If you have been reading PC Tech for more than a year, you will recall that in June 2010, we had a cover feature about the way people read. With the launch of Apple’s Tablet computer, the iPad, we tried to look forward to a future where the material people read would be delivered in a completely different medium. Since that time, we’ve seen Android Operating System’s popularity grow exponentially, in the same way as its apps: including those for reading. In this issue, we extensively studied the available options for electronic reading, hoping the article will help you think twice before walking to the bookshop again.
If you are in Uganda, one event to look forward to is the 2nd Annual Orange Expo, the only telecom expo in Uganda. Together with the jointly hosted TechFest2011, we believe the weekend of 19th November will offer a very exciting experience for tech enthusiasts and fun lovers. We’ve run an extensive supplement about that eventh.
You dear readers, who are reading this magazine now, and all the other geeks who are associated with the Tech Revolution, will agree that men and women belonging to this space are ushering in an uncharted graph for social change and progress. ICT4D workers, digital activists, computer and telecommunications engineers, web analysts and technology innovators, social technology entrepreneurs and others are working hand in hand to speed-up what has so far been a slow race towards empowering the public.
But please do not be fooled by these new-age titles. A geek is in fact not some tech-enhanced super hero, but a common man who learns how to use new age gadgets and adapts to newer forms of technology, services, apps and solutions to better his life, and that of his neighbors.
We think one of the primary reasons for this geek revolution is participatory democracy. A lot more people are engaging with technological tools that were earlier considered to be the domain of institutions, governments and rulers – think about radio, television, printing press, newspaper, which were used by groups of those in power to mould information, culture and values of society. Contrast that with today: you know people are empowered when you can Tweet to your president and drop a cute little comment on his Facebook page, asking about the power cuts in your area or politely demand he bring inflation under control.
Here at PC Tech, we hope we are the voice of our readers and represent all their aspirations, interests and ‘Likes’. With each issue, we try to include insights and opinions on cutting edge technology and gadget reviews, provide some Laugh Out Loud opinions, share with you research and development news that are hot news in the innovation market, and include newer, fresher voices in by getting on board writers from different geographic bases and backgrounds. To support this cause, we’ve set up two major platforms for online discussions: a Facebook group (http://facebook.com/groups/pctechgeeks) and a mailing list (http://groups.google.com/group/pctechmagazine).
Someday, we might cross that last threshold of science-fiction and use telepathy to understand more of our readers’ requests and ideas, till then, geeks, do write in to us if you found an article interesting; invest in the magazine’s future by collaborating with us on our new ventures; join our online forums so we may know where we need to improve; and reach out to us through your stories of change and tech-transformation so that through you, we may continue to inspire the quiet common man who dreams of being a geek!
Happy Reading!
Albert Mucunguzi and Nilofar Ansher
