Mobile Interface for Children's Computers

Linux projects are working on simplified graphical user interfaces (GUIs), such as the Ubuntu Mobile Internet Device (MID), for small low power mobile devices. Perhaps such simplified interfaces would be suitable for educational computers used by young children.

The best known GUI for children is Sugar, developed for the One Laptop per Child project. Sugar is used on the OLPC XO-1 laptop computer. Like mobile device GUIs, it concentrates on providing one application at a time. This is both to make the interface easier for the user and to make use of the limited screen, input devices and processing capacity.

But Sugar is difficult for adults, who are used to current desktop GUIs. Also Sugar is only readily available on one model of computer which is not commercially available and so not easy for schools or parents to get. Using the same GUI for mobile devices and children's computers would allow such devices to be widely available. Schools and parents would have a choice of what hardware to buy to run the interface. Also teachers and parents would be more easily able to operate the interface and the children to use other computers.

Quicktop instant-on operating systems for green ICT

Splashtop, BlackTop and Windows PE are cut down operating systems being used to provide quick access to a few frequently used applications on desktop and laptop computers. The could be a much more energy efficient computers. The idea is that you can quickly browse the web, play a video or check your email without having to wait for the main operating system to boot. On some laptops, such as Dell's, a separate low power processor is used, which greatly increases battery life. If such applications prove popular, then the main computer and operating system could be left unused most of the time.

It may seem bizarre to have a computer with a powerful processor and hard disk left unused, but is much the same as is done with high performance motor vehicles. The four wheel drive mechanisms of most four wheel drive vehicles are not used, as they drive on sealed roads. However, the drivers still value the availability of the system. Similarly some car makers have introduced systems for shutting down cylinders in car engines, so for example an eight cylinder engine operates as a three cylinder engine. It would make far more financial and environmental sense to simply buy a two wheel drive car, with a small engine (my car has a 1 litre three cylinder engine for example). Buying an off road vehicle with a large engine and then drive it on suburban streets makes not practical sense. However, people still buy these vehicles and use them. So it the manufacturers try to make them as efficient as possible. In the same way it may make sense to provide notebook and desktop computers with instant on operating systems and processors, which are what is used most of the time.

It may be feasible to retrofit desktop computers with low power instant on functionality. This would consist of a small nettop PC which was inserted between the peripherals and the main PC. The screen, keyboard, mouse, printer and other devices would be plugged into the nettop and then than would be plugged into the main computer. Most of the time the user would be interacting with the nettop computer and operating system. On those rare occasions when they wanted to do something it was not capable of, the nettop would start up the main computer. In reality this would hardly ever happen. Also, of course, it would make more sense to use a shared central virtual computer, not have one on every desk. But in many cases it is not possible to convince the user, or their ICT staff to give up the desktop PC.

For offices, one workable arrangement might be to build the nettop computer into a VoIP telephone handset. This would then have perhiperals, inlcuding a screen, keyboard and mouse plugged into it. An optional desktop computer could also be connected.

Digital Education Revolution Goes Linux

In a move that may make the federal government's Digital Education Revolution more economically and environmentally sustainable, Slashdot reports that NSW laptops for schools may be pre-installed with open source software. The original report appears to come from the Australian newspaper: "NSW considers giving students Linux laptops" (Fran Foo, October 14, 2008). The NSW Secondary Principals' Council president, is reported to have suggested packages such as Edubuntu, the education version of Ubuntu. Coincidently, next week Pia Waugh from the One Laptop per Child Australia Foundation will speak in Canberra at CASE AGM, at Volunteering ACT.

Subnotebooks under $350

Last year I predicted a "normal" personal computer would reach a tipping point in early 2008, with $US500 low power computers. We are not quite there yet, but units like the $US350 Eee Box desktop PC should be the norm by the end of 2008.

The popularity of the original ASUS Eee PC subnotebook forced competitors to bring out their own models and now the prices are dropping. The Aspire netbook, is down from $US399 to $US349 for the Windows XP model and from $US379 to $US329 for the Linux model.

