Providing Digital Aid for Remote Schools

The are many educational institutions around Papua New Guinea that still lacks access to basic ICT knowledge.  Throughout parts of PNG, remote schools still find it very challenging when it comes to the use of ICT such as the access to mobile communications, computers, internet and/or television services.  All of these happened as a result of the complex geographical make-up of the country which made it hard for these services to get there.  Governments have tried hard but still there are more areas yet to access and experience these ICT services.

Over the years, those have prompted us to come up with small ways that would contribute to help reducing some of these problems.  My team (My family) and I started focusing on providing access to digital knowledge and introduced the idea of donating computers and learning materials such as reading books to schools in our local area. 

Our initiatives started in 2011, when we saw the need to support and encourage children in the village to pursue education and study hard to go to higher institutions.  For some unknown reasons, the school doesn’t normally have a lot of children in the village go to higher institutions so we decided to provide support using available resources to help the school and encourage the students to study hard. 

Throughout the year (2011), we collected books from bookshops as well as from friends to donate to the Local Schools.  Our first donations went to Bukawa Primary School in Nawaeb District, Morobe Province. 

During the presentation of the reading books, I pledge to donate a computer set for the school which they could place in their Resource Center.  I reminded both staff and students to flow with the rapid technological changes which were brought in by technological interventions.  With my long-term vision in mind to connect these remote schools with a system in town, I reminded them to utilize ICT for the advancement of their knowledge.  I also assured them of any technical assistance and advice which I would give when need arises.
 

Donation of PC to Bukawa Primary School Board, 2012

Installation of PC before delivering

The following year in December 13 of 2013, we again donated another computer to Taimi Primary School in Nawaeb District of Morobe Province.  This school (Taimi) is a few hours ride away from Bukawa Primary School.  The head of the school organized our transport so we took the computer and accessories over to them on a dinghy.  Because the school was already on break, the school committee organized with the village elders for us to do the presentation in the heart of the village using one of their meeting houses.  Everyone was very happy to witness this presentation since it was the first of a kind donation done to support ICT in the school.

Short speech given with a live demonstration of using Fruity Loops PE Vr. 11.

I had to unpack the computer before officially handing it over to the School board to confirm to them that the computer is working during the time of delivery.  With help from some village youths, they set up a generator and in less time the computer booted.  I was asked further by some youths to demonstrate the use of computer in music creation and luckily, I had fruity loops installed so I demonstrated a bit on using fruity loops to create music.  I also advised everyone that the computer is more that what they see.  It comprises of a complete e-Learning environment containing all relevant materials the students would want to use such as encyclopaedia, dictionary and other video tutorials to help them out. 

Presenting the PC to Taimi's school board, 2013

After almost an hour of demonstrating the use of various digital media and e-learning aids, I presented the computer to the school board and assured them that there'll be more support coming if they look after the initial donation.  I summed it up by giving them my vision of having all the remote schools in my local district (along the coast) connected to a central system which I intend to set up in future that will help students in remote places gain vital knowledge to help them excel in their studies.  I even showed them to use an internet dongle to connect to the internet after I got a request from their headmaster to do so.  It was fun demonstrating and everyone was very happy.    They gave us few presents (traditional mats/ instruments/ beads) as well as organizing food for us to eat and we later departed for home the same afternoon.

Extending Digital Training to GFX Lae

I went for my break last December (2013) and heard various positive comments regarding the previous training we had for Graphic Designers in Lae, Morobe Province at the Unitech ADOC Center.  Words went out that an enrichment training session was conducted in December 2012 so interested participants who missed out on the previous session in 2012 asked whether we were going to have another training again however, because I had to attend a cultural event at home, the time couldn't allow me to conduct another one that Christmas.

Fortunately, for those attending the session in 2012, we had 3-days of interactive training with full number of participants who made use of every computer, thanks to the Unitech ADOC Center for allowing us to use their lab.

We had a group on Facebook called PNG-GFX DeSigners which have over 100 registered members who share and propose new ideas and also get support from each other.  Most of the time, members in Port Moresby were fortunate to attend contact classes however those in Lae and other parts of PNG were unfortunate so the members in Lae decided to form numbers and propose for a training to be held that Christmas in Lae.   Because I was going home for break, I decided to step-in to share some of what I know with these members.  We had some members who came directly from Madang to attend the 3-day session.

