Stories about Technology from July, 2007
Japan: Finger Vein Money
Edo from Pink Tentacle reports on the newly developed “finger vein money” system, which verifies a person's identity by reading the pattern of blood vessels in his or her fingers.
Arabeyes: Internet War Continues in Egypt
After harassing, questioning and detaining bloggers, the war on the Internet continues in Egypt, this time attacking where it hurts most - the pocket! This is how Egyptian bloggers react to the hike in prices, which will be introduced in September.
Central Asia: Google Trends
Michael Hancock shares his experience of learning about the world's attention to Central Asia using Google Trends.
Hong Kong: Cyber bullying
A newspapers editor and blogger Chow Chauli was attacked by some netizens in her blog's comment section because of her criticism in the newspapers about a B.T user “Nike” who uploaded pornographic films in the internet. Some bloggers defined the case as cyber bullying. Florence who was very sympathetic with...
Malaysia: Scaring Online Writers
Rocky's Bru comments on a Malaysian minister's statement that he will use all possible laws and acts to stop bloggers from writing on sensitive issues.
Kenya: Kenyan Blogs Webring: A short history
The Kenyan Blogs Webring is 3 years old. Daudi Were looks back on its 3 years of existence: “This past year has also been marked by KBW and KBW bloggers being recognised outside our own community and emerging as leaders in some of the most interesting projects that use web...
Africa: Why the African Digerati can make a difference
A reader at Whiteafrica.com leaves a thought provoking comment about development in Africa: “… White African’s point … We can no-longer continue blaming corrupt African government and “evil ” multinationals for Africa’s woes without doing anything about it. Now, at an individual level, we have the very real potential to...
Kenya: model airplane made from scratch
A Kenyan man builds a model airplane from scratch: “Phillip Isohe is a metal fabricator in the jua kali, non-traditional industrial sector, in Kenya. In his spare time he builds models of airplanes and buses. This seems to be an extension of what many of us did while growing up...
Nigeria: Internet for Jobs Initiative
Oro announces the launching of Nigeria's Internet for Jobs Initiative: “Today was another major milestone in my quest for support for young Nigerians in the area of ICT Entrepreneurship. It was the launchig of the Nigeria Internet Group’s Internet for Jobs (I4J) Initiative, and also the announcement of the Youth...
Namibia: website to build community and preserve local history
Rob comes across a website designed to build community and to preserve the history of Oranjemund, a town in Namibia: “Mike has created the site to preserve the history of Oranjemund and also to allow present day and ex-Oranjemunders to take advantage of a fully functional forum and allow old...
Bolivia: Historic Rally in La Paz Provides Opportunity for Journalism 2.0
A mass rally was held in La Paz to support that the Bolivian capital would remain in that city. Estimates place the attendance at close to one million. A few Bolivian bloggers decided that this would be an excellent opportunity to practice journalism 2.0, in which ordinary citizens could set out and capture images, videos, and opinions from those in the street. Even though everything did not go as planned, it was these new technologies that allowed them to overcome some obstacles and continue this "experiment."
Nigeria: Talking About Aggregation, Copyright and Professionalism
Who knew that when the people behind Naijalive.net decided to set up an aggregator (or an "aggregator" of a different kind, as they put it), their efforts would lead to a discussion about aggregation, copyright and professionalism? What is a blog aggregator? Is copying and pasting a form of aggregation? Must owners of aggregators seek permission from bloggers before using their content? What are the technical requirements for a good aggregator?
Bahrain: Arabic Translations
Bint Battuta translates the second in a series of translations of blogs written in Arabic in Bahrain.
Jordan: Blogs a Destruction Force
Blogs, Wikipedia and uncontrolled media will destroy human cultural integrity. Where are the editors who check the facts? Where are the scientists who make sure our media is for for consumption? Where is the good-taste police?” writes Ahmed Humeid from Jordan.
Honduras: An Introduction to Honduran Blogs – Part 2
The average Honduran uber-geek is male, under 30, loves Linux, updates his blog thrice a second, and is a master web designer. Many of these blogs are sleek eye-candy masterpieces, with great content...if you happen to like Kubuntu, Compiz Fusion, or Mac. Part 2 of the latest introduction to the Honduran blogosphere focuses on these personal technology blogs.
Haiti: Coffee Traceability
An Information Technology project will offer Haiti's coffee cooperatives more traceability and therefore greater leveraging power with their products. The Fair Tracing Project gives details.
Japan: Face recognition system
Edo from Pink tentacle reports: on July 19, electronics giant NEC announced it has developed the world’s first automated border control system that uses facial recognition technology capable of identifying people inside their automobiles. The system is already in operation at checkpoints on the Hong Kong – Shenzhen border.
Vietnam: Vietnam's BPO Aspirations
With more that half of its population less then 25 years old, Vietnam has a potential to be a good outsourcing center says SaigonNezumi
Arabeyes: Online Democracy, Water Conservation and Crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood Activists
This week's Arabic translation has good and bad news. On the good side is a pioneering scheme by Jordan to publish draft laws online and give people the chance to comment on them before being passed as legislation while on the bad are stories about more censorship and arrests of student activists in Egypt.
Guatemala: Free Blog Hosting Site Closes
Javier Aroche expresses his sympathy for the closing of the Blogs.com.gt site, which provided free hosting for Guatemalan blogs.
Peru: The Present and Future of Online Advertising
Eduardo Solis of E-nredados [ES] comments on the state of online advertising in Peru.
