Mobile unit takes Internet access to USJ folks

By K. Anuradha

RESIDENTS of USJ may be seeing a lot of a huge silver bus in their vicinity in the weeks to come. This bus will be parked at different sections of this residential estate. 

The bus represents a tri-sectoral commitment to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for the masses. 

The project kicked off in USJ 5 last Friday where local residents were introduced to the mobile Internet service, the Mimos Mobil Internet Unit (MIU) bus. 

This egalitarian approach to ICT education is possible thanks to a number of organisations namely the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mimos, the National IT Council (NITC), Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) and The Media Shoppe. 

The whole project is organised by the USJ 18 Neighbourhood Watch, and it is part of the SJ 2005 project under the Demonstrator Application Grant Scheme (DAGS). 

The bus will make it possible for Subang Jaya residents to access the Internet and for those who are not familiar with the workings of a computer, to learn it, especially the elderly, children and homemakers.  

It also offers free courses in USJ 5 in Web Content Development. In addition, those who turned up for the launch were given lessons in basic ICT application. 

The MIU is also scheduled to visit USJ 16, USJ 17, USJ 23 and Bandar Sunway in the coming weeks.

Raymond Tan, who lives in USJ 18, described it as a valuable opportunity for adults who were not familiar with the IT world, to learn the basics of computer networking. 

Tan is the main bridge between the authorities and technology providers, as well as the residents of Subang Jaya and USJ, and has been one of the prime movers in the e-community project. 

He said at least 70% of the people in Subang Jaya and USJ have Internet access. While computers and the Internet have become a staple among school students, teens and young adults, it has also benefited the community in general. 

“The best and most important function of Internet in our community is that it enables us to share information, and in turn bring us closer,” added Tan.  

News of events happening in the community, from incidence of crime to notices of gotong-royong, is disseminated through e-mails and via the community portal already in place. 

Now, Tan wants to educate the adults, especially those who are involved and interested in residents associations activities, so that they can access the community portal and read up on the current happenings in their area. 

Networking this way is not really new as many of these residents are already connected, but Tan wants to widen the net to cover as many people as possible, so that relevant information can be shared.  

Adeline Chee from Mimos said the project was one with the involvement of the UNDP and one of the criteria was that it must be a tri-sectoral co-operation.  

The governmental partners in this case are NITC and MPSJ while The Media Shoppe as the server host represents the private sector, and the USJ 18 Residents Association represent the community.

Those interested in participating in the courses available can contact H.H. Lee at 013-366 8199 or e-mail hhlee@smisme.com  

For more information, you can also visit the following www.ibe.unesco.org , www.usj18.nwatch.net.my  or www.miu.nitc.org.my