The "Eee Box", desktop version of ASUS's Eee PC is now on sale for $US350 and getting good reviews for performance and power saving (see test and video demo). If this has the same effect on desktop computer prices the Eee PC had on subnotebooks, then we can expect usable desktops (minus the screen) for around $US300 by the end of the year. The Box has Microsoft Windows XP Home, an Intel Atom N270 (1.6 GHz) CPU, 1 GB RAM and a 80 GB Hard Disk and uses 22.3 Watts.

The typical computer bought for home or business in 2007 had a DVD drive, multi-hundred gigabyte hard disk, Microsoft Windows Vista and multi-hundred Watt power supply and cost around $1,000.

By the end of 2008 the idea that you might spend thousands of dollars on a computer will be considered more than just odd. If energy awareness campaigns work, then to buy a computer which consumes hundreds of Watts of power will be considered anti-social (if not actually illegal).

ASUS initially brought out the Eee PC with Linux and only flash memory, with no hard disk. But competitors brought out subnotebooks with small disk drives and Windows XP. It looks like most people will not give up their disk drives by the end of the year, nor Microsoft Windows. HP brought out their subnotebook with Windows Vista, but other vendors have stuck with Windows XP. Microsoft will probably bring out some sort of Vista Lite in response.

The cheap and green low power computer is here, but revolution to Linux and Internet storage will have to wait until 2009.

Linux notebooks down to $US250

LinuxDevices reports that the Bestlink Alpha 400 Linux-based notebook PC is being offered for $US250 ($US180 in volume) It has a 400MHz CPU and a 7-inch color LCD and appears similar is size to the ASUS EEE PC, but with fewer features. The unit only has 128MB RAM and 1 or 2GB of internal flash.There is an SD card slot for more memory, Ethernet and two USB ports (no WiFi built in). Details of the software are sketchy.

MythBuster Backs Linux

In MythBusters: 7 Tech Headaches—and How to Fix Them, (Popular Mechanics, February 2008), Jamie Hyneman from the TV show MythBusters suggests this solution to computer operaitng systems overloaded with stuff: "Switch to a Linux-based OS such as Ubuntu. Since most Linux OSs are free, there's no business reason to bloat up the system with feature frills. "

However, his solution to cordless tools with different kinds of battery packs, has been tried and was not a great success: "...design cordless tools with power packs in 6-volt modules ...". Black and Decker make their VersaPak range of power tools, to use one or two 3.6 volt battery sticks. These battery packs are simply made of three NiMH batteries joined together. It would not be difficult for manufacturers to agree on such a design as a standard, but they have not. Of course another option would be simply to use standard size replaceable cells.

Eee PC demonstration, Sydney, 29 February 2008

I will be giving a demonstration of the Eee PC and talking about what effect other such little low cost computers may have on big business, in Sydney, 29 February 2008:

Sydney Linux Users Group (SLUG)

Start: 2008-02-29 18:30

End: 2008-02-29 20:30

Timezone: Etc/GMT+11

Location: Atlassian, 173-185 Sussex Street, Sydney

Description:

SLUG's monthly meeting, featuring talks and SLUGlets. Meetings are open to the general public, and are free of charge.

Our meetings take place next to Darling Harbour, near public transport and other amenities.

Our location: Atlassian, 173-185 Sussex Street, Sydney (corner of Sussex and Market Street). Entry is via the rear on Slip Street. There are stairs going down along the outside of building from Sussex St to near the entrance. A map of the area and directions can be found here.

We start at 18:30 but we ask that people arrive 15 minutes early so we can all get into the building and start on time. Please do not arrive before 18:00, as it may hinder business activities for our host!

Appropriate signage and directions will be posted on the building.

This month's sessions are:

General Talk
Tom Worthington: A Watershed for the Networked Organisation

With trends for carbon neutral, thin client, wireless and open source converging to signal a radical change in the use and distribution of the desktop personal computer and the desktop phone, the CIO is being presented with real challenges for transformation.

