the etuktuk project

In recognition of emerging need to harnessing information officers/librarians, for the new developments in the community information field, the Sri Lanka Library Association (SLLA), in collaboration with UNESCO organised a Workshop on ‘Life Long Learning through Community Information Provision in a Digital Environment’. The workshop was held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo, from 6th to 7th December 2006.

The case study of Kothmale Community Radio was presented by Mr. Sunil Wijesinghe. He shared his experiences through a very informative and thought provoking presentation on ‘Community as producers of information’. He explained the history, setting up of the Kothmale Community Radio (KCR) and expansion of services and development of the webpage in detail.  How community information is created by the members of KCR station especially young children was elucidated.

Mr. Kosala Keerthirathna’s vivid illustration on the e-tuktuk via the KCR webpage caught the keen attention of the audience. He also demonstrated how the e-tuktuk is put to fulfill the information needs of citizens in remote villages and also for the provision of ICT training to under-equipped rural school children.
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The etuktuk was presented at the Wireless Cultures and Technologies Workshop at the University of Sydney, Australia. The presentation was made by Ben Grubb and Jo Tacchi from the Queensland University of Technology.

Wireless technologies and cultures could be said to encompass anything from WiFi-enabled laptops and handheld devices to wireless broadband protocols such as Bluetooth and Radiofrequency Identification (RFID) as well as a range of cultural and community movements centring on wireless networks. While these emerging technologies are of great critical and particularly business interest worldwide, there has been little cultural research and analysis accompanying their uptake in Australia. This lack of attention is notable, given the intense discussion of new wireless technologies in Europe and North America.

This ARC Cultural Research Network workshop aims to generate debate about the current and potential uses of wireless technology in Australia. It will draw together a number of speakers from academia and industry to showcase the kind of research and development taking place in relation to wireless use, with a view to understanding the Australian context in relation to international experience. Among other things, it will provide a voice for growing demands for quality wireless provision in public and private settings in this country. It does this by exploring the benefits of established cultural research methods and theories for understanding the rationales and desires behind technology design and adoption.

Click here to read more about the event.