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To: "ponnav"
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Subject: TVU Review: Anbulla Dr Ponnvaiko
Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 14:45:11 +0530
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From: "Bala Pillai"
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Anbulla Dr Ponnvaiko,
Tamil Virtual University
Good to see you out and about "swimming" in cyberspace with your
constituency.
Dr Ponnvaiko -- a Thamil Innaiya Erumbu, now-Tasmania, Australia, based
Kumara Bharathy wrote review below (taken from Erumbugal archives) on the
Tamil Virtual University many months ago. Though it may be too critical by
mainland Tamildom tolerance levels (I mentioned this to Kumara Bharathy), if
we in clinical fashion, ignore the taste of the medicine and focus on its
utility, we would be able to benefit by relishing the roses and addressing
the thorns it raises.
We must thank Erumbu Kumara Bharathy, for investing his precious brain time
in doing this review.
Can you address the points in this review? What of it has been addressed,
and what of it has not and why (other higher priorities for example -- list
them).
If you are agreeable, I look forward to cementing a no-denial high-turbo
relationship between Thamil Innaiya Erumbugal and TVU, for our mutual
benefit.
I have found that discussion raises the profile of an issue in minds. Even
if the discussion is heated or bad, latter is typically the cathartic
precursor, to the rise of good. Like valleys before mountains. Better that
good come the long way, than not at all. Thus I am sharing this with more
Tamil cyber culture enthusiasts.
anbudan../bala
bala@...
Founder/Producer, Thamil Innaiyam (since 1995)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/erumbugal
http://www.tamil.net
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From: "Kumara Bharathy"
ref Birlabose posting. A sort of review.
The Tamil Virtual University Site for Tamil learning & Reference
http://www.tamilvu.org/
The efforts of the Tamil Nadu Government in putting up the site is
commendable, for the good intentions. The site offers courses in Tamil
Language and culture, which is targeted at adult learners, - that is
Tamil learners abroad. The comments here are limited to utilitarian
aspects of the site, for general audience, such as in Tamil.net
forum. This group of Tamils are basically professionals in other
fields but also write in Tamil. They also direct people
interested in learning Tamil language/Culture on the web. If the
site had been done by a group of enthusiasts it could be called an
excellent effort. But coming from an institution and custom designed
by IT professionals, it leaves lot to be desired.
Glossary & Lexicon
---------------
The Glossary of Technical terms and the General dictionary pages
would be useful to many. But navigation is not bright at all. Pals
dictionary offers Tamil equivalents. But if you misspell the English
word you will loop through. Only way to break is using navigation bar
to get out of the hole. There is the classic Madras Lexicon with
etymology and frills. But browsing is so bad that unless you are
desperate to find your roots, you will not use it. The interface
is primitive.
Learning Tamil
---------------
The advanced course materials gives basic idea of Tamil culture
and its evolution over the years. It is available both in Tamil and
English text. It is fairly handy to switch. Also both Tamil and
English audio are available. The illustrations will be attractive
to young students. This course may be of guidance to Tamil
Schools run by Tamil Societies around the world.
Project Maduari
----------------
This is useful section for general readers. Some selected e-texts
from Madurai Thittam appears to have been converted to tamlkamban
fonts. Nothing is said about Madurai Thittam - it goes without
acknowledgment. Not all Madurai e-texts are loaded. But that may not
be the TVU aim. But this volunteer Project could have been mentioned
more prominently. So, the Tamil.net site would still remain the
main archive for Madurai Project. One thing creditable of TVU, is
the fine indexing done for Sangam Poems. Project Madurai one is
overwhelmed by large quantities of files without proper indexing.
"Urai" is not loaded.
Distance Learning
------------------
The distance learning on the web has now become enticingly
interactive, with a look and feel of inviting intimacy. The surfer
gathers a feeling that they are in close proximity of help. This site
though opened in 2001 presents itself as an unapproachable sanctum.
Other than basic "Contact Us- the web master" there is no other
reassurances to a student. It doesn't seem to indicate that there
are other students in campus (forums msg boards feedback) nor any
lecturers on Virtual prowl - a feeling of being in a Wellington
Church on Friday nights. "You get what you can" is the principle.
Technically too, there is no browsing help anywhere but being a simple
site it is not a big drawback ?.
Fonts and Use of Tamil in Computers
------------------------------------
The main drawback is installation of fonts. This action downloads
fonts directly into a binary black hole. File name is not what you see
on the link either. So search wont work - it didn't. The site does not
give any help for people to use Tamil in computers. TVU with amazing
confidence assumes (like Tamil commercial e-zines) that all that the
reader wants is to read. That he is not ever going to use Tamil in
computers and if he does, then it is 'none of our business'. As for
Tamil.net and forum hub etc, there is still holding hands for using
keyman and Tsc and all that jazz- along with Ram Ravindran's
excellent help files http://www.tamil.net/special and floppy disks to use
in browsing centers.
Gift horses teeth
-----------------
The "What is new" tab when clicked proudly announces that CM Dr
Karunanidhi will open the University in Jan 2001. This sums up
several possible mindsets of the TVU and its owners. This is a Sign
that this could become a Cyber archaeological site without adequate
maintenance. We can not always look negatively. I am trying to get
over this mindset but It is always getting reinforced. Hope I may
be wrong. In this instance it could be still under development.
Because lot of links are not working - for example "help" is not
accessible from many pages. It is as if the masons have long left
after putting up the structure of a mansion but painters, plumbers and
electricians have yet to move in, giving it an abandoned look.
Server failures (internal failures) occurred several times
(webmaster@... ) and I was successful in gaining entrance
only once out of 10 tries at intervals. This may have been a network
phenomenon; I don't know.
Having said all that ; The site must be utilised by Tamil Societies
running week end Tamil Schools. Also wired Tamils will find other
sections useful. The site is not going to remain static (if it
survives the political vagaracies), so there is a good chance that it
could improve with user input / listening.
C Kumara Bharathy
Cyber Lounge: Tamil.net
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