Low power, diskless and low cost advances are creating alternatives and opportunities for the organisation to simplify their systems. Some of the results from testing those alternatives with carbon neutral thin client computers, handheld Linux systems and diskless sub notebook computers will be included and discussed in this presentation.

If low power and portable networked systems are set to revolutionise the organisation, the CIO needs to be ready.

Tom Worthington will demonstrate, citing devices such as the Zonbu Thin Client Computer and the Asus Eee PC.

In-Depth Talk
Matt Palmer: SNMP: 'e's not dead, 'e's just restin'

What SNMP is, why it's still useful these days, how easy it really is to get SNMP stuff working, and a tour of a simple way to provide custom data through SNMP.

Meeting Schedule

See here for an explanation of the segments.

• 18:15: Open Doors
• 18.30: Announcements, News, Introductions
• 18:45: General Talk
• 19:30: Intermission
• 19:45: Split into two groups for:
• In-Depth Talk
• SLUGlets
• 20:30: Dinner

Dinner is at Golden Harbour Restaurant, in Chinatown. We will be having the $24 Banquet. We will be taking numbers during the break to confirm the reservation size. If you have any particular dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian), or if you would prefer to order separately, let us know beforehand.

We hope to see you there!

Another $199 Linux PC

According to Erica Ogg Shuttle are introducing a $199 KPC Linux computer. Like others, this has a low power processor (Intel Celeron), 512MB of memory, 60GB or 80GB hard drive and no DVD drive. No word so far on what version of Linux is used.

More ASUS Eee PC Models Available

There are now models of the AUSUS Eee PC available with 2, 4 and 8 Gbytes of flash memory via Amazon.com.

The lowest cost 2G model (US$299.99) seems to be available with the cover in: Pink, Blue or Green.

The 4G model (US$399) is available in black and white.

The 8G model (US$499) seems to be only in white. In Australia the distributor, Myers, seems to only have the 4G model in White (AU$499).

Thin Clients from the Sunshine State

On my way out from USC I stopped at their innovation center to visit thin client startup company, ThinLinX. This is a startup company specializing in thin Linux client computers. John Nichols, CEO, showed me some prototypes. They are currently seeking financial backing for the next stage of development. He talked about some of the trials they have conducted in Australia and New Zealand.

The "Hot-e" computer runs Linux on an ARM processor, with a Debian linux environment for software developers. The computer cases will be made in China, but the circuit board will be made, and the units assembled, in Australia.

Models

Currently there are two models: HL100 and HL200, both with 64 MB RAM, 8 MB Flash Memory,l USB 2.0 ports, Compact Flash slot Type I/II, SD/MMC socket and 10/100 Ethernet. The HL100 has not video output and intended for machine monitoring applications, web cams and the like. The HL200 adds a XVGA DB15 CRT plug for video output.

Planned for February 2008 are the HL101 and HL201, upgrades adding WiFi, Bluetooth and 256MB of flash memory.

The HL300 is planned for March 2008, with a AMD Geode LX 700 processor, up to 512MB RAM, and up to 2GB of flash. Most significantly, the Geode is an x86-compatible processor and is used in the One Laptop per Child computer and some other low power Linux computers. This will make it easier to run commonly used applications on the system.

The ThinLinX computers are true thin client computers, requiring data storage and processing of applications top be run elsewhere. This makes for a lower cost system, but at the cost of more complexity and risk of a single point of failure. Most of the perceived risk and complexity is illusory. Running a couple of dozen ThinLinX computers from a server is likely to be easier and more reliable than setting up conventional desktop PCs. However, the perception will be that this is harder.

Applications

ThinLinX are offering their low end models for SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) applications, where a small computer is needed to monitor and control some machinery. This need not be in a factory, it could be the solar hot water system in a home. Larger units can be used for thin client applications, replacing some desktop computers. ThinLinX also offer access to Microsoft Windows applications remotely, but I have my doubts about how useful this is.

One application John mentioned was to provide the processing nodes for a WiFi mesh network, for public safety applications. John had one of the HOT-E devices mounted in a watertight "Pelican" type case with a small LCD display, as a prototype for use by emergency workers in the field.


