IT literacy and employment through Spoken Tutorials

Summary form only given. IT literacy and employment through Spoken Tutorials Spoken Tutorials (http://spoken-tutorial.org) are video tutorials that explain the functioning of FOSS systems. Video part of the tutorials is obtained through screencast, which is obtained by capturing an actual session with the software. The video is accompanied by a running commentary. The audio is dubbed into all Indian languages. Spoken tutorials are created for self learning, so that even a remote child working alone at midnight can use it without anyone to help her. A list of FOSS systems currently under consideration by our team is available at http://www.spoken tutorial, org/wiki/. It is possible to make all children of India IT literate through this technology. Some case studies that explain the power of spoken tutorials will be presented. We have created a series of spoken tutorials on ORCA, the software that helps visually impaired people use computers. We have successfully conducted two training programmes using this self-learning material. We will be creating certification programmes that will help visually impaired people to access IT and for gainful employment. Some of the other examples are spreading FOSS in general and GNU/Linux and PHP/MySQL, in particular.