TECHNOLOGY

Sri Lankans have right attitude and are innovative - CFO Aepona

Surekha GALAGODA

"Aepona International Lanka Ltd, headquartered in Belfast UK with a development office in Sri Lanka had recorded tremendous growth and we are pleased with the success", said Chief Financial Officer Aepona Michael Black.

Michael Black Pic: Chinthaka Kumarasinghe

He said that they have worked with people in other parts of the world but Sri Lankans are amazing as they have the right attitude to work and are innovative.

When the company acquired Valista, a Dublin based company with its development office in Sri Lanka they had a staff of 36. Now it is 120. Worldwide it has grown from 160 to 240. Forty percent of the company is based in Sri Lanka and work for top customers such as Verizon, Airtel, and Vodafone. Verizon is its largest customer.

Speaking of the budget he said that it is very business friendly "it encourages us to invest more in Sri Lanka".

Aepona is a high end company in Java development in the Telco domain using cloud computing. He said that the company pays a lot of attention on skills development of its staff. Though the world experienced a financial crisis Aepona grew, ICTA has helped it with training while we have also received a grant for oracle training. The value addition is not only for the company but for the individuals as well. He said that the IT is a sector where there is a high turnover due to staff moving to other companies or seeking greener pastures. We offer a host of benefits and training to our staffers to retain them.

Black said that they want the ICT sector training to grow. The quality of the graduates is good but they need on the job training where their knowledge is finetuned and they adapt to the working environment.

In Northern Ireland the government supports research and Development in the IT sector. The Sri Lankan budget has thought on those lines which is promising. Speaking of future plans Black said that they plan to expand office space while developing the team through training, and overseas exposure.

Since most of our customers are in North America communication is critical. A higher bandwidth is necessary to develop the sector.

GM Aepona International Lanka Ltd. Kolitha Ratwatte said. "Though we don't do any business in Sri Lanka, we are a member of SLASSCOM and are actively participating in the HR sector".

SLASSCOM, Motorola promote software development skills

The Sri Lanka Association of Software Service Companies (SLASSCOM) together with Motorola Technologies Lanka (Pvt) Limited, a subsidiary of Motorola Inc are organising an enterprise Mobility application software development competition for IT undergraduates of Sri Lankan universities and university affiliated colleges.

The aim of this competition is to explore, expose and promote innovative skills of our undergraduates, to prepare Sri Lanka to be a leading mobile application development centre in the world, said Motorola R & D Centre Director and Country Manager for Sri Lanka Anuradha Tennakoon.

Enterprise mobility is changing the way people work as never before. The ability to work away from the office on the move and having access to the information assets of the enterprise is no longer a "nice to have" facility. It has now become a fundamental requirement for businesses to provide computing power to their mobile workers. Processes are being mobilised and business solution providers are called upon to offer an application landscape to facilitate this.

Most enterprises today understand the value proposition of mobility by way of

* Management of a decentralised workforce

* Reduction in operating costs

* Improved customer satisfaction

* Reduction in process cycle times

* Increased end user productivity

* Improved data timeliness and quality

Tennakoon said. We started this exercise in June by inviting selected universities and university affiliated colleges to send their undergraduates to a seminar at the University of Colombo School of Computing premises. We invited the undergraduates to submit proposals. We received 44 proposals from the 08 institutes invited. After evaluation 12 proposals were selected for the finals. The selected teams were given a hands-on training and resources to develop applications. In addition to their mentors from the universities we also assigned mentors to each team from Motorola who coached the undergraduates for five months.

At the finals to be held on December 06 undergraduates from Ruhuna, Moratuwa, Colombo, Kelaniya, Peradeniya, APIIT, SLIIT and IIT will compete to prove their innovative skills.

HP launches ePrint enabled printers

HP introduced its first ePrint enabled web connected printers to the Sri Lankan market recently in Colombo. The printers give consumers instant and seamless connectivity to popular web content and the ability to print anytime from anywhere.