Thick Thin Computers Easier to Sell

"Thick" thin client computers, like the Zombu, would be much easier to introduce gradually to an organization and look less of a risk than the ThinLinx. With 4 GB of flash memory, the Zombu can have its operating system, office applications and a useful amount of user data storage on board. This makes the Zombu a self contained computer which can operate without the need of a remote server for much of the time. The ThinLinx system could be cheaper an easier to manage in the long term, but it would be more difficult to get started.

Thinner Thick Thin Client

John Nichols' problem is to work out what features to build into the thin client. Each extra feature might only add a few dollars, but for a low cost device every dollar matters. How many customers will use the WiFi, Bluetooth, Compact Flash slot, SD/MMC socket or Ethernet? Some customers will use some features, but how many are willing to pay for all?

My suggestion would be to produce a thinner version of the HL300, which could be thickened by the customer. This would have the x86 compatible processor of the HL300, but with fewer interfaces and less memory. The WiFi, Bluetooth, Compact Flash slot and SD/MMC socket would be omitted. There would be 512 of RAM standard. Only 8 MB of Flash Memory would be provided by default. Extra communications (WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G) and memory (Compact Flash, SD/MMC or simple USB sticks) would be provided via USB. A typical configuration for a Zombu type thick client system would have a 4 Gbyte USB flash device for the operating system and office applications.

Green Linux PC Tipping Point to the Networked Organisation in February 2008

What is considered a "normal" personal computer will reach a tipping point in around February 2008. The norm will become low power Linux computers using the Internet for data storage.

The normal computer bought for home or business in 2007 has a DVD drive, multi-hundred gigabyte hard disk, Microsoft Windows and multi-hundred Watt power supply and costs around $1,000. If you buy a $500 low power Linux computer, like the Zonbu or Asus Eee PC, which runs Linux, uses tens of watts and depends on the Internet for storage, you will be considered a bit odd; perhaps a greenie, academic or an anarchist.

However, this may change soon and quite suddenly. By the end of 2008 I expect that the idea that you might spend thousands of dollars on a computer and propose to store data on it long term will be considered more than just odd. To consume hundreds of Watts of power to do so will be considered anti-social. Propose spending hundreds of dollars on operating system and basic office software licenses at at a company and you will be sacked, try it in a government agency and you will be charged with corruption.

The normal PC will have a processor equivalent to a 1.5GHz VIA C7-M or 900MHz Intel Celeron-M ULV 353, 512MB RAM and either 4 2 GB of flash disk or a 60GB hard disk. Most PCs will not have a DVD or CD ROM. There will be minimal hardware support for graphics and the computer will use less than 20 Watts of power. These computers will cost less than $500, some as low as $200.

If this sounds far fetched, consider the change which happened with the Internet and the web in the mid 1990s: this went from being an academic experiment to the mainstream. The change with PCs can happen much quicker, as it has the Internet and web to provide the infrastructure, support and the marketing of the idea.

Docking Station the Killer App for Thin Clients?

Doubling as laptop docking stations might be the "killer application" to make thin client computers popular. Belkin have released a Docking Station to connect a laptop to peripherals which, at about $US200, is comparable in price to Thin Clients. It probably is a small Linux computer programmed to be a docking station.

The Belkin High-Speed Docking Station connects to a laptop using an ExpressCard port. It provides USB, Audio In/Out, Ethernet and Video connections. Unlike docking stations made for specific models of computers, it is not just a cable adapter, the unit has its own video and Ethernet hardware. So essentially the unit is small computer programmed to relay data from the laptop (this is borne out be the difficulty some users are having getting it to work). With some reprogramming it should be possible to use it on its own as a thin client computer.

Alternatively it should be possible to program a thin client computer to display data from a laptop computer and relay keyboard and mouse input. The laptop could be connected by USB 2.0 or WiFi. The thin client would then be a docking station for the laptop, but with the advantage that it would be usable without the laptop connected.

