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Kolkata , Dec. 29

DISTRIBUTED computing in India can go a long way in bridging the digital divide in the country. This was the view of several speakers and participants at the 5th international seminar on distributed computing, organised here jointly by the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIMC), Jadavpur University and Colombo Plan Staff College.

Briefing newspersons here today, Dr Debashis Saha, Associate Professor at IIMC, said the growth of the Internet and high-speed networking had provided a boost to information and communication technology (ICT).

The application of distributed computing in the realm of ICT can facilitate the maximisation of the benefits that are sought from such applications and also help bridge the digital divide in the country.

Dr Saha said the draft declaration of principles of the recently-concluded World Summit on the Information Society, held under the aegis of the United Nations states that the "rapid pace of technology of ITC - unprecedented in history - which allows for the development of applications that make it possible that no one is left behind and those who were left marginalised in previous development cycles can have a real opportunity to attain higher levels of development without having to follow the traditional path nor its time requirements." The draft principles also state "technology alone cannot solve any political or social problems. ICT should, therefore, be regarded as a tool and not an end in itself."

In this context, Dr Saha said there were two major problems pertaining to the implementation of distributed computing on a large-scale. The first was the issue of interoperability.

The second veers round political, administrative and social barriers to the adoption of distributed computing across national boundaries.

For the business community, distributed computing can help tap business opportunities on a global scale and at lower costs, he said.

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