Call for Papers
The World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), in partnership with ‘‘Association des Ingénieurs Diplômés de l’Ecole Polytechnique de Yaoundé’’ (AIDEPY), with the support of several renowned companies organize, from 2 to 5 December 2009 in the Hilton Hotel, Yaounde, Cameroon, an international conference, the second after ASAP2006 held successfully in 2006 in Yaounde, under the very High Patronage of Its Excellence Paul BIYA, President of the Republic. Conference theme is ” Cultural diversity and multilingual Internet in Africa".
Under the technical supervision of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the Ministry of Higher Education of Cameroon, this conference is a continuation of one held in 2006 whose objective is to offer ‘African Solutions for African Problems'', this especially in the field of information technology and communication (ICT).
Thus, the purpose of ASAP2009 is to share this critical issue which is access to Internet in a multilingual and multicultural context for the science and Technology world elite. Indeed, at a time when democratization is engaged around the world, Africa in joining this tool. What can Africa expect the Internet with approximately 80% of content in English? How its spread can accelerate the Africa development? Does Internet will not help to broadcast a mono-cultural model, if so how about it?
Therefore, we can legitimately ask the question about the relevance of this tool almost mono-cultural as we know that cultural and linguistic diversity is one of eleven fundamental principles for the building of the information society as defined by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Thus, it is understandable that local content in local language (or at least the most understood) is a condition for achieving universal access for the populations.
This conference aims to explore the Internet and to ensure that its use serves Development and African interests while ensuring the promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity. The Scientific Committee launched by this note, an international call for papers in the sub-themes below:
· Language influences on the diffusion of technology and science;
· English contribution to the expansion of digital technology and information science: what role for the English network on the digital world?
· Culture, Information and Technology: Impacts and conflicts in the engineering professions;
· Internet and local languages;
· Internet and development: what are the issues of penetration and mastery of ICT for African development;
· Contribution of the Internet to reduce the gap between North and South;
· Economic efficiency and productivity of a multilingual Internet;
· Internet and e-governance: the current situation, where practical;
· How to make the Internet accessible to all? Overcoming obstacles and making materials;
· Internet accessible for people with little or no education;
· Influence of Internet on education (e-learning. ..);
· Ability to create interfaces to allow Internet access to people who do not speak the language of the digital network.
Those interested should register on the web site www.ingenieurs-polytech.org and send at most before November 15, 2009, a summary of communications they wish to present at the conference. These abstracts should be sent to the Secretariat in ‘‘Ecole Polytechnique de Yaoundé’’ BP 8390 Yaounde Cameroon or, preferably, by mail at the following address:
