V.T. Chitnis, Embassy of India, Tokyo

Criticism for the European information society

Experts agree that Germany's information technology infrastructure is outstanding: With 27 ISDN connections for 100 inhabitants, it leaves behind even the USA with only 4. But Germany seems to have difficulties in using this advantage in competition. Intel boss Andy Grove criticises that Europe and Germany do little to promote the information society. The president of the German Association for Information Technology, too, says that little use is made of the outstanding German network infrastructures for demanding applications. Particularly SMEs avoid this topic. Not even five percent of them have adapted their businesses to modern communication structures, according to a BMBF study. A preliminary report of the Prognos Institute in Basel shows that Germany has been lagging behind the USA for years in terms of spendings on information and communications technology: In 1996 Germany spent 4.3 percent of its GNP, compared to 6.7 percent in the USA. The European Information Technology Observatory found that Germans are sparing of hardware, too: Per inhabitant 483 Ecu were spent last year, compared to 862 Ecu in the USA. While in the USA there are 48 PCs for 100 inhabitants, Germany has only half of them. The USA has 165 cellular phones (per 1000 inhabitants), Germany only 69, and for every 54 American fax machines there are only 18 German ones. The gap is particularly wide for Internet hosts: 34.7 hosts are competing for 1000 Americans, but only 8.8 for 1000 Germans. According to the Prognos study, a further obstacle to the information society is the little interest Germans have in new media such as the digital TV.

Source: Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Embassy of India, Bonn