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'Lack of Arabic web content reduces Internet benefits to education'AMMAN, Nov 08, 2012 (Jordan Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The "weakness and lack" of Arabic content on the web reduces the potential benefits of the Internet for education and economy in the Arab world, HRH Prince Hassan said Wednesday. Arabic content on the web at present does not provide students and researchers in the region with references that help them in their research, the prince said, stressing the need for developing content based on facts. "It is unfortunate that the Arabic content on the web is inaccurate and does not reflect the facts about our history and civilisation," the prince said in a speech delivered on his behalf by Khalid Shraideh, secretary general of the Higher Council for Science and Technology. In the address, delivered at the opening of the Arabic Content Conference, Prince Hassan called for developing a regional strategy across the Arab world to boost Arabic content on the web, which he said does not exceed 3 per cent of the total content. He stressed the need for cooperation between ICT ministries, funds, financing entities and technology societies in the region to boost Arabic content on the web. He also underlined the need for Arab universities to publish their research and academic papers on the Internet and called for encouraging young people and university students to enrich web content. The prince, who noted that 75 per cent of the Arabic content on the web comes from Jordan, said the Kingdom is one of the Arab countries that can lead the industry of developing Arabic content on the web. Meanwhile, Rashid AlBallaa, CEO of N2V, an investment company in Saudi Arabia focused on consumer web and mobile ventures, reviewed several projects and initiatives to boost Internet Arabic content at the conference, attended by public and private sector representatives from the ICT sector. He also highlighted the role of government support in rendering related private initiatives a success, stressing that the creation of online Arabic content helps preserve a society's culture. ___ (c)2012 the Jordan Times (Amman, Jordan) Visit the Jordan Times (Amman, Jordan) at www.jordantimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |