HP Labs India

HP Participates in World Summit on Information Society

Dec 15, 2003, Geneva

The World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) convened by the United Nations (UN) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) provided a unique opportunity for all stakeholders to contribute actively to bridge the digital and knowledge divides. The first phase of the Summit was aimed at adopting a Declaration of Principles and a Plan of Action for implementation by governments, institutions and all sectors of civil society to deal with the new challenges of the ever-evolving information society. This stage of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was held in Geneva during 10-12 December 2003, hosted by the Government of Switzerland. The next phase will be held in Tunisia in 2005.

The Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) is an event organized by the Swiss Government as a sister event of the WSIS and consisted of a number of panels, talks, and a big set of exhibits from all over the world. HP was one of the key multinational firms present at ICT4D.

HP Labs India, along with HP EMS, HP’s team concerned with Global Citizenship, and HP EMEA teams projected their work at ICT4D. The major objectives were to project HP as a significant player in ICT for development – and to learn, network & form initial contacts with the wider community on the current state of ICT for development.

HP Labs India presented some of its projects at the ICT4D platform: They included prototypes of a handwritten e-mail device, voice-based services in local languages, on-line form filling in local languages using handwritten data input and an adult literacy testing solution.

HP got very high visibility in the event since the company showcased ideas of direct relevance to the theme of the event. Public-Private partnership was repeatedly highlighted in a number of sessions, and HP was consistently projected as a model player.

During the event HP Labs India’s efforts in voice based services were covered by BBC’s documentary “Communicating for Change” (Earth Report, BBC World, December 1, 2003
http://www.tve.org/earthreport/archive/doc.cfm?aid=1372).

Per-Kristian (Kris) Halvorsen, Vice President and Director, Solutions and Services Research Center (SSRC) participated in another panel discussion organized by BBC about innovating for emerging markets by being in an emerging market.

Dr. Srinivasan Ramani, Research Director, HP Labs India, spoke in a panel discussion by ITU named “The WSIS Global Challenge: Making the Information Society a Reality for all”.

There were important visitors like Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the UN, Sarbuland Khan, Director, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Amir Dossal, Executive Director, UN Fund for International Partnerships and a number of Heads of State and other high-level dignitaries from numerous Governments.

The event gave significant visibility to HP’s research related to innovation for emerging markets, its work in global citizenship related to the theme and its solutions that are appropriate in the e-Government and education spaces.

You can view some of the pictures taken at the event here…