The first elementary school that I attended was Alazarist School at Mesfin Harar area. I completed the first grade, but could not continue because my family were not able to pay the school fees. Then, I attended a couple of private elementary schools. At one point, I dropped out of school and went to work in a factory to support my parents. Then, I attended evening class at "Africa Andinet" and "Cathedral" and completed 8th grade. That is it....... I never attended junior high or any other level of schooling in Ethiopia.
It was in my undergraduate senior year that I was exposed to a program called TeX, a typesetting system created by Prof. Donald Knuth, which influenced me in many ways. It introduced me to the TeX community that believes in high quality and shares its knowledge freely as much as possible.
2.a)
Q) Could you, please, elaborate on the business activities of your establishment?
[1] Products including EthTeX and WashRa are distributed world wide. In particular, WashRa is gaining momentum in Europe and Ethiopia. There is more to be done and measures are being taken to improve the products and market. EthiO Systems Home Page and the newsletter "Delanta Yenager" are steps taken in that direction.
[2] The "EthiO Systems Home Page" on Internet is built not only to provide an insight over EthiO Systems' products, but to help advance Ethiopian computing. Users now can tap onto the home page and retrieve technical information, read latest development, or receive technical support. We are also proud to be the first and the only one as of today, with the help of EthCITA, to implement Ethiopian Web Document (EWD) on World Wide Web. Users of WashRa can browse, or author Ethiopian Web Document with little problem. On this subject, various articles are available on EthiO Systems Home Page.
Currently, our home page is getting over 500 hundred hits per month and the number is growing by the day. The feedback we are getting is quite pleasing. The page will be expanded in the very near future; specially, in the area of programming, Ethiopian Script standards, and Houston-Ethiopian community.
[3] EthiO Systems has started publishing a newsletter called "Delanta Yenager" both in electronic form and hard copy. The first issue in electronic form is posted on our home page and the hard copy will be released in a couple of days. Delanta will address technical issues on EthiO Systems' products; furthermore, majors topics on Ethiopian computing. Delanta is distributed free of charge to EthiO Systems' products users. BTW, the name "Delanta" refers to a _Kinea_ institution in Northern Ethiopia.
[4] EthiO Systems will release the next version of WashRa in the first quarter of 1996. It will include several improvements. Some works in the area of Internet and database underway.
2.b)
Q) Issues in Ethiopic software.
What are the areas that need future work? Could you also share with us your thoughts on need for standardizing key-board definitions?
[1] The absence of standard for Ethiopian Script with respect to ASCII, and Ethiopian keyboard is a major concern to Ethiopian computing. Users are deprived of a chance to work across multiple Ethiopian related application software. "Developers" don't seem to care very much. If we continue with the current trend, crisis is inevitable.
Realizing this, EthiO Systems introduced standards:
a) "Ethiopian ASCII based on Ato Hadiss Alemayehu Ethiopian alphabet classification.
b) "Aleka Kidane Wolde Kifle Keyboard", named after a known Ethiopian linguist.
More information on both standard can be found on EthiO Systems Home Page.
[2] In the last couple of years, one development that is very encouraging is few products, that can be used with spreadsheets, database, illustration software and more, have appeared. But, that is not enough. Full fledged systems that can handle a wide area of problems should be the norm. Not only in the scope of MS Windows 3.1 or Windows 95, but other major operating systems.
Q) Could you please elaborate on your work in the "Unicode" standards? How important is the Unicode? Why is it important? Its implication for users and software developers?
First and for most, I must congratulate the EthCITA/EEDN board and the EEDN community for profound contribution to standardization of Ethiopian script in Unicode.
The current ASCII standard, based on 8bit, is so limited for languages other than English, the need for better standard is immense. We don't have to go further to find out the short coming of ASCII. It is not at all capable of representing Ethiopian Script. Thus, Unicode. With Unicode, we can represent Ethiopian Script fully and completely. Problems related to ASCII will be eliminated once for all.
I don't know if I should be the first one in releasing the news, that is, the CSES (Committee for Standardization of Ethiopian Script) draft proposal on Ethiopian Script for Unicode (with a similar effort by Daniel Yacob Mullholland, Yonas Fisseha, and School of Oriental and African Studies), has been accepted by Unicode Consortium Technical Committee. There should not be any doubt that the tireless effort by Dr. Joe Becker, the authority in Unicode Technical Committee on Ethiopian Script standardization, was absolutely critical. More importantly, his enthusiasm to the script is second to none.