Apart of responding to the request made by GFX Members in Lae, I also had that conviction of helping the up and coming designers especially in the field of graphic design and multimedia design acquire quick tips and tricks in various computer application. 

The other group of people who joined us during the training were the youths from Bukawa village.  The intention of involving these youths was to help them have a feel of computing and also introduce them to the ADOC Center at Unitech so they can come in anytime when they organize themselves.   

Further to this training, I personally donated a computer on behalf of my firm ArTech to the recourse center of the primary school where the 4 youths came from (Bukawa Primary School).  It was anticipated that upon learning to use a computer from this short interactive training, they could go back and use the donated computer at the primary school.  I also gave the 4 free “training DVDs for the beginners” which I created earlier for them to use when they return home to use the computer donated to the resource Centre at the primary school.  There is also an ADOC Centre in the nation’s capital Port Moresby which I coordinate so I had to organise with our Centre in Lae to use the facilities.

Movie Drama

In 2007, I involved some of the youths of Bukawa, Morobe Province in a movie drama titled "The Dire Trade" which was based on a true ancestral story.  The youths I worked with in that project belonged to a theater group called the BuAwa Theater Group which comprised of mostly school leavers and drop-outs who do not have better knowledge on acting or drama.  

Members of BuAwa Theatre Group before the shooting of scene 1 of the movie drama.

The idea of digitizing cultural performances began during my 3rd year at the University doing Arts and Design, minoring music and IT in 2002.  

Every break when I returned home, I usually saw the youths performing dance and dramas to family members who went there to spend the Christmas.  The group charged around 20-50 bucks for every performance just to entertain visiting families and most of the time, whatever they took is used to buy basic food like tea and rice for their get-together.  

One evening, I sat down with their group leaders and advised them to start thinking of making use of technology to generate some income, little higher than the one they're charging.  I asked if we could try capturing some of their performances and create DVDs then they can sell to friends and relatives.  I assured them that if things go well, we could organize to shoot a home-produced movie in locations within our jungles.  They've agreed so I tasked them to plan for the coming Christmas.  Everything went well and the coming break (2003), we shot the first stage performance using a camcorder.

I brought the footage back to the city, edited it and sent it home.  I told them to watch it over and over to identify their weaknesses and practice for another shot to be captured the coming break.  

The following Christmas (2004), we did a proper stage set-up and they performed using two camcorders.  I edited the clips and gave them the DVDs.  Everyone was so happy, including the village elders but I told them that there's a lot more to be done and if they agree, we shall discuss the next phase.

Everyone agreed, even the spectators (those who claimed to be the stage crews).  I gave them the task to come up with proper script and also to identify various locations that suit the story so the coming break we would investigate and do further preparations.  

In 2005 Christmas, we looked at the script which was written by one of the group leaders Mr. Jonah Bai and derived from storyteller Mr. Ming Genom.  I advised them to break-down the script into scenes and start practicing their lines.  The team started identifying talents to play various roles.  They also organized themselves and worked on preparing themselves while I left for the city.  

Throughout that year (2006), the group identified various locations for the shooting to be made and prepared costumes, materials and necessary items to be used during the shooting.  One of the thing I had in mind was to limit the use of modern materials except video camera, so I relayed the idea to the team for them to identify natural pigments that could be used to create various special effects for blood, smoke, fog and stunts.  This is the interesting part which made the costume designers use their hidden creativity.  I also had to do few research on pigments to be used to create different smoke effects and blood effects which I supplied to them.  Everything went well, the year came to an end so I went home for my 2006 break.  

We did final preparations and scheduled the beginning of 2007 to do our shooting.  2006 ended and 2007 began.  On the first day of 2007, we shot the first scene.  We had to walk the whole day up the mountain to shoot the scene.  It was the most enjoyable moment I've ever had at home moving around with the boys from one location to another shooting the different scenes.  It had taken us the whole week to shoot the main scenes.  This was like their first screen performance so I already expected a lot of failures.  To me, it is the second phase and I hoped to use this as a learning curve to polish the main production which should happen after this production.

The last night was to be dedicated to burning the village, which is one part of the story so we had to use my dad's generator and floodlight to improvise on this scene.  Again, it was a night filled with fun and everyone have learnt a lot from this production.

For us, this was the first-ever home based production shot and edited in the village using what we termed as "Traditional Technology".

Below are few of the many shots I took during the making of the movie drama "The Dire Trade".

 

 

 

We hoped to secure funding to continue completing the final movie drama.  Works are underway as we continue to find potential donors to support the drive.

