Free, Reliable Software is just around the corner

Ever since March, I have done some exploring of the free, open-source software available on the web. 

I came to the conclusion  that most of the everyday stuff that you see (maybe the Microsoft Office, the Image editing softwares ( adobe or corel), you can find a community of people developing a similar application that is cheap or you can download at no cost, except that you promote their product) 

During my search I came upon the following:

1. GIMP 2 - the partial replacement to Adobe Photoshop. Basically it can replace most of the basic features that Photoshop is capable of, like mixing images or editing the photo. This software is very similar to Photoshop and has many (but not all)  the capabilties.  It is free to download website: http://www.gimp.org/ 

2. Google Docs - Its the website made by google that has many of the capabilties of your Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint). Its capabilities are similar to the 2003 version, but Google is slowly added its own unique capabilities. Free. You need to create a google account to use it .   http://docs.google.com

3. Google Sketchup - A drawing software that is similar but much easier to use than the Autocad. There are 2 verisons: a Free and a professional (paid) one. It comes with its own Huge Library of 3d drawings made by volunteers, which should grow as more people download their software. http://sketchup.google.com/   

There are  hundreds more free software, some reliable, others that could crash your hard drive, that you can get with a quick search thru Google. If you're careful, you should be able to replace most of it thru an open-source software that runs just as good as the commercial versions.

I always wonder what kinds of new industries you can come up with, now that computing speed is getting pretty quick. Basically, backyard animation or basic product design could be refined with these software.  

Those the desktop cant handle, it could be delegated to some website that provides you the added processing speed, and they could just charge you on an hourly or monthly basis.  Which is eventually what is happening now. But that's another story to tell some time in the Future.

During the Start of the Internet Revolution

I remember my first real burst of pure excitement; It was back in 1994(?) and I was in my apartment in Manila (near ADMU). I was an Industrial Engineering Student in UP Diliman, and we were taking a project feasibility study course. It was our instructor's preference that we search new territory and focus on a product that we could build or market from scratch. 

The Internet was virgin territory back then. I hardly had any internet connection. All we knew was that it was like an incoming Gold Rush - a computer software that controlled a communications device (modem) which could sift thru information from many many networked computers, globally, instantly. Only very few Universities had this capability, and I had friends who had access  to some of the very first web browsers in the country.

I wanted to focus on using the Internet to market products globally, at the flick of a switch. LUCKILY, I never did continue with it. First of, I had never seen a browser ever. Further, Internet Usage was very dismal ( you had to be LITERALLY in either UP or Ateneo or La Salle to access it).

Our Group changed our Thesis into something more modest (Agri-based). 

But life revolved around the Internet from then on; by 1997, I had a modem. I surfed the wild and wooly web. And life has never been the same again. 

Impending CATASTROPHE: Relentless Heavy Rain and Flooding in Cagayan de Oro

Cagayan de Oro and nearby regions are feeling the effects of climate change. We are experiencing heavy rains and gusty winds this past few days, almost RELENTLESSLY ( unusual here, rain is usually calm) and 70,000+ persons have been displaced in the coastal regions due to flooding ( Our local Rotary Club is suddenly thrust to produce relief goods).

I even have youtube photos of the effects on the rivers and the submerged residentials. Flooding is repeatedly happening everywhere on and off this past 2 weeks.

The Cagayan de Oro Floods on the internet:

This is a slient video of the aerial view of Cagayan de Oro affected with the flood (this was January 4 , the gusty rain has been coming on and off ever since, unusual here):

http://video. aol.com/video- detail/cagayan- de-oro-flood/ 2018480906

And this is a CNN unfiltered youtube video of a group travelling the Cagayan de Oro river after the flood

http://www.ireport. com/docs/ DOC-174121

Relief goods were distributed by the Jaycee clubs and Rotary clubs repeatedly ever since.

This is the first time I had to use the accuweather report to know the hourly reports of rain, to avoid traversing flooded streets I guess. A new effect called "Buhawi" or twister keeps appearing around the nearby regions.

Its incredible and terrible. Like a ticking time bomb, its been very cloudy here.

The average rainfall here according to the Weather Bureau PAG-ASA, is 80.9mm. Rainfall has now reached around the 125 to 135 mm level, nearly double its average.

Basically, according to my buddy, Nitz Pascual, manager of the National Statistical Coordinating Board, Disaster Preparedness is reactive, not yet preventative. There is no study on the long term effects of Global Warming to the Forest cover we have left. This is done with special ARC GIS equipment, which they are just learning to use. A few months ago, I met my former high scholl physics teacher, Mr. Iggy Ignacio under The Xavier University Science Foundation. He was tasked to do a study of possible flood areas in Mindanao using a GIS software.

