The aim of the initiative is to provide an easy means for the general public to find information and use smart ID cards to do transactions with the government. In a trial project, the computer centre of Silpakorn University will develop applications and provide a portal site for the service. If all goes to plan then ultimately the kiosks could be rolled-out nationwide.
This announcement follows last year's initiative by the Interior Ministry's Bureau of Registration Administration (BORA) when it launched its multi-purpose machines (MPMs) to serve as registration service kiosks and provide other related e-services. BORA plans to implement the machines in 1077 district offices after the smart ID card is introduced.
The ICT Ministry project would complement BORA's initiative, according to Dr Panjai Tantatsanawong, Computer Centre Director of Silpakorn University who said the university was planning to develop a special browser for touch-screen PCs.
"We will make the fonts bigger because today's browsers support a mouse," he said, adding there will also be a soft keyboard as well as functions to support the disabled, such as voice access.
Information for the kiosks will be automatically updated via a server located at Silpakorn University. In the future, it would be managed by the ICT Ministry as a sub-set of its ecitizen.go.th portal.
During a two-month testing period, Acer Computer sponsored five computers along with maintenance. The ICT Ministry plans to support the project with a broadband internet link from either TOT Corp or CAT Telecom in the future.
Quelle: Public Sector Technology & Management, 04.08.2004
