Random Winners
The main aim of the BioMAP project (Monitoring and Assessing of Biodiversity of Egypt) is to create a comprehensive IT-based database of existing Egyptian biodiversity records. Linked to up-to-date data through internal and external monitoring of Egypt's Protected Areas, the project enables an analysis to be made of changes in the status of the country's biodiversity. The web-based information centre contains five operational sites. One of these is the Egypt's Biodiversity website, which was authored by Image House and includes a large number of photographs and illustrations on all topics of relevance to biodiversity, enabling users of all types to access credible information, in order to inform decision-making at all levels. For more information visit the website http://www.biomapegypt.org.
“Human and Nature” is an ICT-based integrated course of natural sciences for 12-14 year-old Lithuanian pupils. Based on thorough pedagogical research and results of pilot projects, natural science meets modern information technology in a fully comprehensive online environment. Virtual learning and teaching content is attractively packaged in the form of over 1700 learning objectives, which are presented via site-demonstrations, laboratories, and quizzes. An online encyclopedia and thesaurus complements course content. Coordinated by SPC, a department of the Lithuanian Ministry of education, the project has been integrated into the curriculum of schools throughout the country. A team of educational experts colloborated during the process to produce literature on methodological recommendations for practice and changes to the natural sciences curriculum, alongside developing a comprehensive user manual. Following the project’s success, proposals are now being drafted for similar courses in Lithuanian language, and natural sciences for 15-16 year-olds. For more information visit the website http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gamta5-6.
“Fossil Web” is becoming ever more popular in fossil-rich China, where the number of knowledge-thirsty internet users has reportedly reached 253 million. With its commitment to promoting paleontology, Fossil Web acts as a bridge between the world of science and the general public. Website visitors are able to access various resources, including up-to-date research, paleontology news, and pictures of fossils, in order to obtain an insight into the evolution of once-living creatures.
Visitors are also able to take advantage of a website forum to share their pictures and experiences with other enthusiasts. More importantly, a wealth of scientific articles summarized in an easy-to-understand way by young paleontologists is readily available on “Fossil Web” for all visitors. With a focus on “interactive learning”, Fossil web offers an appealing and dynamic learning experience. For more information visit the website http://www.uua.cn.
The oldest culture in the world meets the newest technology. Following the world-wide success of Oscar winning feature film ‘Ten Canoes’, the indiginous Yolngu people of Ramininging, Australia have colloaborated with filmmaker, Rolf de Heer, to further showcase their prided culture in the first ever feature film to be specifically made for and released on the internet. The Twelve Canoes site is an immersive digital experience based around twelve visual “poems”, which paint a compelling portrait of the culture, history and homeland of the Yolngu people. The website has been designed to exploit the strengths of the online environment, offering a highly immersive state of engagement, and thereby providing a platform that challenges the cinematic status quo. The visitor is guided through the intuitive content, yet his path is never dictated; design and navigation enhancing, rather than over-powering, film quality. This beautiful and unique project has provided one of the oldest cultures in the world the opportunity to connect with new generations worldwide and keep its culture alive through modern technology. For more information visit the website http://12canoes.com.au.
Dyslexia is often regarded purely as a reading and writing difficulty. However, the under-lying problems that cause these difficulties also impact on many other life skills. Although internet-based exercises already exist to help train specific skills of dyslexia sufferers, such programmes are generally targeted at children, tending to patronise adults. E-DysGate is an interactive website which provides a highly motivating and stimulating learning environment for a range of skills known to be important for young dyslexic adults. The material has been selected according to research which suggests that it will stimulate parts of the brain that are active in many activities, including reading. Reading and writing abilities are not separate entities, but require a series of brain processes. If these key areas are stimulated, neurological links will develop and the brain will be more receptive to learning, including learning to read. The project targets the following seven areas through direct and indirect stimulation: Auditory Discrimination, Auditory Memory, Auditory Sequence, Visual Discrimination, Visual Memory, Visual Sequence, and Spatial Position. The principles behind the exercises are not specific to any given language - they will work for all individuals across Europe. For more information visit the website http://www.edysgate.org.