Due to the flooding, these disastrous effects have occurred: Many thoroughfares have been flooded up to at least the knee deep level, making access to Malls and other major institutions only possible to SUVs and other offroad vehicles. Classes have been closed these past 5 days. A few Residentials have experienced flooding up to the Ceilings. The economy is mostly grinding to a near crawl as most major institutions have shut down since their workers are too busy either keeping their household belongings from being affected from the flood.

I guess the complete picture will have to wait. Right now, the storm is predicted to subside on Saturday.

The Future of the Philippines, my point of view on renewables rough draft

Its December 12, 2008. 6 months ago, there were food riots all around, Oil (NY Crude) was $147 a barrel. A revolution in Renewable Energy was resurging; Ethanol plants were being established all across the country; Alternative fuels from Sorghum, Sugarcane and Corn, the main ingredient of ethanol, would create new opportunities to farmers in Mindanao and Luzon. In Renewables, Wind Energy Farms were already in Luzon, and a 1MW Solar Farm, the biggest in SouthEast Asia, was running nearby Cagayan de Oro by the local utility company CEPALCO. I counted more than 3 dozen new technologies in the US being developed on every kind of improvements to Renewable Energy and making ethanol viable.

It was to be the beginning of the golden age of Biofuels and Renewables.

TURNING POINT (today):

Now NY Crude is down to a staggering $47 a barrel. Those US research companies, if they ever produce a commercially competive product, are likely to operate 2 -3 years from now. The New Energy Secretary of the US is a Nobel Prize Winning Scientist, whos thrust is to develop alternative energy technology.

Most likely, Renewable Energy and Biofuels Golden Age wont take effect yet, a short term gap of 2 years. Its either we develop cheaper Biofuels ( I hear that genetic engineering can produce microbes that can produce ethanol, without the use of a Distillation Plant, which costs around P 600M to 1.2 B, a staggering savings if they can perfect the process), or Fuel prices go up again.

They say that in every bad situation, there is an opportunity to make good.

IF YOU SEE A POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY for the Renewables and Biofuels Industry, PLEASE COMMENT BELOW.

Biogas and Solar Cell Technology Seminar by XU-ANEC

Seminar Title: Biogas Technology and Solar Cell Basics
Resource Person: Engr. Arnel T. Chavez B.S. Agricultural Engg / Science Research Specialist of XU-ANEC (Xavier University Non-Conventional energy Center ) / In Charge of the Technical Division of the Center
Date: Sept 10, 2008 1:30 PM at the ILIPCO office, Tablon, Cagayan de Oro

Brief Background: XU-ANEC is an extension arm of the Philippine Department of Energy, entrusted to do research, training, consultancy for Renewable Energy Projects. They are based in MANRESA Farms near SEARSOLIN, in the College of Agriculture research farm of Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro.

Description: There was a brief intro to XU-ANEC and then a presentation on Biogas Production ( can also he found in APPROPEDIA wiki here) . This was a shortened seminar from the same XU-ANEC presentation, which was then a 2 day seminar on How to Construct a Fixed Dome Hollow Block Biogas Unit. A brief description was given on the process of Methane Production, the yields of each material used for biogas, from Cattle Dung, Pig Dung, Green Grass ( Which can produce a SURPRISINGLY high enough amount of methane, similar to Pig Dung).
Cost estimates for FIXED DOME Digesters a few years ago was 5,000 to 6,000 pesos per cubic meter, but has now increased to P 10,000 to 12,000 per cu. m.

I mentioned that There were also HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Biogas Digesters, which could cover more ground (and might be cheaper to construct). Engr. Arnel said that these are Landfill type Biogas digesters for really large scale systems (He mentioned earlier that the fixed dome would be cost effective, in this case, for at least a 10 sow strong piggery). He mentioned that Fixed Domes were long lasting and that there were other D.A. (Dept. of Agriculture) Digesters made of LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene Plastic) called TUBE Digesters, but would last only 5 years.

There were many interested people in the seminar ranging from Cattle Ranchers, Pig Farmers. One farmer wanted to know if she could use Biogas to power her mining operation beside her Piggery. Many people wanted to get the plans and wanted to know how much was consultancy. Engr. Chavez said (since they were from the Dept. of Energy), consultancy and construction supervision would be a free service, an outreach, and the plans for the fixed dome were available in their MANRESA office.