Director HP Asia Pacific P.V. Viswanath addresses the launch. Pic: Chinthaka Kumarasinghe

The printers provide customers with the freedom and convenience to print from any mobile device using HP's ePrint technology Leveraging the cloud, HP's ePrint enables businesses and consumers to manage content and print quickly and securely by emailing their desired files - emails, documents and images - directly to any ePrint enabled HP printer with an Internet connection eliminating the need to install drivers.

With just an email address, ePrint will work from any mobile device, including smart phones, laptops and even the iPad.

The line-up includes ePrint enabled printers that span across Officejet, Photosmart, LaserJet and Designjet categories.

"If you can email it, you can now print it," said Director, Imaging and Printing Group, Consumer and IWS South East Asia, Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific Ltd P.V. Viswanath, "This opens up a new world of possibilities for businesses."

He said that Asian economies are growing at over 10 percent which includes China and India. The people are becoming busier and are mobile. Therefore the digital content will explode 10 fold by 2012 and of this the printable content will increase threefold. Already airline tickets are digital and so are photographs.

He said that the content too is shifting from analog to digital. A total of 26 trillion pages are printed annually and of this 200 billion are shifting to digital annually.

Vishwanath said that people are very mobile. At present one billion workers are mobile which means they are working out of their offices and it is predicted that it will increase to three billion by 2013.

Today 85 percent of smart phone users want to print but don't have a good solution. According to data the incremental number of pages from mobile devices will be 12 billion by the year 2012 while by 2020, 33 percent will be on the cloud.

HP enabled two-way print through the cloud using HP Print Apps(1), creates an unparalleled web experience for customers to access, manage and share content from templates and stored documents. Without a PC, using HP print applications. The applications available in Asia include Google Docs, box.net and Biztree.

To enhance the value of the printer HP is also introducing a range of new apps, which will join partners from the world of entertainment.

Customers can send documents to print through an HP ePrint mobile app on their smart phone device to a home, office or public print location. Customers will be able to send Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs and JPEG image files among others.

With the explosion of web-connected devices like smart phones, netbooks and idevices, HP recognises the increased need for intuitive solutions that make conducting business easier.

The world's first wide format all-in-one device with web connectivity (3), the HP Officejet 7500A wide format all-in-one,. The wired and wireless (4,5) HP Officejet 6500 A e All-In-One series, let's users produce laser-quality colour documents at a low cost-per-page plus fax ,copy and scan.

The cloud print enabled HP Photosmart D 210A e all-in-one, offers consumers the ultimate in versatility, the industry's first web-ready large format printer with scans, print and copy functionality -the HP Designjet T2300 eMultifunction Printer. And the wired and wireless HP Laserjet 1025 & 1525 printer, that prints from the web and mobile devices.

(SG)

Gamata IT - Microsoft partners Tharunayata Hetak

Microsoft Sri Lanka taking ICT to rural communities under its Gamata IT program is active in Beliatta, Hambantota. The Beliatta chapter is a collaboration between Microsoft Sri Lanka, the Tharunayata Hetak movement, ICTA, the Ministry of Education and Singer Sri Lanka. In joining hands with Tharunayata Hetak, Microsoft aims to reach and impact the lives of as many young people as possible in the Hambantota district.

Activities

The activities of the Gamata IT program are directed at giving IT access to those in rural areas who have hitherto been untouched by the digital revolution.

These include the installation of genuine software at the village community center which already has basic computer facilities, the donation of Sinhala or Tamil Language Interface Packs for Windows and Office that gives users the option to use computers in their preferred local language, and the installation of a MultiPoint enabled classroom at a selected village school giving students access to IT technology at an early age.

It also provides training in basic IT skills to youth, teachers, Government and Samurdhi employees.

When Gamata IT reaches its selected rural village, the program takes the form of a 'Town Storming' campaign, where Microsoft makes every effort to create a significant impact by involving as many people as possible in order to penetrate deep into the community.

