Please join Laonux localization

ສະບາຍດີ ທຸກ ຯ ຄົນ

I would like to ask everyone to join me and start to translate Lao Ubuntu so that we can complete it as our very own OS. As I mentioned that there are many activities within this localization project such as Ubuntu, Gnome, KDE, SuSE, and Debian and etc... The required large amount of time spending on translation and thus required help and support either monetary or just volunteering work. Those would like to pitch and help to support us in donating monetary or equipment, please write to me at anousak@gmail.com. Thanks in advance for your kind.

You don't have to have 100% of your time...just one or two words daily and translate whenever you can. But register yourself in our Lao Ubuntu forum here:

https://translations.launchpad.net/ubuntu/feisty/+lang/lo

You can translate via web or internet access or you can download andtranslate from your computer or laptop...but let me know if youstumble or need help. Please check things out and see what you canhelp. It is easier process. Remember this is your project also...please help me make it happen. It is a long process but we need any help we can get, you and me. Also please tell your friends to
join...

ຂອບໃຈ!!!!

Laonux logo

Besides all other logos, this logo is very special and was created by myself and it was around 1999 when I started to work first Lao version of Linux.

Very unique in characteristic and profile.

Cheers and long live Laonux!!!

The first Lao mobile screenshots

Here are screenshots of the new Lao mobile that the previous didn't show.

GPAR -Xiengkhuang Governance project will use Lao software

Refer to http://www.undplao.org for the GPAR Xiengkhuang project. The IT specialist will use Lao software such as Xangdao (OpenOffice), Salika Email Client, and Laonux for to allow officials communicate and use in the official for writing document and etc. Officials will have opportunity to be trained how to use the new Lao Unicode font and how to use the applications and the new Operating System- Laonux- as well.

RIT has whiz kid (IPhone GSM cracker)

George Hotz can't stop his iPhone from ringing as he arrives at Rochester Institute of Technology dorm yesterday. Teen will hand over phone for $30,000 Nissan roadster.

A New Jersey whiz kid had an easier time cracking an iPhone than selling it.

George Hotz, 17, who figured out how to unlock an iPhone so it can use a service plan other than AT&T, has given up on his quest to auction off his jury-rigged phone on eBay because of too many bogus bidders.

"Once the offers went above like $10,000, $20,000 I knew they were bogus," said Hotz, of Glen Rock. "There's no way anyone would pay millions for this phone."

But high-tech mogul Terry Daidone offered a legitimate deal for the unlocked iPhone that Hotz couldn't pass up: a new Nissan 350Z roadster and three, new 8GB iPhones.

Daidone, founder of CertiCell, a company that refurbishes old cell phones, called Hotz yesterday with an offer to trade the $30,000 wheels for the historic cell phone.

A complete story can be found here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/08/27/2007-08-27_new_jersey_geeks_iphone_sale_is_hung_up.html

Phetsarath UNICODE font is now national standard

As we all knew by now the government has accepted and adopted the Phetsarath UNICODE font as national standard. This means that every sector including private will have to adopt as well.

Names of Lao software continues....

As stated previously, I also want to say that each name for the Lao software that I gave has it unique meaning and the best of all it's cultural fit. For example, Xangdao which means Star Elephant, the elephant is the symbol of nation as the land was called LanhXang- the Land of million elephants.

Hope this helps to clarify things that wasn't mention in the previous article...

History and the meaning of Lao software naming

How do I cam up with these names for the Lao software that I created. One might think otherwise but for me it's easy ones.

Laonux for Lao Linux version. This is quite simply. Laonux or 'ລາວນັກຊ' is the product of localized Linux version to Lao lanugage.

Xangdao for the OpenOffice Lao version is basically that of the original version of StarOff (Sun's Office suite). StarOffice is the parent of OpenOffice I thus used Star for the meaning in Lao language 'Dao' or 'ດາວ' and added 'Xang' or 'ຊ້າງ' for the equivalent meaning in Lao language. Thus adding together we have 'ຊ້າງດາວ'.

Salika or Thunderbird is a product of Lao language email client of Mozilla's Thunderbird email client. What does meaning of Salika? Well, Thunderbird is the popular bird in Laos. The English is called Mynah bird or sometimes referred to Heavenly Whispering Bird or Heavenly Bird. The word Salika is used because the original name is of the Thunderbird. This makes sense since our Lao very own bird of that of the Salika.