Digital Influence

I've been away for quite some time preparing instructional materials to meet the increased demands in digital media design within Papua New Guinea by developing video trainings in various computing courses for those who can't afford to attend on-site trainings.  All the updates will be posted up in my next post.

For this post, I'd like to share another influence I had whilst being addicted to computing, especially my love for graphic design.  

Over the years, I've been doing various stuff in graphic design and have turned away from my original fine arts background so I recently decided to get back to painting using influences I got from digital art.  I  did three works on various cultural themes, especially the traditional dancers from various parts of Papua New Guinea.  

I used to do other styles, exploring different techniques however this year (2013) I adopted influences from digital art particularly effects such as pixels, mosaics and glass or what we call filters and plugins of computer applications.

Here are three of the recent works I did using this technique.

Huli Wigman: Over to the highlands of Papua New Guinea, this famous wigman from the Hulis was translated into pieced art similar to that of mosaics.  The art was bought by Keryn Johnsons.

Trobriand Dancer: Another dancer from the tip of Papua New Guinea, the Trobriand Islands was in motion and captured then painted.  I sold this work, three people bid for it and fortunately Mr. Robert Webber won the bid.

Hiri Hanenamo: Famous for their historical trade, this central dancer was again tested on canvas using mosaic-styled art.   I loved every piece of my art so as this one which is one of the bigger ones I've done

[ EARLIER SAMPLES ]

Since, I have mentioned a bit on my earlier styles of art, I'd like to post few of them here for your viewing.  Most of these artworks have already been purchased by various people both locally (in PNG) and abroad.

My style of painting varies every time I decide to take brush and paint because I always want to explore different approach to express various PNG cultures in my paintings.  Initially, starting from blended design-like paintings, I moved into realistic paintings, then fantasy-type using PNG myths and legends, further into overlay-type-paintings and now digitally influenced by computing using mosaic-like art.

Art is Fun and it helps me build my patience.  

Film-On FX : Custom Title Bars

In this post, I will share some personal insights and thoughts on one of the many digital projects I'm currently working on.  This project is branded as Film-On FX Products and is targeting everyone who wants to become video editors and also who may not have time to create third party effects for their video projects. 

The project is to promote and standardize visual communications.  It primarily aims to help those who aren't able to create motion banners, titles, transitions, typefaces or even other motion graphic items.

Visual power is stronger than verbal or written and has even greater impact that can last.  Though visual power itself could not effectively influence some people, it has enough power to stimulate, stir and affect the way we do things than the other types of communication methods.   Over the years, I've been observing the way people think and behave especially in developing countries particularly Papua New Guinea and it has proven to me that over half the percentage of population still have the attraction to visual messages.  

As the saying goes - "A Picture speaks a Thousand Words", visual power by all means has the credibility to educate, persuade and motivate humans.  

Below are few of the many title bars/ title banners which can be used on any video project in any video editing program as well.  The product is soon to be launched and it aims to get support from interested persons/ organizations to be promoted.  There are over 100 title bars to choose from..  

For latest developments regarding this project, follow the link below.

 Updated Link;

http://www.artech.com.pg/products/filmonfx/

Still updating this page......

EMAIL PHISHING FRAUD "HOT PROPERTIES"

Have you ever received an email with subject "Hot Properties"?  Well if you did, then this article would give you an overview of the dangers you’ve gone through.  If you haven’t, please read the article and use it to help you avoid being in the loop of being fooled.  

Basically, the purpose of this article is to help those who have already being fooled into giving out their private information to spammers.  However, it could also be useful for those who haven’t received this email yet so they are aware.

Firstly, let me make it clear that one of the most effective tactics used by spammers lately is the hijacking or theft of legitimate user’s email accounts for use in furthering spam campaigns.  I will explain further what that means as I explain through but let me start off with a recent experience.

I’ve recently received an email from a colleague with the same title.  I know for sure that this is a spam however I wanted to confirm before writing up an article on this and post it on my blog (http://pyalamu.blogspot.com/) so I clicked the link to read the header.  After confirming, I decided to complete this article for the sake of others who would not be in the better position of understanding the risk.  I have also forwarded the link to various emails particularly to those that are linked to the email I received.  If you are one of those who read this article, please forward the link to your friends to help them protect their private information, especially their email credentials.

The demonstration I’m going to do would be presented using Gmail however, it’s similar to other email listed in the article.   