This could provide very popular for homes and offices. The desktop computer would be replaced with a cheaper and easier to maintain thin client computer which would provide basic functions. Those who need more computing power would plug in their laptop. Others could plug in a USB flash disk, USB portable hard disk or their smartphone.

See also:

• Belkin High-Speed Docking Station
• Other docking stations
• Thin Client Hardware
• Books about Thin Clients

Clustering TDB right answer to wrong question

Andrew Tridgell from IBM OzLabs gave an impressive live demonstration of Clustering TDB on Monday. He claims that the clustered version of Samba will allow for very large servers to be built to serve Microsoft Windows PCs as well as Linux computers. These can service 30,000 PC users with one server machine having 100 processor nodes. The server could have 10,000 disk drives and hold millions of gigabytes of data (petabytes).

The bit I didn't understand was why anyone would want such a server. If you have a very large number of users running from the one server in an organization, it is likely they are mostly running the same small set of applications. In this case it would be far more efficient to run those applications on shared processors, than on desktop PCs. This would likely result in a 90% saving in hardware.

In the extreme case if 30,000 desktop PCs are running the same application, there will have to be 30,000 copies of the same software loaded from the server and installed in 30,000 sets of RAM. Ideally, if a shared processor was used, only one copy of the application would need to be loaded in one set of RAM. In reality several copies would be needed and each user needs some RAM for their own data, but this could still save 90% of the data traffic and RAM.

One reason to use PCs is to be able to use Microsoft Office and other windows applications. It is possible to run these from a remote server and use software such as Citrix to provide it to a desktop. An example of this is the new State Library of Queensland, which uses Citrix for some reader machines.

A better approach would be to use applications which were designed to run efficiently in a shared environment. One way to make this palatable to users would be to offer them Web based applications which they could use remotely. While these would have a less interactive interface than PC applications, they would have the advantage for the user of being available anywhere there was a web browser available. They would also work well with the Web 2.0 collaborative idea, allowing staff to share information more easily.

The advantage for the technical staff would be that they would be extremely efficient in processor and memory use. In addition web based applications using efficiently encoded data will need less storage space. The 100 node 10,000 disk PC system may only need 10 processors and 1,000 disks if implemented with a web based interface.

Clustering TDB, Canberra, 9 July 2007

Recommended:

DCS SEMINAR SERIES

Department of Computer Science
The Australian National University
Canberra

Clustering TDB - a Little Database Meets Big Iron
Andrew Tridgell (IBM OzLabs)

DATE: 2007-07-09
TIME: 16:00:00 - 17:00:00
LOCATION: CSIT Seminar Room, N101

ABSTRACT:
The little tdb database has been at the heart of Samba for many years. More recently it has become a focus in the efforts to create a clustered Samba solution. Attempts to cluster Samba in the past have been patchy at best, oftentimes resulting in a solution which relies on "relaxed" data coherence rules, which is a polite way of saying that they can lose user data. In the last few months we have finally worked out a architecture for a clustered tdb which will allow us to achieve three goals simultaneously:

1) scaling to large numbers of nodes in a cluster (potentially into the hundreds)
2) robustness to node crashes and new nodes entering the cluster
3) correct data coherence rules, so user data is not at risk
4) High Availability, including IP takeover, service management and related tasks

This talk will present the solution we have come up with, and will discuss our experiments and the results of the first production installation.

BIO:
Andrew Tridgell is a free software developer working for IBM OzLabs from his home in Canberra.

Tridge is widely known as the inventor of Samba and as a key contributor to Linux development. He has had a long association with ANU both as a student (having earned both his BSc and his PhD here) and a researcher in operating systems for highly parallel machines.

ps: I assume this is a rerun of Tridge's talk at the January Linux Conference.

Inaugural Australia-Japan Young Professional Exchange Network

Anastasia Govan sent me her report from the Inaugural Australia-Japan Young Professional Exchange Network. A version will be published by the ACS, but in the interim, here are some edited highlights. Apologies for any errors I may have introduced:

Background

The Australia Japan Foundation and Professions Australia worked together to facilitate Australia's young professionals to build long term collaborative relationships with their Japanese counterparts.

