Staff Reporter:
Google Bus Project in Bangladesh has been launched in order to provide internet lessons to half a million college and university students across the country. State Minister for (ICT) Junaid Ahmed inaugurated the project; Country Manager of Google Asia Pacific Emerging Markets James McClure was present on the occasion.
Google Bus Project in Bangladesh has been launched in order to provide internet lessons to half a million college and university students across the country. State Minister for (ICT) Junaid Ahmed inaugurated the project; Country Manager of Google Asia Pacific Emerging Markets James McClure was present on the occasion.
By one-year the project aims to conduct workshops on 500 universities and colleges in 35 locations across the country. The Google Bus is equipped with 3G Internet connectivity monitors and sound system where training audio-video material can be presented on the screens.
James said, “College and university students are leading Bangladesh’s Internet user and they use it primarily as an academic aid and social sharing platform,” Through the Google Bus workshops, students can connect online with their peers and learn about the power and utility of the Internet.
James said, “College and university students are leading Bangladesh’s Internet user and they use it primarily as an academic aid and social sharing platform,” Through the Google Bus workshops, students can connect online with their peers and learn about the power and utility of the Internet.
“Bangladesh is a country on the move with an immense pool of youthful citizens to help it progress and prosper,” said McClure. The Google Bus project is already ongoing in Dhaka where a number of campus workshops have taken place. Over the next few months it will visit Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Rangpur, Barisal and other major cities.
The workshop involves an instructor-led training session to familiarize with the many different Google tools like Google Search, Docs, Maps, Chrome, YouTube, Google+ and others. The student participants are encouraged to keep in touch via the Google+ Google Bus Bangladesh Community where they can stay updated on the latest information related to the project.
Junaid said within the next two months, Google will launch its "street view" of Dhaka and Chittagong cities. Street view is a kind of service that allows people to find all the roadside institutions including café, offices and tourist spots. Last year Google completed filming the major streets of Dhaka and Chittagong and processed those for uploading.
The state minister stated that the government is also in discussion with Google to launch four to five more projects in Bangladesh including their "Google Balloon" project. Google Balloon is a new concept to provide internet service through handset by putting balloons in the air with equipment.