This achievement was possible because of relentless work of CSES members. Any attempt would have been fruitless with out the diligent work of Ato Fesseha Atlaw, Ato Yitna Firdyiwek, Dr. Samuel Kinde, and Ato Tsehay Demeke. Of course, it is not with out Ato Tekle Awdew, Ato Terrefe Ras-Work, Ato Theodros Kidane, Ato Teshager Tesfaye, Ato Tadesse Tsegaye, Ato Grum Ketema, Ato Matewos Worku and many more. The EEDN community should be proud of itself. I for myself have learned so much from CSES members, and darn proud of it.
3.b)
Q) How do you see the contribution of computing and IT technology to the Ethiopian community at home and abroad what should be done to give our community better access to such technology?
Today, Computing and Information Technology are an integral part of the means of production for factories, industries, business, and all sort of life in many countries. In the contrary, our country is not only behind in this area, but also in using the product itself.
Such is not the case among Ethiopians living abroad. There is a well established awareness by these Ethiopians on computing and information technology. Virtual groups, such as Cleo/EEDN, the first mailing list, that brought Ethiopians together from around the world as far as Australia is one development making critical contribution for Ethiopian computing. Following Cleo/EEDN's inspiration, many have formed similar groups including Ethiolist.
3.c)
Q) Do you feel that there is an Ethiopian "information elite"? Is the gap increasing? Role of Ethiopian professionals in addressing computing and IT issues? Do you think there has been any work?
I don't believe there is an Ethiopian "information elite" at this stage. Given topics and the frequency of discussion on the mailing list, I am afraid to say that Ethiopian professionals are more attracted to the political side of our country. I am not saying that is wrong, but equal if not more, attention should be given to Ethiopian computing. There remains a lot of work to be done in this area.
The EthCITA's project on AAU networking, software survey, Ethiopian Script standardization, and on-line conferences are premier examples of what we should do very often.
If you forgive me, I would like to mention a little success story of the Ethiopians Computers Club in Houston . ECC was established and run on a simple principle--loosely coupled or based on clear volunteerism and fun. If it doesn't work, everybody knows that we should abandon it. Whenever there is a need, task groups are established and each task group works autonomously with its own time framework covering its own expense and other needs. The most popular task groups are computer classes. A six months nonstop lessons which includes topics indicated below are given to these classes.
a) Hardware and Software (general)
b) DOS
c) Windows 3.1
d) Word-processing
e) Spreadsheets
f) Database
g) Communication
h) WashRa
i) Windows 95
So far, three task groups have completed their work and four of them are working. Lessons are offered by volunteers. No one is charged for the service.
ECC recently formed Internet Task Group. The purpose of this task group is obtaining an access to Internet for its members and studying the various software that are used to access WWW, ftp, telnet, email, and Usenet newsgroups. For this purpose, ECC endorsed a local Internet service provider as its official ISP. In return, this local internet service provider has agreed to give ECC's members from 30% to 40% discount and other benefits.
In general, ECC is growing thanks to relentless effort of Dr. Akalou W/M, Ato Teshome Hailu, Ato Mohammed Bedru, Ato Moges Meshesha, Ato Eskender Tamirat, Ato Bruck Zewdie, Ato Mesfin Kitsela, Ato Admasu Wolde and many others wonderful Ethiopians. Now, a lot of people are in waiting list to attend ECC's computers classes. The number of attendants in monthly meetings is increasing. There is a good feeling!
Q) Do you see computing and IT helping to address fundamental development issues in a country such as ours?
There have been several opportunities in forms which may not be referred as IT or computing; however, none of them are equal to the current technology which offers instant communication and more importantly plenty of access to enormous resources. Realizing this capacity is the first step for any country. It is highly likely a country may end up as voiceless consumer, a dumping crater of toy-machines; or a player among technological forces. In short, the avenue was there before and it is now open more than ever. To use it, a nation has to be alert.
Q) Any thoughts how to utilize electronic networking and the Internet to benefit our community? Any thoughts how EEDN could be made more interesting, effective and relevant to community needs?
In my view, EEDN is doing so much. It is us, individual members who should be more active. Some of us take EEDN for granted and lack care when we throw punches at this community. I like to see several on- line conferences as much as possible even if it involves only two papers. Well thought projects are also desirable.
4) Professional and Community Membership:
1. Member of the Executive Committee, Ethiopians Computers Club Houston, TX.
2. Member, TeX Users Group
3. Chairman, Committee for Standardization of Ethiopian Script (CSES).
4. Board Member, "Taste of Ethiopia", Houston, TX.
5. Member, Ethiopian Community Organization in Houston
5) Any thing you may want to add?
I like to take this opportunity and thank the EthCITA/EEDN board and the EEDN community at large from whom I have learned so much, and the Houston Ethiopian community for their continuous support and inspiration.