A delegation of young professionals took part in The Australia-Japan Young Professional Exchange Network to Tokyo from 13th- 17th November 2006.

The Australian Computer Society nominated Anastasia Govan, Australian Computer Society Board Director Young IT to Professions Australia for the Australian Young Professional of the Year award. Anastasia was successful and as Young Professional of the Year joined the exchange.

The objective of this initiative was to:

• Advance Australian professional and business interests in Japan through support of a young professionals network that will initiate a range of activities (including study tours, workshops and conferences, exchanges, joint projects, participation in FTA-related discussions
• Promote discussion sharing of ideas, and promotion of each countries interests
• Build constructive and mutually beneficial relationships between young professionals in Japan and Australia (includes support of individual projects)
• Engage business, the professional services sector, professional associations and their members as important stakeholders
• Establish a dialogue on important cross professional and specific professional issues and to achieve Japanese counterpart support for the initiative
• Identify a profession specific project to progress with Japanese candidates

Overview of ICT climate in Japan

• Linux uptake is huge in Tokyo

• Large commercial viability for consultancy and market infiltration of products supporting digital repositories, content management, workflow, Records/knowledge/electronic document management
  

• Australia should consider investing in the large and popular ICT buildings such as Sony and BIC Camera in Japan and Computer Centres in Chaing Mai and Bangkok where any computer related hardware, software and peripherals can be purchased on multiple floors

• IT and Finance were reported as the most difficult professions for women to enter and remain

• In the last 10 years since the Japanese recession there has been an increase in the number of small businesses - particularly started by younger generation

• There are large differences with the business etiquette of the older generation (traditional) to Gen Y (westernised)

• Multi national companies may view English speaking westerners favourably for ICT with many recruiting firms set up to specifically meet this market and assist with working visa's etc.

• Current ICT shortages in all areas

• Development area is developing gaming for phones using java - requirement to speak Japanese

• To acquire a working visa for ICT you need 10 years relevant work experience and a Bachelor or higher degree

• It takes minimum 6-8 weeks to recruit a foreigner

• Hospitalisation rates due to work related stress are high

• Many foreigners enter to work in Japan as English teachers in the hope of finding work in their specialist field

• Numbers are decreasing in ICT University courses - have very few mature age' Australian equivalents

• Technologists are called Engineers along with several other separate professions in Australia

• Recently held first ICT Career Fair in Tokyo

• Free Trade Agreement negotiations based upon US FTA which has further ramifications for Australians complying with copyright in digital form

• Trend is moving towards more temporary positions and hiring first through a recruitment agency before taking on ICT employee permanently

Challenges

• Knowledge of business etiquette

• Knowledge of Language

• Claustrophobia!!

• Young professionals are often older than 35 years of age and male

• Difficult to identify female and young professionals as really need to be introduced by a colleague
  

Activities

Digital Eve Japan

Over the last 10 years the Digital Eve group has grown from 8 to over 700 members. DigitalEve Japan promotes women's digital lifestyles by offering a supportive community and programs tuned to women using IT in their workplace and in their everyday lives.

The members are Japanese and foreign women living in Japan who span a wide range of ages, technical and cultural backgrounds, and lifestyles. Many work in technology-related jobs, such as web designers/producers, programmers, videographers, writers, information architects, content developers, graphic designers, project managers and recruiters, or are seeking jobs in the field.

Digital Eve's mission is to;

• Empower members to become top-level leaders, professionals, role models and mentors in their fields through the understanding and use of technology.
  
• Build, on all levels, an effective networking resource including strong technology industry relationships.
  
• Create an international, bilingual community to share technology experiences and cross-cultural understanding.
  
• Include all women--of all races, ethnicities, economic levels, ages, languages, abilities and lifestyles--as participants in our community.
  
• Offer access to resources, information and a community-based network for women.
  
• Develop low-cost, readily accessible educational opportunities in digital technology.
  
• Encourage women and girls to pursue technology-related careers.
  