Nakfai or Firefox Internet browser. Nakfai or 'ນາກໄຟ' is basically mean 'Nagafireballs'. Laos has received a lot of attention relating to the mother nature for fireballs called Naga Fireball phenomenon over the Mekong River each year on the exact full moon night of the 11th lunar month. This phenomenon occurred mostly in many villages along Mekong river (50 km) south of Viengjanh on Lao sides .

Other names for the other software applications are currently being worked upon and will be posted once they are finalized.

ສໍານຽງເວົ້າ ຂອງ Pronouciation of Laonux or 'ລາວນັກຊ'

As suggested from the previous blog, Laonux or 'ລາວນັກຊ' has its history. I just want to let everyone know that when you are saying it must be a meaningful as in Lao word. Most of the people as I heard ເມື່າເວົ້າຊື່ຂອງລາວຊອບເເວ ຫຼື ເວົ້າເຖີງ ລີນັກຊ ເເມ່ນ ຈະເອີ້ນວ່າ ລີນູກ ຫຼື ລາວນູກ ນີ້ເເມ່ນບໍ່ຖືກ. ທ່ານຕອ້ງຮອ້ງວ່າ ລີນັກຊ ຫຼື ລາວນັກຊ ເພາະວາມັນເປັນສໍານຽງລາວ ເເລະ ຖືກກັບສາກົນ. ລີນູກເເມ່ນຖືກຢືມສະນັ້ນພວກເຮົາຄວນຫຼິກ.

New Instant Message Client

What is Pidgin?

Pidgin is a multi-protocol Instant Messaging client that allows you to use all of your IM accounts at once. Lao version is on the way...

Pidgin can work with:

• AIM
• Bonjour
• Gadu-Gadu
• Google Talk
• Groupwise

• ICQ
• IRC
• MSN
• QQ
• SILC

• SIMPLE
• Sametime
• XMPP
• Yahoo!
• Zephyr

It was formerly called Gaim.

Please download from here: http://www.pidgin.im/

Lao Open Source Assciation to be established

It has been a good journey for me indeed. The Lao Open Source activity gains so much support and attention from all sides. As many times mentioned that Lao Open Source software is a way for both private and government sectors to adopt since the benefits are endless. The newly developed nation like Laos should make a top priority. It is coming a long just fine..now that the government is having many projects that deal with Open Source software.

Laos and its people tend to take things slowly. We are what we are we do the things in our very own way...

Good news: The Lao Youth Union, Mr. Oudasak will be the person in charge to setup Lao Open Source Association in his organization. He and I are working on the association policy and guidelines and thus we are drafting the first Lao Open Source called LOSA. Details to be discussed.

Google Lao

Google.La was initiated by me two years. The domain name was in the States but it being cached at the Laos side at various ISPs for the better performance. The translation of the whole Google site of the Lao language was done by those of volunteers around the world. The words are still not 100% translated correctly.

Join and make it useful!!

Lao Wikipedia and Moonlight Project

I Just want to share with you about Lao http://lo.wikipedia.org for Lao language. Please use it for your useful research and other activities.


An for those would like to implement Lao applications using components such as .NET and others, please check http://www.mono-project.com/Moonlight for Open Source....This is best tools available for free of charge.

Hope these are useful for you and your endeavors.

Standardized Lao font introduced for computer system

Horray!!!

VTETimes published a seminar held yesterday by myself and the team in regard to the approval of Lao UNICODE font and accepted as the national standard now and promotion of new Lao software.

Hat-off for the national standard for communication compatibility!!!

Cheers,
Anousak
**************************************

VientianeTimes August 16,2007

Phoonsab Thepvongsa

Standardized Lao font introduced for computer systems

Computer content in Laos may soon become standardized, according to officials from the Science, Technology and Environment Agency (STEA), which held a seminar on the implementation of Lao standard content yesterday. The seminar, held at the STEA office, was chaired by the agency's Vice-president Dr. Maydom Chanthanasinh, and attended by 60 representatives of various government organizations and the business sector.

The aim of seminar was to publish the office notice of the Lao government Secretariat No. 1071, dated July 6, regarding the approveal of Phetsarath Ot Lao UNICODE, the Lao font that will be official standard for communication and information exchange in local computer systems, as agreed by the Prime Minster on July 2.

