The International Centre for Free and Open Source Software (Icfoss) plans to commence R & D programmes on Android, the popular smart device platform.
This is sought to be done through means of a composite project awarded to it by the Department of Information Technology (DIT), Government of India.
LANGUAGE LOCALISATION
Android is a Foss (free and open source software)-based generic operating system platform for mobile phones, pads, slates, tablets and a variety of other emerging devices.
It is promoted by the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 84 IT and telecom firms led by Google, which originally owned the platform.
The components of the DIT project include supporting Indian language localisation and standardisation of hardware extensions to Android devices.
It will also explore 3D gesture-based user Interfaces and create a context-aware framework for Android.
DEVICE OBSOLESCENCE
Apart from developing multi-purpose applications on the platform, it will seek to provide policy recommendations for open hardware architecture in view of the rapid obsolescence of these devices.
Four out of the six project components approved are to be implemented by Icfoss at Technopark here, while the other two would be taken up by the Chennai and Delhi facilities of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
The DIT project will help Icfoss create and incubate an internal R & D facility, said the State Minister for Industries and IT, Mr P. K. Kunhalikkutty, who chairs the Icfoss Governing Body.
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
The R & D programme could include the setting up of a Centre of Excellence in smart devices ranging from mobile phones, pads, slates and tablets to newer developments such as wearable computing devices.
“Our proposed international campus will have a strong R & D focus besides academic research, advocacy, outreach and training,” said Mr Satish Babu, Director, Icfoss.
He said the initiative represented an opportunity to build linkages with industry leaders such as Google. The initial response to the proposal from Google has been encouraging.