Here are some comments about computing which I also subscribe to. Especially I would like people to read about the beauty of computing science. I know, I know I should have named my blog as "Computing Science at Indore" but not too many people know the distinction and it is more difficult to explain. I took the easy way out. http://www.theagni.com/search/label/Computing

A view on Data Security Practices (in India and the world)

It seems that people from less developed countries Brazil, China and India have a disregard for the security settings of company laptops. Further still the practices of file sharing on work computers, checking personal email, downloading media files like music and videos all from the work place puts them into a high risk category.

However I would like to say that the company that allows these practices is also to blame. A good network security administrator can easily block many things. So it is really more about organizational culture and practices. Brazil and China seem to head the list of bad practices but there is a mention of Indians too. Read more from the story.

computing science resources for teachers

My experience with computer science teachers in Indore is that I found that they spend too little time on-line. There may be many reasons for that, like a very packed teaching schedule where a teacher like a factory worker is maximizing production for the factory (college), lack of internet access. Well what ever, at least they should have the inclination to find out good links and share it with their colleagues and students. Setting a good example here is one thing which I found really excellent: thoughts of Alfred Thompson. Although I do not support the Windows and Microsoft exclusivity to the software mentioned there, his general selection of issues is very good.

Linux Indore 2008

Yet another mega linux event at Indore on 30th Sept. 2008. But sadly and very sadly I had to be away at Bhopal for really very very important work. I hope people can visit the LinuxIndore website and see what went on for themselves. Great job Prabhat and Co.

PIN (postal index number) codes and MP wallahs

Some MP wallahs also Indore wallahs (sweet, innocent and blissfully ignorant folks) have the least foggiest idea of what is a PIN code. They have the habit of writing their address with directions like "next to ABC shop" or " opposite such and such industry"... UGH! It reminds me of a movie joke in which a drunk gives directions to his house with a reference to his friends house without describing any other landmark or road. An exasperated fellow finally asks where are the two with the response, "aamne saamne" (in Hindi, `opposite to each other`).

Whats this to do with Computer Science? Well 99% of computing is about search and retrieval. Also searching is best served by indexing. So how can we find out the PIN code of a post office in India? Thankfully the Department of Posts government of India has come out with a tool that is accessible with this link. You should try it, I found it works quite well.

What is quite interesting is that there are a lot of Google maps links to educational institutions and residences in Indore. Well that is another story for another day....

Taking up IT for a career? May not be such a good idea

ComputerWeekly recently ran a story on the UK's Higher Education Statistics Agency survey showing that 10% of UK IT graduates were still unemployed several months after graduation(see this). In comparison, 8% of graduates of creative arts and communications were unemployed. The average level of unemployment among all graduates of the academic year 2006-07 was 6%.

Note also the statistics of students all around our country taking up studies for Engineering or Technology in computer science or Information Technology. Are there enough jobs for these folks? What do they really know? (not just in IT but anything else even in general?). Is it really good for India to have such a large scale monoculture of trade skills? Who is going to build our buildings and cars if everybody knows just how to code in Java?

Starting Out

I came to Indore in Sept. of 2007 and was happy to find that there was already existing a Linux users group and they were to host an event (http://linuxindore2007.com. Subsequently I attended one of the meetings and met the key person: Prabhat.

I met Prof. Shubhamoy Dey of the IIM Indore. We had a good time discussing computer
security and other things.

I am designing a curriculum for an M.Tech program on cyber crime. It has had one round of feedback from my friends. This is intended to be a two year course without necessarily having to have a computer science background. Sometime soon it should be ready.