Participants were shown a demonstration about how font had developed, and the many advantages of using the Phetsarath OT Lao UNICODE in current computer systems.

"This is a good opportunity for us to set the standard on the Lao font, which has been a problem in the past because local computer systems can't usually read it.", said Dr. Maydom.

"At the same time, the Science and Technology Department of STEA has been successful in Lao programme development, such as Xangdao for office applications and program called Salika for email in teh Lao language. Please will now have the option of using a Lao language commands on their computers."

In this era of globalization, and the new information and communication technology, it's important for Lao people to be able to communicate and access software in their own language,said Dr. Maydom.

The great Lao singers, Ai William

I will repost my posting that I put under it was then called Newsgroups.

Newsgroups: soc.culture.laos

From: aas1...@cs.rit.edu (Anousak A Souphavanh)

Date: Mon, 13 Jun 1994 19:42:00 GMT

Subject: Great singer named William?

Sbai D All, I am sorry if this article is unpropriate to post in SCL. I have asked Sam once privately BUT this time I'll ask every one. Many younger
generations don't know who is William. Well, for those, ie. Ai Soupha, Somvay,
and Houmphan, knew I what I am saying. For me, I am very big fan of Ai William.
He is one of the Lao greatest singers. His style and lyrics are well composed.
His famous songs are: Lycee, Nam Kong Ngam leng, Sao Smai, Por Ai Nee Leum Nong
Bor leung, Dong Dok Heng Kreum Lang, and many others. I believe these songs were
traced back to 1975. You know, I was only 8. I bought his cassette at the Refugee
camp. It was accidentally, I did't know about him until I started to ask some
questions and listen to his songs. Now I realize that he is the greatest. Thus
could you share some of your experiences: past and now. Do you you know he is
now? I have heard that he lives in France. An his brother, Voradeth,
lives in Virginia, USA. He also has great voice. [Oops! I am having bad connect-
ion. Thus if something is missing, forgive me.] Must go now before the whole thing
crash. Bye and talk to you all later.
Sak
*********************************
I have admired this singer for a long time. His songs and lyrics were filled with meanings of life .....Thanks to Ai Somdeth's website (http://somdeth.free.fr/phomma/page2.htm )for the pictures.

Ai Yong on the left and Ai Wiliam holding the mike

Please join my network in http://www.linkedin.com

I think http://www.linkedin.com is very useful and power tool for networking and that for job seekers.

As I am the only one from Laos. Please join me.

Download Lao font and software

The Lao font and software can be pulled /downloaded from the Sourceforge.net (largest and the world depository site):

http://sourceforge.net/projects/laofoss/

1) Lao Email
2) Lao Font
3) Lao Office suite
4) New keyboard mapping (for Windows and Linux- Open Source)

The first version of Lao mobile implemented on Janaury, 2007 :))

ສບາຍດີ!!

It has been sometime since my first seminar at the Ministry of Telecom and Post which Mr. Sommad was still deputy minister at that time, March 2005. That time I urged officials that Lao is the only country that doesn't have its own mobile...meaning mobile or hand held device that have its own language. Then it was late of 2006, I was able to built the first Lao version of mobile for the brand of Lenovo. This first Lao mobile will be marketed and sold by a group called Suntec (http://suntecpacific.com/).

I was very happy to see this project came through for the best of the Lao people..in terms of communication in its own language.

I am very proud that I am part of this revolution of so-called ICT for betterment.

As my motto has it "Small can make a big impact"

The following are pictures that were capture from the mobile---)

Idle Screen

SMS in Lao

Call History Screen

Main menu screen

Seminar for dissemination Lao Phetsarath UNICODE font and software

The STEA's department of science and technology will have a one day seminar to promote the use and acceptance of the Lao UNICODE font and Lao software for both of the government and private sectors.
This to be held on the 15th, 2007.
Morning secession for the government and after for those of the private sector.

Government accepted Lao UNICODE font July 6,2007

Good news! The PMO- Prime minister office only July 6, 2007 has ordered and signed a paper stating that our Lao UNICODE font dubbed Phetsarath OT font is the NATIONAL STANDARD font for communication and data exchange. Please pass the news to your colleagues. This is very crucial step and step that we should be proud of our commitment for the development of something to be called our very own.

