IIITM to bring info to masses the Worldspace way

THIRUVANTHAPURAM: Imagine a government state department being able to deliver updated information on agriculture practices, best prices, weather information, and more else to the village panchayats. That's what Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management-Kerala, based in Technopark, Trivandrum is all set to do.

They have just demonstrated to the agricultural department of Kerala how they can come to their aid in disseminating information down to the last farmer in Kerala. And this involves use of Worldspace technology, as is being exhibited at IT Kerala 2002 in Trivandrum.

WorldSpace is satellite radio, right? Right! But it is really a digital satellite technology that is capable of streaming data at great speeds to a receiver. So if there is relevant content to be streamed, info can reach far and wide at blazing speeds. If it is just audio, then a regular Worldspace receiver would do. But for text and video, you need an adapter that goes into your PC so you can access information in the same form that it was created.

IITM-K wants aims to upload information from the agricultural department to all the 1200 Krishi Bhavans in the villages of Kerala. The department hasn’t yet given the go-ahead for the project, but they definitely see the impact of use of technology. IITM-K can convert all their paper documents or books into digitized form, and then upload it to the WorldSpace server in Singapore, from where it can get transmitted to the receivers with the right authorization. An ambitious project, for sure. But what it could mean for the improvement of agro practices in the state could be enormous. IITM-K is also working with the India Medical association to reach medical information to various hospitals in India.