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Google Announces Literacy Project

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

October 4, 2006, 3:30 PM

In India, there are nearly 300 million people who can't read and another 400 million with very basic knowledge of the alphabet. That is the impetus behind The Literacy Project, an initiative created by Google, the Frankfurt Book Fair literacy campaign, and UNESCO's Institute for Lifelong Learning.

The project integrates Google's services with information on literacy, as well as resources such as subtitled videos for reading practice and research papers on the worldwide problem. Links to blogs are provided, as is a map of the world's literacy organizations. "The idea that others around the world will be able to see what we’re doing —- and in turn, that we’ll be able to see what other people are doing and saying about literacy -— is thrilling," said PlanetRead president Dr. Brij Kothari.

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By PC Rat

posted Oct 5, 2006 - 11:40 AM

...

English is the unifying national language
of India.

British occupation of that country was the
best thing that ever happened to it !

If Google wants to help India, it should pay
for the Brits to take it back over.

...

The Computer Rodent

...

Score: 0

By anmol.2k4

posted Oct 6, 2006 - 5:55 AM

And PC_Rat you know we are very good with rats, we even have a temple where rats can roam freely and they can do whatever they want to so and ppl feed them good delicious stuff.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...kaner#Karni_Mata_Temple
so if going ever gets tough for you there then you can always find refuge there in that temple. ;p

Score: 0

By anmol.2k4

posted Oct 6, 2006 - 5:49 AM

Sure they gave us English language & and i guess the largest rail network,
but they took away all the money we had.
You know the Kohinoor diamond their queens have in her crown, they stole that from us.
Before they came Taj Mahal used to have gold and diamond all over, and they even had plans to destruct Taj Mahal and sell it's stone in European market, but were not able to do that because they did not found that viable.
India used to be a very very very rich nation before they came, but they taught us a lesson.
Money is not for ever but that lesson they gave us and the knowledge we gained from them is timeless.
And something tells me that Kohinoor diamond had a curse (look what is happening to the royal family) ;p

Score: 0

By ggvrsn

posted Oct 5, 2006 - 10:57 PM

PC RAT: If you were, ever wise enough to know the pains that the British caused India, which is still present, then you would not be thinking such stuff. If you did not know, India has not been invaded and ruled, just once. It has been invaded many times over. Infact not very long(30+ years) ago, China tried to do the same.

About India: India has over 800+ languages and 600+ dialets. The Culture in India is over 4000 years old. Indian Culture is the only culture which recognises the 3rd sex (lesbians and homosexuals). India is the most tolerant Country in the World, that is why it has the most number of Religions living together in the world.(Cant say that about the melting pot USA, can we? )

Poverty is the main cause why India has such issues with Education.

If you have never been to India or lived in India you should not comment on what you do not know.

I am very happy that Google is doing this for India.

-GGR

Score: 0

By billweh

posted Oct 5, 2006 - 7:32 AM

I'm wondering if Google realizes that the majority of people in India do not speak the same language. I was talking with one of my coworkers who is originally from India and he said that almost every state there has their own language. Going from one place to another can be extremely difficult because of the language differences.

There is one common language, but that is not universally spoken. The other question I have is whether as a society, Google will be allowed to teach or provide aids to those people. With the caste society that India has and their belief that people are born to a level and that they cannot rise above that level, I don't know if it will even be permissible.

Hopefully they will be able to overcome that and great good will come of this.

Score: 0

By anmol.2k4

posted Oct 5, 2006 - 9:23 AM

That is why sooo many ppl know English , that is why we have English as our legal language, in India one cannot survive without proper English skills.
It is good that google is providing education to soo many kids, many Indian IT companies are doing the same thing such as Wipro and Bharti and Infosys.
As far as caste system that worries you about indian then i think you don't know enough about india, We have 50 % seats in public and private education institutions for so called backward castes. So tell me do you still think that in india one is born to a level ?
If google will start this project then no matter what they will have to keep 50% seats for backward castes.

As far your concern that "going from one place to another in india is hard coz of language barrier"
exactly when you had that chat with your indian co-worker ?
That is not a problem these days, you can guess why.

Score: 0

By milan221

posted Oct 5, 2006 - 2:15 AM

I think someone is trying to avoid taxes, like Microsoft...

Score: 0

By PC Rat

edited Oct 5, 2006 - 12:45 AM

...

Google ought to be organizing a project
to send Patty Dunn packages in prison !

...

The Computer Rodent

...

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Oct 4, 2006 - 7:46 PM

those 400 million with basic knowledge work for tech support...

Score: 0

By pdizzle

posted Oct 5, 2006 - 10:40 AM

oooh nooooes! do NOT teach these people to speak/read ingrish! last thing we need is to call a support line and get, "Hulloh, I am Prakishmarampa Lumpidorbamamaklapa Shabazrapoonimbor...."

Score: 0

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