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RANJIT MAKKUNI, is a geek of rare kind. He is a multimedia expert,
technology innovator, designer, artist and musician, all rolled
into one. Using the abundant wealth of traditional arts and crafts
that India offers, he has embarked on a mission to build “expressive”
information delivery devices. Doing this, he says, will help bridge
the digital chasm in India and also draw the attention of modern
folks to the values of traditional arts, healing, creative expression
and integration.
To
fulfill his mission, Makkuni has set up Sacred World Foundation
at Delhi, a not for profit multimedia, and educational research
center that will develop digital learning tools for people to access
the world’s rich resource of sacred knowledge. The Foundation has
a team of researchers, scholars, designers, robotics experts and
embedded systems professionals.
To
spread knowledge, computers should be in forms and shapes that anybody
can associate with. Why not a computer in the shape of an earthern
pot?
Nano
technologies, embedded electronics and other new technological breakthroughs
can actually make this happen, he says. New forms of interfaces
that use traditional crafts and objects need to be developed so
that users are not intimidated with multiple buttons and gizmos
that computing devices come with. So why not use a cycle rickshaw
wheel to produce music? All that needs to be done is rotate the
wheels. Wearable computing is another user-friendly application.
Makkuni
is not just throwing ideas into thin air. He has an impressive track
record to prove that his mission is achievable. He has worked for
the prestigious Xerox PARC, Palo Alto research center and was part
of the group which developed small talk-80 object oriented programming
language and the world’s first graphic user interface. Till recently
he was the director of Xerox PARC’s Crossing Media Labs in Delhi,
where he put together a team of researchers, scientist, designers,
artists and scholars to recreate forms that capture a civilization’s
primal symbols animated through embedded technology.
Sacred
World Foundation’s current focus and projects include creatingh
new paradigms for modern computing, researching new tools of communication
that integrate the sense of touch, textures, gestures and crafts
to design modern technological interfaces and how best to preserve
cultural resources using content developed from scholars and traditional
craftsmen.
Makkuni
says that large Indian IT companies should spent money on project
that link technology and tradition, instead of getting overwhelmed
with technology from the silicon valley.
One
of his creations- an electronic sketchbook of Tibetan Thangka painting-
illustrates his point. When users point and touch elements of the
painting on the sketchbook, it plays back short video recordings
of Tibetan life and cultural practices. Likewise, a series of touch
based and wearable computing and interactive crafts enables people
access the ancient and living culture of Varanasi.
Makkuni
says that, in collaboration with cultural learning institutions
like museums, universities and research institutions the Foundation
plans to develop interactive learning exhibits. The present focus
is on developing content based on pilgrimage circuits, Sacred Geography,
ecology and traditions. One of the long-term goals is also to develop
a digital museum of world culture and spirituality based on innovations
and cultural resources.
-R.
SUBRAMANYAM
Economic Times, December 19, 2002 |