Have you ever wondered why the IT revolution has not reached Indian homes? Ever pondered over the fact that even literate people seem blissfully ignorant about technology and equipment that have revolutionised our day-to-day lives. Why is it that Indian masses who are directly or indirectly using electronic, telecom or IT equipment fail to take full advantage of the underlying technology? The simple answer is that they are NOT AWARE of the technology and/or its utility. Take the mobile phone for example. The technology savvy professionals and other people still use the mobile for teleconversation, as a substitute to the landline.

That they can browse the WML-enabled web sites, send/receive SMS and/or check e-mail using the same mobile is either not known to them, or they simply fail to figure out how to use these utilities.

The reason - Availability of information on technology and its usage in English, a language known to only about 2% of Indians.

The result - A digital divide that keeps the Indian masses away from reaping the benefits of advancements in the fields of Electronics, Telecom and IT.

The solution - Technology and content development in Indian languages to bridge the digital divide.

If you are still wondering what all this has got to do with the CoILNet Project, here's the answer.

The CoILNet Project being carried out by IETE and supported by Deptt. of IT, Govt. of India, is aimed at creating content on technical subjects in Indian Languages so that Indian masses get to know about new technologies and their utility in our professional and personal lives. The approach is to write on technology and technical issues in simple words and popular style so that the common man can understand it easily. Also, the emphasis will be on the practical application of technology. For starters, content on various Electronics, Telecommunication and IT subjects is going to be created in Hindi which is the biggest link language. To achieve its objective, the CoILNet Project entails the following: