India Digital Heritage project unveiled

India Digital Heritage project unveiled

The joint initiative of the Dept of Science and Technology, academia and Microsoft Research aims to advance research in technologies to present and preserve cultural heritage and monuments of India

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

CHENNAI, INDIA: The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and Microsoft Research India today unveiled the India Digital Heritage project.

The project aims to explore the synergistic use of multiple forms of media such as photographs, video and voice to create uniquely compelling 2D and 3D user experiences of Indian heritage for the general public, said a press release.

Collaboration among the Department of Science and Technology, academia and Microsoft Research, this project seeks to advance research in technologies to present and preserve cultural heritage and monuments of India, said a press release.

“This is a scientific effort to push the boundaries of what media delivers today to the end user, and is a great example of what collaboration between the government, academia and industry can achieve,” said Dr. P. Anandan, managing director, Microsoft Research India.

“India has an enormous cultural heritage, and this project explores how this cultural diversity and depth can be presented and preserved using novel computer science techniques. We expect this project to throw up research issues that will further advance the state-of-the-art,” he added.

The Digital Heritage project would take in three major steps:

- Data collection/archiving: a community based effort that would involve identifying types of data, sources, standards, schemas etc, as well as creating the necessary technology to enable the storage and processing of the media.

- Research and creation of tools and technologies: identify and address research issues that arise during the course of the project to further the state of the art by creating new technologies and through innovation. -

-Creation of compelling end user experiences that exemplify the innovation possible through the concerted efforts of the government, academia and industry.

The India Digital Heritage project is the first project under the aegis of the Programme Advisory and Monitoring Committee (PAMC).

“The Government is deeply committed to science and research, and we are constantly looking to create platforms for Indian scientists to collaborate and innovate,” said Dr. V Rao Aiyagari, adviser and head, Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC), Seismicity Programme.

“This PAMC has the mandate of creating innovative tools and technologies through research, and we are confident that the expertise of the committee will achieve this mandate.”

©CyberMedia News

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Anonymous said on 10/1/2008 8:26:14 PM:
It is typical example of functioning of Government of India. Left hand doesn’t know what right hand is doing. Why DST(Dept of Science &technology) poking its nose in this area which is already addressed by other two Indian ministries , DIT and Dept. of culture. NIC, C-DAC, IGNCA are already contributing into this area since last decade. DST should concentrate on core Science and Technology areas not on IT and ITES areas.DST doesn’t have mandate as well expertise to work in Indian culture and heritage , they are supposed to do premier scientific work of Nobel prize class. They should not engage in digitization work. Why DST, who doesn’t have expertise and Mandate to work in this area is going with MICROSOFT? Any specific reason, not to choose Indian organization. Are these organizations like CDAC, NIC, IGNCA, TCS, INFOSYS etc are incompetent? It is simple logic, If DST choose Indian Partners, Indian partners will be benefited and If it choose Microsoft , Microsoft will be benefited. Planning Commission must curb this step of DST.

to Anonymous