Khmer Software Initiative

Revision of goals in 2008

Within our vision of facilitating economical, cultural and educational development, our goals remain the same since 2004

• Reduction of the digital divide by making the use of computers in Cambodia as simple as it can be (by being in Khmer language). Reduction of training time needed to use computers in a professional environment, reducing the barrier to many jobs and to the use of computers in SMEs. Encouraging the use of the Khmer language in governmental computer systems.
• Adequating computer software to the economy of Cambodia by making free high-quality software available in Khmer language.
• Clarification and standardization of the correct use of the Khmer language and of Khmer cultural issues such as word sorting (alphabetic order). Development of computer terminology in Khmer, to avoid the entrance of to many foreign terms in the computer-related work environment.

But the specific ways of developing them has changed, as most of the original objectives (see below) where achieved. The new specific objectives are:

• To ensure that accessible technology in Khmer language is available in Cambodia for widespread use.
• Promotion of Khmer UNICODE.
• To maintain a technical community in Cambodia that is interested on Free and Open Source software  in local language, together with its associated technologies.
• To provide support to users of Khmer language FOSS.
• To maintain Khmer language FOSS up to date with the latest software versions.
• To advance on Khmer language technology.
• To promote the use of FOSS in the Cambodian Government and in civil society.
• To produce a leap forward in FOSS localization technology.

 

Original goals in 2004

The aims of this project are:

• Reduction of the digital divide by making the use of computers in Cambodia as simple as it can be (by being in Khmer language). Reduction of training time needed to use computers in a professional environment, reducing the barrier to many jobs and to the use of computers in SMEs. Encouraging the use of the Khmer language in governmental computer systems.
• Adequating computer software to the economy of Cambodia by making free high-quality software available in Khmer language.
• Clarification and standardization of the correct use of the Khmer language and of Khmer cultural issues such as word sorting (alphabetic order). Development of computer terminology in Khmer, to avoid the entrance of to many foreign terms in the computer-related work environment.

And in particular, on the technical side:

• The development of computer terminology in Khmer (a glossary of computer terms).
• The development (translation) and deployment in Cambodia of an end-user computer system and its applications that will entirely work in Khmer Language script. This system will open the way to develop specific applications that use interfaces and data in Khmer language, for the Cambodian administration as well as for private sector companies.
• The creation of software development and computer training expertise, based on this software, for computer Cambodian SD companies, computer vendors, universities and private computer training centers.
• Accelerating contacts of SD companies and government bodies and preparing the grounds for development contracts by means of funding analysis of possible applications for the national and local administrations.

The complete system considered in this project includes the user interface (equivalent to Windows in a Microsoft environment) and a few basic applications, such as text processing, spreadsheet, Internet navigation, e-mail, database management and many necessary utilities. All translations will include full documentation in Khmer.

The usability and interface of the computer will be of an appearance and quality similar to those of Microsoft Windows, the system most used in Cambodia at the moment.

The basis for these developments will be OpenSource software, so the result will be free for all Cambodian users. It is important to understand that even if the basic software used by this computer is free, developments done by Cambodian SD companies for their customers will not be free software, but will follow standard business practice rules (mandated by development contracts between customer and developer).

The system will include all the necessary tools to develop applications that require interfaces in Khmer language and the inclusion of Khmer language data in databases.

As support issues, the project also includes:

• Creation of new Open Source Khmer script fonts based on the new worldwide codification standard (Unicode).
• Definition and development of a new Keyboard fit for the new font codification standard.
• Packaging of the new system (including documentation) so that it will be very easy to install, distribute and learn.
• Preparation of training modules for end-users and technicians.
• Development of Open Source competency at the university and private Cambodian SD development companies
• A full deployment plan.

The final objectives of the project are to have 20% of new computers sold in Cambodia on the year after the release of KhmerOS to include this system, reaching 50% on the second year. In the third year we expect almost 80% of personal computers to include it, even if another operating system (such as Windows) is also preinstalled in these equipments.

As participating software development companies are concerned, this project would be considered to have succeeded if by the time the project is finished (or a reasonable time afterwards) 80% of them have already been hired to do some work for Cambodian administrations or contracts with private Cambodian companies involving data in Khmer.

These objectives are in complete agreement with the government IT policies and philosophy, as declared by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in 2001.