This creates awareness an interest about the positive and efficient ways in which they can make use of technology in their daily lives, which will, in turn broaden their horizons.

Country Manager, Microsoft Sri Lanka Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne said, "We are certain that our efforts to spread ICT knowledge and increase access to technology in rural communities is a major contribution to the development of the country.

Although the activities we conduct as part of the town storming are directed at drawing attention to the village, we impact and generate mass awareness about the unlimited potential of IT.

We believe that the ultimate outcome of Gamata IT is long lasting because we provide encouragement and support for people to develop their skills and use technology to become more efficient and productive."

Technology for students

The Kahawatta Maha Vidyalaya in Beliatta was selected by the Ministry of Education to receive a fully equipped MultiPoint classroom from Microsoft.

MultiPoint is a technology that enables a classroom of 30 or more students to access a single computer with multiple mice. As a result, it is possible for a large group of students to use one computer simultaneously within the classroom.

MultiPoint was developed for the needs of developing countries such as Sri Lanka to provide IT access to more and more children despite resource limitations.

The Kahawatta Maha Vidyalaya has approximately 500 students. These students, like many of their counterparts, are eager and enthusiastic to learn, but have very limited resources.

As a result they cannot adapt to the changes taking place around them and be prepared to face the world when they complete their education. This is a vital reason for Microsoft to give them the chance to develop their skills so that they will have equal opportunities when they try to find employment.

By providing children with the relevant training on MultiPoint technology from a young age, Microsoft hopes that they will become confident in using IT as they grow older.

The teachers of the school also benefit greatly from this initiative because they can incorporate technology into their curriculum and develop innovative and exciting teaching methods to keep children interested and motivated to learn.

It is only when the young people of the community are comfortable and confident in using technology that the rest of the social group will also be eager to adopt technology to complete daily functions.

Principal, Kahawatta Maha Vidyalaya Dayaratne Gunawardena said, "We are very grateful to have been singled out to receive this lab from the Ministry of Education and Microsoft Sri Lanka. Our students now have the opportunity to develop their IT skills so that they can be better equipped to handle the demands of the 21st century."

Skills training

Microsoft also conducted a training program for teachers, youth and all Government and Samurdhi employees in Beliatta in order to enhance their IT skills. The training would enable them to pass on the benefits of using technology to complete daily tasks, throughout the community.

The objective of training as many individuals in the village is to ensure that exposure and experience in IT will go on to empower many others in the community.

Teachers will pass on their learning to their students, Government employees will better serve their communities because of the efficiencies of technology and the youth are given guidance to enhance their employability and discover the many possibilities and opportunities beyond the confines of their villages.

Microsoft distributed the Sinhala Language Interface Packs (LIP) for Microsoft Office 2007 and Windows Vista, as well as a glossary of Sinhala terms used in computing and a Sinhala key board sticker, enabling the participants to operate a computer in their mother tongue.

These Sinhala LIP are expected to be popular because it cuts through the language barrier and makes IT more accessible to people who may have otherwise been skeptical about using it before.

Microsoft gifted the Beliatta Nenasala Centre with original Microsoft software and the Sinhala translation of the world recognized Microsoft Unlimited Potential (UP) curricular that can be used by the Nenasala operator to conduct computer trainings in Sinhala at the facility.

IT club

Microsoft also assisted the youth in Beliatta to form an IT club in the village with guidance from the Tharunayata Hetak movement. In addition to establishing and furnishing the club with books, CD's and other technological tools, the Microsoft team from Colombo will continue to assist the club in order to guarantee its success. It is believed that the club will spark enthusiasm among the youth in Beliatta to explore and experience the exciting world of IT and ensure that they will continue to benefit from the Gamata IT program.

Knowledge Bus

The Singer Sri Lanka 'Knowledge Bus' also played a role in the Beliatta town storming campaign.

The Knowledge Bus gave young people the opportunity to explore and experience interesting avenues of learning and also in the use of computers. A popular attraction was the quiz program for the children and youth of the area, which sparked off their interest in IT.