Here’s how it goes;

First, you receive an email.  What you would have heard was, if you know the person who sent you the email, you can feel free to open it because it is probably not a spam.  However, spammers are smart.  They go around the other approach to get what they want.

Recently, there are emails circulating which have the subject “Hot properties” or similar?  The email comes from a known source or contact.  This, I mean from someone whom you know within your contact listing.  Considering the short brief above, you would realise that the person sending you the email is someone whom you knew.  Naturally, you would want to open the email because you knew the person sending you the email.  

Ask yourself, did you open the email?  If you said yes, that means you clicked on the subject to access the link.

Now, regardless of the exact subject and content of the email, clicking the link would take you to a site that requires your authentication to access their provided service once you sign in with your email account credentials.

I assumed you are one of those who have clicked the link.  If you haven’t received such email yet, you might probably receive one soon because it’s on its way to your electronic mailbox.

So, when you clicked on the subject “Hot properties” or similar, have you been taken to a page similar to the one below?

Have you tried to go further by clicking any of those email providers’ logo (Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, AOL, Other emails)?  If you did, were you prompted with a pop-up window like the one below?

 

I’m pretty sure for most of you, you probably would say, Yes, I did sign in for some unknown reason.  That is normal and it’s natural for most users.  I believe, a psychologist could explain further on this behaviour.

Normally, you would enter your details and press the sign-in button to log in assuming that the signing will grant you access to the provided service mentioned in the email you got.

The thing that is convincing after you sign would be the access to the site providing the proposed service.  For the case here, entering your user credentials would grant you access to the Re/ MAX listing site.  To you, it would be convincing because through signing in you gained access to the site however behind the scenes (from within the back-end) what happened was you provided your login details to the spammer through the script hidden within the source codes.

The spammers do know that you would come up with suspicions when things go wrong especially when you enter your login details and they do not log you in so they fake a login page that will redirect you to a page that tries to convince you that things are fine.  

Sometimes, the links take you to a fake site with the exact site name.  Other times, it takes you to a temporary page showing an error message and redirects you to go to the legitimate pages and sites using provided links.

Above all, the end result is that the spammer now had access to your email account whilst at the same time you are now carried away with exploring the RE-MAX website looking for these “Hot Properties” and you no longer bother about what you have done to yourself and all your friends, family or contacts in your contact listing.

Prove it yourself;
 You can try out this simple test.  
Click the email link "Hot Properties" within your email and get into the email providers' screen.  Click on Gmail and from the pop-up, try enter any thing into the email address and anything into the password field;  maybe something like, abc@def.com for email and test for password, then click Sign in.  You'll see what I mean.  If you do not fill the fields, it gives you a prompt to fill those in.  If you close the pop-up, it will bring you back to the email providers' screen.  However, if you again fool them by entering any address and password, you will definitely be redirected into a set page like I explained earlier.



Feel free to forward the link to your friends to help them secure their private information or post me comments if you have any queries.  Also, you can visit my website (http://www.artech.com.pg/ ) for other helpful tips and free tutorials.

Promoting Home-Made Products

There’s been growing number of locals producing various products for the local and international markets.  I have seen dozen of them around Port Moresby, promoting and selling their products.  I was on the toes when I found out recently that my very own people in the village, just few meters away from where my house is are actually part of the system. 

I called Granpa to the man who initiated the idea and he has two sons whom I call Paps.  The old man, Mr. Ibo Alu, in his 60s I believe, was a very creative person and he started this project few years ago.  All this time, I never knew that he packs and supplies his product, Bukawa Coconut, Noni & Frangipani Oil to his customers in the village and in town (Lae) as well. 

   

He heard stories that I was giving hands to various people and groups in the village so he approached me to discuss some things regarding his project – Bukawa Coconut Oil.  I heard his story and was so elated, especially of such an old man who despite circumstances push for some classic home-grown and home-made products to be packed in the village. 

 He wanted assistance to back him up in his small-scale-manufacturing project and wanted me to assist him find funding.  We had about two hours of conversation and then I assured him that I would assist where my arms can reach.  To cut the story short, I came back to work and started planning some marketing campaigns as well as doing research on various supportive assets to boost the efforts of this old man.  I can't at this stage elaborate further but hope that my future blog would give some outcomes.

Attached below is a quick poster I made with applied graphics and 3D modell to give an impression and maximize the sales of this natural product made by this old man and his sons.