The Voices of Africa programme gives young Africans with little or no journalistic experience the opportunity to make a living by pursuing careers as mobile reporters. The foundation provides individuals with the basic technological equipment and financial means to be active in the media sector. Participants are given training and support with specific small scale assignments, and are also encouraged to participate in specific media projects initiated by partners of the foundation. Their efforts are displayed on the website, www.voices-of-africa.com, which hosts over 300 examples of mobile reports supported by the programme.
‘MyMachine’ is a unique online project which builds bridges between three different levels of education: primary, secondary and higher. Via an attractive interactive web-site, children in primary schools produce ideas to create their own ‘dream machine’, the focus being on creativity and imagination over functional usage. Subsequently, higher education students, such as those studying engineering courses, translate these ideas into workable designs, publishing their endeavours to a virtual online community. Finally, pupils from technical secondary schools use the online material in order to produce real prototypes of the machines. In this way, the ‘MyMachine’ lifecycle (invent, design, make, show, patent) starts with the imagination of children and ends with ‘products’. The project has been adopted by the local and regional government (Flanders) and by various companies which have become corporate partners of ‘MyMachine’. During the entire process, children and students can collaborate online and appeal to the know-how and support of the partners, unifying the world of education and entrepreneurship with a key focus on ‘creativity and innovation’. For more information visit the website http://www.mymachine.be.
ngpay is India’s first mass market mobile commerce service. Functioning on every telecom network, consumers all over India are able to bank, pay bills, book tickets, make donations, shop, order food, and more - from a single place on their mobile handsets. Transactions with 80+ businesses across 10 sectors can be completed following a simple download of a free, 64kb application to a mobile handset. ngpay is easy, fast, and secure. Upon selection of a merchant, the user is guided through their m-commerce transaction - step-by-step - via ngpay's interactive, menu-driven interface. In this way, ngpay is able to deliver the true PC-Based e-commerce experience with mobile internet technology. Once the user gets to the payment stage, multiple options are available - all securely stored in ngpay's mobile wallet. All conventional forms of electronic payment are possible, including redeeming ngpay loyalty points. Data and over-the-air transactions are fully encrypted and require multi-level authorization to be accessed. Users receive SMS and, where applicable, email verifications of their transactions, and can view their transaction history on the ngpay main menu. ngpay is one of the few services able to bring low-cost electronic commerce and financial services to the rural and working class. For more information visit the website www.ngpay.com.
Wreckamovie unites the Internet and the film industry by unleashing the creative potential of Internet communities, thereby changing the whole chain of filmmaking. Film-makers and amateur enthusiasts alike can collaborate online to extend their resources in order to produce professional quality audio/visual material of all genres; from music videos to full-length feature-films. Wreckamovie applies the open source software ideology to film production. It helps get films completed faster and at a considerably lower cost, through crowd-sourced work on production tasks and online resourcing of expertise and corporate funding. In addition, it facilitates the viral promotion of films throughout and beyond their production. Wreckamovie enables film makers of all backgrounds to create, produce and license quality films at a fraction of the cost, harnessing the wealth of talent that exists outside the world of blockbuster budgets. For more information visit the website http://www.wreckamovie.com.
You Tour uses the latest generation iPods to offer a multimedia tool which enables tourists to conveniently and fully explore the cultural heritage of their holiday destinations. In an educational, entertaining and interactive way, the user is guided round their chosen destination, their route enriched by a wealth of content. Not only are the tours well documented with location maps, digital reconstructions, photographs, illustrations, animations, videos and instructions; a regularly updated directory of museums, restaurants, shops and services ensures that the tourist wants for nothing. Under the title ‘survival kit’, information on embassies, currency, and emergency phone numbers can be accessed. And that’s not all: You Tour ensures that the hapless tourist is never stuck for words, offering an audio/photo dictionary which contains useful phrases in the local language. Available in multiple languages and for an ever-growing number of cities and heritage sites, this comprehensive package can be downloaded free of charge from the iTunes store. For more information visit the website http://www.utour.travel/utour/home.html.