The Gamata IT initiative, launched in 2009 to commemorate the Year of English and ICT by the President, has been active in remote villages such as Nivithigala (Ratanapura District), Pallama (Puttlam District), Sevanagala (Moneragala District) and most recently Hatton (Nuwara Eliya District). Students of the schools where MultiPoint classrooms were established use IT on a daily basis and are more comfortable and confident about using computers.

The youth IT club in these villages are flourishing as the young people are enthusiastic about having the resources that make it possible for them to develop their IT skills and are hopeful about their future, thanks to the new avenues that have opened up due to their engagement with IT.

Lalith continues as Chairman UNESCAP ICT Committee

Sri Lanka was again elected to UNESCAP's ICT Committee chairmanship at the meeting held in Bangkok last week.

The ESCAP member countries unanimously passed a proposal requesting President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga to continue as chairman of UNESCAP's Committee on Information and Communication Technology for another two years.

Lalith Weeratunga

The Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) addresses the following issues: Integration of ICT-related issues in development policies, plans and programs; Transfer and application of ICT at the regional and sub-regional levels; Development of human and institutional capacity in the use of ICT and ICT applications for disaster risk reduction.

Sri Lanka was elected to the chair of UNESCAP's ICT Committee for the first time in 2008.

Weeratunga attributes Sri Lanka's unanimous re-election, to the progress the country has achieved during the past five years. He said that Sri Lanka could perform a tremendous amount of work for the benefit of all as a result of the position.

In particular Sri Lanka hopes to launch common programs jointly with other countries to deploy ICT for national development. Commenting on the election of Sri Lanka to the position Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) Chief Executive Officer Reshan Dewapura said "The election of Sri Lanka to the chair of UN-ESCAP's Committee on ICT at the first instance was due to the great strides Sri Lanka had made in making the benefits of ICT accrue to people. That Sri Lanka had attained great achievements is amply proved by the top regional and world awards Sri Lanka had received for several of its projects under the e-Sri Lanka initiative.

These projects have been acclaimed locally too, since they make the life of every citizen of Sri Lanka, especially that of the disadvantaged and distant rural villager, including the differently-abled, more comfortable in living their day-to-day life.

They also help in getting all citizens including the rural folk to join the island-wide entrepreneur community and thus help themselves as well as contribute towards national socio-economic development".

"The UN-ESCAP member countries have unanimously re-installed Sri Lanka to the chair of UN-ESCAP's ICT Committee due to the continuation of its thrust in using ICT for making people's lives more comfortable even with ever increasing zest".

Etislat, hSenid launch App Store

An App Store was launched by Etisalat together with hSenid for use by owners of cheap phones recently. It is a next generation application store, said CEO Etisalat Dumindra Ratnayaka. Mobile applications are in its infancy in Sri Lanka.

CEO hSenid Dinesh Saparamadu and Etisalat CEO Dumindra Ratnayaka at the launch. - Pic: Chinthaka Kumarasinghe

We decided to introduce Appzone early this year. This will help users to download applications that are useful and important in their day to day information sourcing and entertainment. Ratnayaka said that Telco Appzone can be constantly used by owners.

The developer will get 75 percent of the revenue and the response is good. We have 1,000 developers while 50 are mature and their applications are being used.

Until 2008 mobile applications were developed by professionals but by mid 2008 platform providers gave the ability for outside developers such as high school and university graduates to develop applications which changed the whole horizon of mobile applications.

Most of the fastest selling applications are developed by amateurs. There are over 15 billion applications around the world.

Eight months ago Etisalat together with hSenid began developing applications. Appzone was developed by hSenid using cloud tap technology. CEO hSenid Dinesh Saparamadu said that by using hSenid technology Sri Lankan developers can become worldwide developers. The Telco developer portal helps to create opportunities from simple to enterprise applications that can be developed with minimum effort.

(SG)