Twenty Years of Democratizing Access and Building Technology!
At the dawn of this millennium, a wave of euphoria swept across the world of Computers and Information Technology, shaping the aspirations of an entire generation of educated youth. Andhra Pradesh was no exception, driven by policymakers, this excitement was so immense that we were led to believe India would emerge as an IT superpower, especially following the establishment of offshore development centers and shops by some tech companies. This enthusiasm was not unfounded; it was fueled by the fact that computers were becoming an integral part of every production process.
However, for those of us who thought critically, certain pressing questions arose. By the year 2000, the literacy rate in the then-united state of Andhra Pradesh stood at 60.47%, while English proficiency was limited to less than 10%. With 90% of the population unable to access computers due to language barriers, could we truly become an IT superpower? Could a subservient outsourcing ecosystem ever enable us to evolve into a true knowledge economy?
The answer to these questions is Swecha!
If we were to transition into a knowledge economy, access to computers had to be universal—not just in terms of hardware, but also software in native languages. The first-ever operating system in Telugu was named Swecha, marking a historic milestone. In fact, the first-ever computer operating system in any Indian language was developed in Telugu, and it was Swecha! Today, with even greater vigor and ambition, Swecha is pioneering the development of AI in Telugu.
The driving force behind this journey has been the relentless, selfless, and unwavering dedication of volunteers. What began as an effort by just three individuals has now evolved into a thriving movement with thousands of volunteers, including researchers, IT professionals, academicians, and students!
At the recent AI-Days Conference in Hyderabad, a remarkable 80% of the expert speakers from the Asia-Pacific region—the who's who of the field—were associated with Swecha, an inspiring testament to its impact!
Swecha is deeply grateful to everyone who has dedicated their lives to this cause, to those working part-time to support it, and to every individual who has been part of this journey at some point in their lives.
With the slogan "Swecha to Payanam—Nenu Manam gaa Jananam" (Association with Swecha—A Transition from I to We), Swecha invites everyone who wishes to be part of this mission—Democratizing Access to Technology and Democratizing the Process of Building Technology!
We will soon be publishing a series of experiences from this incredible 20-year journey!
February 9, 2005 – The day the Swecha Operating System was launched!
#community #FOSS #FreeSoftware #Swecha #Telugu
At the dawn of this millennium, a wave of euphoria swept across the world of Computers and Information Technology, shaping the aspirations of an entire generation of educated youth. Andhra Pradesh was no exception, driven by policymakers, this excitement was so immense that we were led to believe India would emerge as an IT superpower, especially following the establishment of offshore development centers and shops by some tech companies. This enthusiasm was not unfounded; it was fueled by the fact that computers were becoming an integral part of every production process.
However, for those of us who thought critically, certain pressing questions arose. By the year 2000, the literacy rate in the then-united state of Andhra Pradesh stood at 60.47%, while English proficiency was limited to less than 10%. With 90% of the population unable to access computers due to language barriers, could we truly become an IT superpower? Could a subservient outsourcing ecosystem ever enable us to evolve into a true knowledge economy?
The answer to these questions is Swecha!
If we were to transition into a knowledge economy, access to computers had to be universal—not just in terms of hardware, but also software in native languages. The first-ever operating system in Telugu was named Swecha, marking a historic milestone. In fact, the first-ever computer operating system in any Indian language was developed in Telugu, and it was Swecha! Today, with even greater vigor and ambition, Swecha is pioneering the development of AI in Telugu.
The driving force behind this journey has been the relentless, selfless, and unwavering dedication of volunteers. What began as an effort by just three individuals has now evolved into a thriving movement with thousands of volunteers, including researchers, IT professionals, academicians, and students!
At the recent AI-Days Conference in Hyderabad, a remarkable 80% of the expert speakers from the Asia-Pacific region—the who's who of the field—were associated with Swecha, an inspiring testament to its impact!
Swecha is deeply grateful to everyone who has dedicated their lives to this cause, to those working part-time to support it, and to every individual who has been part of this journey at some point in their lives.
With the slogan "Swecha to Payanam—Nenu Manam gaa Jananam" (Association with Swecha—A Transition from I to We), Swecha invites everyone who wishes to be part of this mission—Democratizing Access to Technology and Democratizing the Process of Building Technology!
We will soon be publishing a series of experiences from this incredible 20-year journey!
February 9, 2005 – The day the Swecha Operating System was launched!
#community #FOSS #FreeSoftware #Swecha #Telugu
Srikanth ஸ்ரீகாந்த்
స్వేచ్ఛ | Swecha