• Advocate that women have economic, social and cultural equality in the field of technology
  
• Promote positive, balanced working conditions and lifestyles for women using technology in the workplace.

National Institute of Informatics

As Japan's only general academic research institution seeking to create future value in the new discipline of informatics, the National Institute of Informatics (NII) seeks to advance integrated research and development activities in information-related fields, including networking, software, and content.

These activities range from theoretical and methodological work to applications. As an inter-university research institute, NII promotes the creation of a state-of-the-art academic-information infrastructure (the Cyber Science Infrastructure, or CSI) that is essential to research and education within the broader academic community, with a focus on partnerships and other joint efforts with universities and research institutions throughout Japan, as well as industries and civilian organizations. Founded in April 2000, the NII marked its new beginning in April 2004 as a member of the Research Organization of Information and Systems.

• http://creativecommons.jp
• http://research.nii.ac.jp/~ueda/
• http://www.netcommons.org/

Ringo MUG (AppleMac group)

Tokyo's English speaking Mac User Group meet monthly at the Apple Plaza in the IT centre of Ginza and share information on life with a Mac or PC in Tokyo by meeting in person, through RSS feeds and bulletin boards online.

Skillhouse Staffing Solutions K.K.

Skillhouse Staffing Solutions K.K. (Skillhouse) provides specialty staffing services focusing on Information Technology (IT) and Administrative Support.

By focusing resources on these two specialty areas, Skillhouse are able to apply our best-of-breed due diligence, testing, qualifying and matching methodologies to ensure our clients have the best talent available to them.

Become Japan

Founded in 2004 Become Japan is an web based ebusiness assisting people to make ideal shopping decisions through provision of research, product and price comparison search engines.

Embedded Technology Conference

Embedded Technology 2006 is the largest trade show and conference for embedded system designers and managers. It introduces advanced technologies and solutions for emerging embedded applications, including digital consumer electronics, automotive, wireless/ubiquitous computing and factory automation.

• Trianz: Indian consulting company merging into Japan market
• Telelogic Japan (Telelogic lifecycle solutions:software change, requirements management and configuration management - delivering lifecycle control of your software assets being used by Westpac in Australia)

Australian Resource Centre, Australia Japan Foundation, Australian Embassy

The Australia-Japan Foundation, established by the Australian Government in 1976, contributes to the bilateral relationship by playing a strategic role expanding relations and understanding between people and organisations from both countries.

The Resource Centre operates a full on-line lending service available throughout Japan. It also houses a unique online database of over 1200 academic papers about Australia, in Japanese. The library runs a Salon Seminar series, provides materials on Australia to schools free-of-charge, and is a key contact point for Australian Studies scholarships and activity in Japan.

Links to other ICT groups

• ICA: Http://www.icajapan.jp/index.htm

• Mobile Monday http://www.mobilemonday.jp meet at the Canadian Embassy for networking
  

• Tokyo PC Users Group http://www.tokyopc.org

• SNS http://www.linkedin.com

• Andrew Shuttleworth www.cvp.jp and http://hq.andrewshuttleworth.com (his website states 'IT enthusiast and businessman who loves connecting with people')

• Australia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in
  

Suggestions for the Japan to Australia Young Professional exchange 2007

• Invitations to NII researchers and young professionals to take part in a 2007 exchange to Australia

• Japanese counterparts and the 2006 Exchange participants attend/present paper at the 2050 Conference

• Japanese counterparts attend/present paper for the 2008 Sydney International Young IT Australian Computer Society Conference, present to associations such as Australian Library and Information Association and Australian Computer Society as part of their National education across the nation presentation.

Feedback on future Australia to Japan exchanges

• Introductory business etiquette and language course by local Japanese community group/s before making contact for prospective meetings

• Previous years exchange delegation involved in mentoring/providing leads for the new delegation maybe done during the proposed workshop of previous Australian delegates and current Japanese delegates in each country

• Each year rotate professions taking part - possibly include Librarian, Records Manager or Archivist next year (only RMAA is a member of PA).

Also:

• Photos from Reception at the Australian Embassy