NATIONAL 3 -(Spotlight Weekly)

Routine Affair

The information technology show slides to become merely an annual ritual

By A CORRESPONDENT

It is the same venue that has hosted the InfoTech show for last five years. Every year glitz of technology decorates the halls of Bluestar Hotel where Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) organizes its flagship exhibition.

This year was no different. CAN organized this millennium's first IT show from January 26 to 31. But the millennial show proved a disappointment as it failed to generate any public enthusiasm over the prospect of using cyber technology in the improvement of their quality of life.

"Every year CAN organizes IT shows where new products and innovations are displayed. But what is the use of these exhibitions if such products cannot help change the country in any manner," said a visitor.

CAN's InfoTech shows are slowly getting reduced to being merely an annual ritual. "Apart from fulfilling its annual duty, CAN does not seem to have added anything new this year," said Anil Shrestha, another visitor.

Shrestha, a regular visitor to CAN's exhibition, says he was disappointed to see the IT exhibition being transformed to consumer fair. "Although the number of people visiting the show has increased over the last few years, there is a lack of productive visitors," he said.

Bijaya Krishna Shrestha, President of CAN, however, says the show was visited by a large number of students and other people alike. "We are impressed by the interest shown by people over the Information Technology. This is the only field where our country can compete with other countries of the world without having to suffer from any geographical handicap," he said.

According to CAN, about eleven thousand people visited this year's exhibition. More than fifty different organizations had put their stalls in the exhibition. This year's major attractions were the CyberPasal -- an electronic shop introduced by Mercantile by using which people can order goods from departmental stores over their computer.

Likewise, different pager companies showcased the latest pagers to hit the Nepalese market.

Although the show -- a private sector initiative -- is great for creating cyber awareness among general public, the association needs to go beyond only organizing such event to make real impact of IT over the development and prosperity of the country.