Digital inclusion - the vision, the challenges and the way forward

This paper considers the vision and aspiration of digital inclusion, and then examines the current reality. It looks beyond the rhetoric to provide an analysis of the status quo, a consideration of some facilitators and challenges to progress and some suggestions for moving forward with renewed energy and commitment. The far-reaching benefits of digital inclusion and the crucial role it plays in enabling full participation in our digital society are considered. At the heart of the vision of universal digital inclusion is the deceptively simple goal to ensure that everyone is able to access and experience the wide-ranging benefits and transformational opportunities and impacts it offers. The reality is a long way from the vision: inequality of access still exists despite many national campaigns and initiatives to reduce it. The benefits and beneficiaries of a digital society are not just the individual but all stakeholders in the wider society. Research evidence has shown that the critical success factors for successful digital participation are (i) appropriate design and (ii) readily available and on-going ICT (Information and Communication Technology) support in the community. Challenges and proven solutions are presented. The proposition of community hubs in local venues to provide user-centred ICT support and learning for older and disabled people is presented. While the challenges to achieve digital inclusion are very considerable, the knowledge of how to achieve it and the technologies which enable it already exist. Harnessing of political will is necessary to make digital inclusion a reality rather than a vision. With the cooperation and commitment of all stakeholders actualisation of the vision of a digitally inclusive society, while challenging, can be achieved and will yield opportunities and rewards that eclipse the cost of implementation

Acylation and alkylation of 1, 3-dimethoxybenzene in polyphosphoric acid

Products of the reaction of 3-halo- and 3-ethoxypropionic acids with 1,3-dimethoxybenzene (4) in polyphosphoric acid have been shown to be 2',4'-dimethoxy-3-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-propiophenone (6) and 1,5-bis[3-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-keto-propyl]-2,4-dimethoxybenzene (15) and these have been prepared by unambiguous syntheses. 2',4'-Dimethoxy-3-ethoxypropiophenone (3a) and 2',3,4'- trimethoxypropiophenone (3d) have been synthesized by the reaction of 3-chloro-2',4'-dimethoxypropiophenone (3c) with ethanol and methanol respectively

Free energy analysis of binary alloys at phase transition

Order-disorder transformation in alloys is a fascinating and extensively studied problem for many years. This transformation has been studied widely using the two state Ising model. But vacancies are not considered in two state Ising model, which may play an important rule in determining the composition of stable configuration. So we used three state Ising model which takes vacancies also at lattice sites. To make a realistic study we haveincluded kinetic energy of the particles in the total Hamiltonian

2, 4-Dimethyl-6-hydroxyacetophenone oxime and 3, 5-dibromo-2, 4-dimethyl-6- hydroxyacetophenone oxime as reagents and diethylamine as a synergist in the extraction and separation of metals

1022-10242,4-Dimethyl-6-hydroxyacetophenone oxime and 3,5- dibromo-2,4-dimethyl-6-hydroxyacetophenone oxime act as very good reagents for the extraction and separation of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Fe(III) and Mn(II). Addition of diethylamine as a synergist in the extraction system, not only increases the per cent extraction of the metals but also the molar absorbances of the complexes. The separation of the metals from one another, viz., Cu(II) from Ni(II), Cu(II) from Co(II) and Cu(II) and Ni(II) from Cr(III) becomes far more easier in the presence of diethylamine

Digital inclusion: the vision and reality

The benefits of a digitally inclusive society are vast and the need for such inclusion is now a requirement for full participation in our society. While the basic concept of universal digital inclusion is simple, the reality is a long way from the vision. Despite efforts to reduce it, inequality of access still exists. The beneficiaries of a digital society are not just the individual, but all stakeholders in the wider society. While the challenges to achieve a fully inclusive digital society are considerable, the knowledge of how to create such a society already exists. The creation of local venues f or inclusively designed ICT (Information and Communications Technology), support and learning in familiar places along with the harnessing of political will could make such a society a reality rather than a vision. With the cooperation of all stakeholders , actualisation of the vision of a digitally inclusive society, while challenging, will yield opportunities that eclipse the cost of implementation

Characterization and diversity assessment in coconut collections of Pacific Ocean Islands and Nicobar Islands

Characterization and genetic diversity assessment among 30 conserved coconut accessions collected from Pacific Ocean Islands and Nicobar Islands for morphological traits, physico-chemical traits of tender nut water, leaf biochemical parameters and molecular characterization by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were undertaken at World Coconut Germplasm Centre, Andaman. Significant variations were observed for most morphological and nut component traits. Out of the 30 accessions characterized, four accessions, namely, Niu Leka, Hari Papua, Niu Oma and Nikkore were dwarfs among which Niu Leka was identified as a unique dwarf with higher copra content. A dendrogram of genetic relationship obtained through RAPD markers showed distinct variation with 66% in all accessions. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) value of 13 selected primers was 0.29 and maximum and minimum PIC values was 0.46 and 0.17 for primers OPF-19 and OPH-25, respectively. Cluster analysis by UPGMA method grouped the accessions into two major clusters. The results will be useful in the selection among these conserved accessions for specific traits for future utilization in crop improvement initiatives based on their performance for different desirable traits and the level of diversity.Key words: Coconut, genetic diversity, characterization, RAPD, cluster analysis