Software and gadgets: Making life easier for the challenged
THE development of software and gadgets for hearing and visually impaired, and the mentally challenged children would be the next area of focus for researchers. This would be facilitated by the Department of Information Technology, Government of India.
Speaking to Newsline, R C Tripathi, director, Intellectual Property Rights cell of the department said his department had launched a drive to encourage young scientists to get their software patented. ‘‘Considering the lead taken by India in IT, there is need for more awareness about property rights,’’ he said. Such software, including those to help enhance the intellectual levels of the mentally challenged, could be used in schools and colleges, as is being done in some developed countries. At the session on Information and Communication Science and Technology, it was pointed out that chips which could help the visually-challenged sense the area within a radius of three metres around them were already in the making. ‘‘Information Technology can definitely make life easier for them,’’ claimed the speakers.
Cyber crime
But the ICT technology also has a gloomy side to it, pointed out Prof Vijay Rattan of Panjab University. ‘‘Cyber violence against women is on the rise and there is a need to review the Information Technology Act, 2000 and include cyber-harassment and cyber-exploitation in it,’’ he opined. Prof Rattan also sought review and amendments in the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women to specifically include the threat of violence against women. Also, he said, police should be given more authority to enforce provisions of the IT Act.
‘‘The new cyber crime of cyber-violence against women, including cyber stalking, e-mail harassment and using internet to publish obscene information to exploit or embarrass women is taking alarming proportions,’’ he said. At this point, it is worth noting that warning signals had been sounded in 2000 by ‘Outcome Document’ of Beijing +5 on all forms of economic and sexual exploitation, added Tripathi. ‘‘Studies have shown that about 60 per cent of all websites have sexual content. 25 per cent of them solicit their visitors. Nearly 13 per cent of surfers go to these sites voluntarily, the rest are lured pictorially. An estimated revenue of $ 1 billion is generated annually,’’ said Prof Rattan.The increasing popularity of chat rooms and vulnerability of personal data to criminal access makes women and children soft targets for a range of culpable crimes, he added.
The paper, which has special references to cyber violence against women in the 21st century was jointly presented by Prof Vijay Rattan and Jyoti Rattan, a senior research fellow in the PU Department of Laws.
‘Vit-E, fruit control wrinkles’
Vitamin-E and Vitamin-C (citrus fruits) do help in making the skin look young by producing anti-oxidants which kill bad cells in the body. In fact, anti-ageing techniques is one subject where both findings of both traditional and modern science seem to converge. ‘‘So, the wide variety of Vitamin-E creams, along with intake of citrus fruits, can definitely benefit people who are conscious of growing wrinkles on their faces,’’ said Dr Shakti N. Upadhyay of Reliance Industries, Mumbai.
‘‘As per the traditional view, human life is measured by the number of breaths one takes. The modern scientific view, meanwhile, is that ageing is gauged by the rate of metabolism, based on the breathing-in of oxygen. So, both the views are nearly the same,’’ he said.
Over the years, he said, free oxygen radicals are generated, which lead to cell death. This is aggravated in case a bad cell from outside enters the system. ‘‘But the process of ageing can be slowed down and cell death can be regulated,’’ he said.
Marketing herbs
The absence of a united effort to market our reserve of traditional knowledge of herbs was highlighted by Dr Gourdas Choudhuri of Sanjay Gandhi Post-graduate Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow. ‘‘A host of new varieties of herbs are being discovered through traditional scriptures and their capability to cure ailments has been proved scientifically,’’ he said. But unlike countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, we are not making concerted efforts to capture the world market despite our traditional knowledge,’’he said.
Next venue: Ahmedabad
The 91st session of the Indian Science Congress concluded today with the resolve that the recommendations made would be put before the executive council and brought out in black and white for implementation. The next session of the Congress will be held in Ahmedabad from January 3 to 7, next year. Dr N.K. Ganguly, director general ICMR, was elected the next general president.
Old wine in new bottle
Earlier in the day, the speakers discussed the modern approach in use for gene isolation and development of transgenic crops. It was also pointed out that despite advancements in every area of science, the traditional science still holds relevance. The emerging issues of property rights and other policy issues were also discussed in the session. It was highlighted that in some cases, modern medicine was old wine in new bottle, developed using traditional knowledge.
Arrangements appreciated
The arrangements made by Panjab University in hosting the Science Congress, especially accommodation and transportation, were appreciated by the delegates during the valedictory session. Asis Datta, general secretary of the Congress endorsed this. ‘‘I had requested the organisers — Prof R.C. Sobti and S.C. Bedi — that no one should fall sick in the cold weather,’’ he said.
Vice-Chancellor recalls
Panjab University Vice-Chancellor K.N. Pathak recalled how he had attended his first Science Congress as a researcher. There was no provision even for a bathroom, he said. ‘‘We ensured that our delegates do not have to face these problems,’’ he said.
Suggestions
The delegates came up with certain suggestions during the closing session. These included cutting down expenditure on security, updating the annual report of the congress and ensuring that the membership of the body increases.
Awards for stalls
The exhibitors of stalls in the science expo titled ‘Pride of India’ were also awarded. The categories are : Best design : Central Public Works Department, State of Goa, Most informative : Great Arc by Department of Science and Technology and Survey of India, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Most innovative exhibits : Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Department of Atomic Energy, Special Appreciation prizes : State of Haryana, BH group and Punjab Engineering Department Authority, DAVP, ICMR, State of Gujarat. Facilitation award : Tata services for Hall of Pride on J.R.D.Tata and Homi Bhabha.
Taping the talent pool
The Science Congress was sponsored by ‘InnoCentive’. ‘‘Our participation in the Indian Science Congress helped further tap the vast scientific talent pool in India, especially in the fields of chemistry, materials science, biology and biochemistry,’’ said Ali Hussein, vice-president, Marketing, InnoCentive. ‘‘India, along with China and Russia, is an integral component of our worldwide scientific community, and we are thrilled to be part of this prestigious conference.’’