Khmer-language software chasing Microsoft market

Khmer-language software chasing Microsoft market

By Markus Bernsen

Noy Shoung has a bold prediction: by the end of 2006, more Cambodians
will be using open-source software applications in Khmer language than
Microsoft software in English.

As deputy general of human capacity building at the government's
National Information Communications Technology Development Authority
(NIDA), Shoung said that Cambodia has the fastest growing number of
open-source users in the world.

The software makes the program's source code available to the general
public to change and modify. This is different than commercial software
such as that produced by Microsoft, which carefully guards its code as
a company secret.

Since the beginning of this year, NIDA has been working with Open Forum
of Cambodia's Khmer software initiative to translate into Khmer the
Open Office software suite, the open-source equivalent to Microsoft
Office.

Javier Sola, coordinator of Open Forum of Cambodia, believes the
applications will be a hit with local computer users because they are
the only provider of basic software applications in Khmer.

One ambitious goal is to have the entire government administration
using Khmer-language software by the end of next year.

"We want Cambodians doing this in Khmer," Sola said. "You can't
computerise the government without doing it in its own language."

Having finished the software development, Khmer Open Forum began
training around 350 teachers in August this year on how to use the
technology, developing and revising training materials as they go.

After the 20-hour training, students are awarded a certificate from
NIDA recognizing their ability to teach others how to use the Khmer
software applications.

"Now I can share my computer [knowledge] with children in the rural
areas," said Tourn Chan Thear, a teacher from NGO Enfants des Mekong in
Sisophon, Banteay Meanchey province. "It is more interesting for us and
much easier for the students to learn."

He said the youths he teaches in grades 8 to 12 would have a much
better chance of eventually finding employment after learning Khmer
open office.

On September 28 Javier Sola travels to Slovenia for the annual open
office convention to present the progress of open source software in
Cambodia.


Phnom Penh Post, Issue 14/19, September 23 - October 6, 2005
© Michael Hayes, 2005. All rights revert to authors and artists on
publication.
For permission to publish any part of this publication, contact Michael
Hayes, Editor-in-Chief
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