Microsoft's 'Yatra' spreads tech awareness

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Software giant Microsoft has launched its annual DreamSpark Yatra to to share knowledge and spread awareness about innovations in technology that aims at targeting 60,000 students in 100 cities across the country.

"The DreamSpark Yatra is our annual initiative aimed at driving wide-spread enthusiasm for, and awareness of the latest technology innovations," Microsoft India's Pratima Amonkar said at its launch at the Indian Institute of Technology here on Wednesday.

It will cover 99 other cities before concluding May 18.

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"We were delighted with the response that we have received for last year's Yatra and are hopeful that this unique platform will enable thousands more students across the country get to experience the latest in technology, inspiring new ideas and innovation," she added.

According to Rob Sinclair, Microsoft Corporation's chief accessibility officer,"The focus for this year's Yatra is to raise awareness of accessibility solutions which help people to see, hear and use computers to their full potential".

"Accessibility makes it easier for anyone to see, hear, and use a computer and to personalize it to meet their own needs and preferences. For instance, if someone is dyslexic, they can use the screen magnifier in Windows 7 while working on a computer," he said.

The yatra will also help students gain access to Microsoft's other academic initiatives like Imagine Cup and the Student-to-Business program. While Imagine Cup helps address societal problems like education, poverty and health, the latter prepares students to get technical jobs.

The launch ceremony was followed by sessions on the latest Microsoft technologies including Microsoft Kinect, Windows Phone and a sneak preview of the forthcoming Windows 8 operating system.