Lao FOSS is being known by international community

Recent training of the Lao FOSS TOT- training the trainers has put Lao on the world map for being active and gear towards the developing of its own unique programme.

You can see and read from various websites:

http://www.iosn.org
http://www.linux.com
http://www.it-foss.org

and try to google 'Lao FOSS' or 'Lao Open Source'

Linux Basic Desktop Training of Trainers, STEA, Vientiane, Lao PDR, July 2 - 6, 2007

This posting was initally posted under Mr. Ariel Betan's blog. Thanks, Ariel!!

Referred to also by Linux.com July 29, 2007 (1:00:00 PM)

Organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) - Science, Technology and Environment Agency (STEA) and supported by the International Open Source Network (IOSN) ASEAN+3 Sub-Regional Node, the Lao PDR Linux Desktop Training of Trainers was held at the DoST-STEA E-Government Building, Vientiane Capital from July 2 to July 6, 2007.

———————————————————————————————————————–
Group photo with DoST Dir Gen Xayaveth Vixay, IOSN Asean+3 Rep & Trainer Ariel Betan, DoST Dep Dir Gen Somlouay, Chief Tech Advisor & Trainer Anousak Souphavanh and participants.
Click here for: More Photos
————————————————————————————————————————

Twenty one (21) participants coming from 17 different government agencies, 5 of which are women, attended the training. The participants will thereafter train others in their respective units on the installation with Lao language support, configuration and use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).

Mr. Xayaveth Vixay, Director General of the Department of Science and Technology, Science Technology and Environment Agency (STEA), Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) was present during the first day to welcome the participants and the last day to distribute the training certificates.

Read more »

Lao Gov’t IT officials offer free Lao Software

This article posted by the http://www.vientianetime.org.la and was posted initially by my colleague, Mr. Ariel Betan's blog. Thanks for your kind in spread the word of Lao FOSS, Ariel.

Referred to also by Linux.com July 29, 2007 (11:00:00 PM)

The Official Lao Language font can now be downloaded and Lao versions of Open Office and email suite is now available at the Science Technology and Environment Agency (STEA) in Lao PDR. This is part of a series of project with the International Open Source Network (IOSN) that includes localization and training.

Full story from: Vientiane Times

IT officials offer free Lao software

Local people will have free access to a number of Lao-language email and desktop computer programmes, thanks to the development of Open Source Software in Laos , according to an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) consultant.

The Science and Technology Department of STEA, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, has now completed the implementation of this development project for ICT.

Among the successes of the project has been the development of Open Source Software, such as the Software Xang Dao Office programme, the Salika e-mail service and the Phetsarath_OT Lao Unicode Font.

“People who are interested in the font can download it from http://ict4dev.gov.la , and they can bring a blank CD to get the free Lao software from the Science Technology and Environment Agency (STEA),” the ICT consultant of STEA, Mr Anousak Souphavanh, said yesterday.

“The Phetsarath_OT font was approved on July 6 by the Lao government to be the official standard for communication and exchange of information in Laos ,” he added.

Recently the department, in collaboration with the International Open Source Network (IOSN), organised the first training course on Linux Basic Desktop Training of Trainers in Vientiane , which was taught by Professor Ariel S. Betan, an expert from the Philippines , and Mr Anousak.

This training was conducted from July 2 to 6 and 20 participants from various government offices attended.

“The objective of this training course was to promote and initiate the application of Open Source Software in Laos , increasing human capacity building in technical fields to become the future trainers for various government offices,” he explained.

“This software can be used without any licenses or fees, and many countries are promoting and developing it for their social-economic development endeavors,” Mr Anousak said.

The STEA and IOSN will continue their cooperation to organise an advanced training course on Open Source Software for the promotion.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
(Latest Update July 26, 2007)

Anousak's full commitment to his blogging activity

It has been a while since this blog was established. Now that the Lao ICT development has gone from infancy to a grown stage. More and more activities, in terms of Lao ICT, are being realized and at the same time planned and implemented at various levels, government and private sectors. I am committing myself to post and talk about the events from the past and current.

The projects currently being planned are in the realm of:

- Lao mobile
- Health care
- E-Governement
- Lao Office Suite
- Browser and Email
- E-Groupware
- Collation and locales
- Lao version of Ubuntu, Debian, and Gnome

Please check back to see if anything that you would like to know or to perhaps to collaborate.