VanniTech, Kilinochchi. – May 25, 2005:
VanniVision ’05, a three-day high-tech exhibition
conducted by VanniTech, drew more than 2500 visitors
making it the biggest high-tech event in the North-East
region of Sri Lanka since the signing of the ceasefire
agreement three years ago. The exhibition, held
between the 18th and 20th of May at the VanniTech
campus, drew visitors from various districts of
Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee and
Vavuniya that included officials from the Education
Ministry of the North-East Province and the Jaffna
University.
Visitors
intently listening to the explanation of one of
the exhibits
The twenty-five stalls at the exhibition
that showcased the high-tech expertise of the recently
graduated VanniTech students included high-tech solutions
that were part of the students’ field deployable
projects (FDPs). The FDPs which are part of the students’
study program were undertaken by the students during
their final quarter at the institute. Under these FDPs,
students automate business/work environments of real
customers using the technologies they have studied.
16 such projects were executed by the students
for governmental and non-governmental organizations
and other business entities. The FDPs include
a web-based reservation software solution for
a local hotel, a web presence solution for the
Jaffna Mahajana College at Thellipalai, Jaffna,
and a human resources management software solution
for a local business entity. The FDPs also include
computer networks and data management solutions
for the local Irrigation Department and the Provincial
Department of Education of North-East, Trincomalee.
Hardware based FDPs include a voice and text based
greeting system for a local restaurant, an automatic
solar tracker for solar panels, a remote controlled
mine detector trolley for the Humanitarian Demining
Unit and an automated door. It is notable that
these projects, implemented free of cost, carried
a net worth of LKR 400,000.
An intricate question being posed to the demonstrator
of the sophisticated RAID and Fiber Array Systems
Apart from the FDPs, other emerging technologies
in the world were exhibited by the graduates who
explained with practical demonstration the solutions
implemented using the technologies. These technologies
include Power Line Communication (PLC) that uses
existing domestic electrical wiring for data communications,
a hand-held computer based solution named e-Medicine
which stores and tracks the health information
of patients at hospitals and an automated library
solution using barcode technology. Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) technology for identifying
and tracking physical objects was also exhibited,
and among others, a traffic light controller which
manipulates the traffic lights based on the number
of vehicles on the road.
VanniTech had announced a ‘Silicon Valley
Award’ worth LKR 50,000 to the top-most
invention at the exhibition. This award was won
by the ‘Dynamic Electronic Display System
(DEDS)’, designed and showcased by the Electronics
study program graduate, Mr. Jegajeevanraj Subramaniam.
Animated display systems with lights are used
in shops and festivals. The conventional display
systems use rollers with electric motors which
are around 32 cubic feet in size and cost around
LKR 100,000 each. The microcontroller based DEDS
designed by the graduate is less than one cubic
feet in size and costs only about LKR 15,000.
The DEDS could generate many different types of
animations based on the customers’ input,
unlike conventional animated display systems.
Also the DEDS uses low DC voltage which is safer
to the users unlike the conventional systems which
use the 230V AC power supply. The DEDS delighted
the visitors, some of whom have requested similar
systems for their organizations.
Mr.
Jegajeevanraj Subramaniam (R) receiving
the plaque depicting the Silicon Valley
Award from Mr. Aravinthan Ampikathasan (L),
Lecturer, VanniTech
The
award winner shown with the DEDS exhibit (L) contrasted
with the convensional electromechanical system (R)
The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr.
S. Thangan, Deputy Leader of the LTTE Political Wing.
Other dignitaries present at the event included Mr. T.
Vethanayagam, Additional Government Agent of Kilinochchi
District and Rev. Fr. Edmond Reginald, Coordinator at
Annai Illam Psychosocial Counseling Center, Kilinochchi.
“It is a great pleasure to see
such technological advancement in North-East. This is
the first exhibition I have enjoyed thoroughly. I was
struck by the fact that all the exhibits were the sole
creation of the students. All the exhibits without exception
were of top quality. I am sure that VanniTech will contribute
significantly towards the technological advancement of
the North-East,” said Mr. J. Kalaichelvan, Assistant
Librarian for IT and Network Consultant, University of
Jaffna. “The talents of the students are unbelievable,
especially after only 12 months of study. Obviously lots
of credit goes to the staff of the institute,” said
a software professional from the the Silicon Valley, California,
USA, who visited the exhibition.
About VanniTech
VanniTech is an Advanced Technological Institute, and a
registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Kilinochchi,
Sri Lanka. The objective of VanniTech is to generate high-tech
employment in the war torn North-East Sri Lanka and prepare
the people in the region to compete in the global market.
To meet this objective, VanniTech is offering university-level
courses in software development, electronics, and computer
communications in English medium. VanniTech instructors include
local professionals with degrees from highly reputable universities
around the world and international volunteers. VanniTech is
founded and funded by ITTPO. Additional information about
VanniTech can be found at www.vanni.org
and www.ittpo.org.
About ITTPO
ITTPO is an independent, non-profit (501 (c) (3)) organization
in the USA, and an approved Non-Governmental Organization
(NGO) in Sri Lanka. ITTPO based in the Silicon Valley region
of California, was founded in September 2002 to bring the
technical professionals and their supporters around the world
under one organization and offer their technical expertise
for the development of North-East Sri Lanka. ITTPO is funded
by members of the Sri Lankan expatriate community around the
world and other individual well-wishers and organizations.
Additional information about ITTPO can be found at www.ittpo.org
or obtained via email to directors@ittpo.org.