The next presentation was on Solar Cell Technology Basics. they should a basic system used in a Home, with the Solar Cell panels (Solar Collectors) , Deep Cycle Batteries ( MOTOLITE was their only brand of choice) , the Charge Controller ( which determines if the batteries are charge enough, and acts as a current controller, swithing electricity use between Solar cell at day, and Batteries at Night). Solar Cells run on DC Current, so they have to be changed to AC Current once it reaches the House.

They also showed the Solar Array (meaning large amounts of Soalr Cells) of the CEPALCO 1 MW Solar Cell Facility in Indahag, near Cagayan de Oro City. This was touted to be one of the 10 biggest Solar Power Plants in Asia.

Comment: Most of these technologies, the Fixed Dome Biogas Digester, the Solar Cells, are now the mainstream types of renewable energy devices. They are fairly old but have been carefully studied by the Cagayan de Oro Engineers for some time now. Other kinds of Biogas Digesters (mostly plastic), and Solar Cells ( which do not need expensive Photolithograpy - Microchip making facilties, but only special, cheaper printer-like facilities using a cheaper semiconductor "ink" ) are now coming into the commercial stage. Nonetheless at Oil hovering at around US$ 100+ per barrel, all these options are almost, or are already cost effective alternatives.

That's all for now. Back to work.

A Brief Chitchat with Dr. William Dar of ICRISAT

Title of Seminar- Innovation Forum: How to Harness the Power of Science and Technology in Development
Date: Sept 11, 2008 @ the SEARSOLIN seminar room, MANRESA farm, College of Agriculture, Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City

Sponsors: The Ayala Foundation, MIT PESO Challenge

Participants: The Seminar Started at 3PM. Participants in the Podium were Fr. Jett Villarin - President of Xavier University ( XU )- Ateneo de Cagayan , Mr. Bobby Ansaldo of Pioneer Seeds(?) , Prof. Roel Ravanera - Dean of the College of Agriculture XU, and Mr. Hector San Juan VP of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce

Description: It was an afternoon long introduction to the facilties of ICRISAT, the International Research Facility run by former Department of Agri Secretary Dr. William Dar in Hyderabad, India . Focus was given to the 1,000+ Hectare Agri-Science Park. Focus of research was on different types of Semi-arid crops like Millet, Cowpea and Sweet Sorghum. Pictures were shown of the the Agri Business Incubators (ABI) private research companies doing research using ICRISAT facilties, among other types of research. Surprisingly fortunate, ICRISAT is a nonprofit research facility making profits in its services, to further fund its public research initiatives. Thats how it should be, self-sustaining.

Comments were given to the Sweet Sorghum research and the Rusni Distilleries, which has put up a 40,000 liters per day pilot facility converting sweet sorghum to ethanol, a major research thrust. ICRISAT is also a breeding facility for BT Cotton and is now currently forming a Translational facility (BIOTECH genetic engineering facility) and is spreading their managerial skills in creating Agri-Science parks to other nearby Indian and South African Institutions.

After, Dar's speech, Mr. Alfonso Alamban (formerly Department of Trade - Cagayan de Oro Head) gave a brief intro to the new agricultural research consultancy arm of the Xavier Science Foundation called AgriTRACS ( Agridev Training, Research, Advocacy, Consultancy Services ) .

During open forum, Mr. Hector San Juan of Oro Chamber mentioned about having more data on Jatropha growing ( which is a plant said to be useful for Biofuel). Dr. Dar said that what is available now are not VARIETIES but RACES (meaning what is being distributed in Mindanao is not standardized, or coming from a definite VARIETY, but a mixture of seeds, which have actually varying yields).

After the seminar, there was cocktails at the outdoor garden beside the seminar room. Discussion went to the Castor Beans being planted by AgriTRACS member Venn, and Dad was able to comment that yields in the Philippines would only reach 1.5 tons per hectare, and 2nd croppings would wither. Dad also commented that D.A. was aksed to get seeds from India where they were touted to grow UP TO 15 tons per hectare. However, bringing Castor Beans out of India WAS PUNISHABLE with 15 years prison. We inquired with Dr. Dar and he said that maybe it would be possible to bring out seeds, if it were done as a research activity, and was negotiated governement to government ( India and Philippines).

Discussion went to the length of time it would take to Crossbreed desired varieties of the same plant. According to Dr. Dar, 7 to 10 years. A WHOLE DECADE JUST TO REACH COMMERCIAL STAGE! Finding an opportunity to speak, I commented to Dr. Dar if it was possible to create a Transgenic Crop instead, Getting genetic fingerprinting of differing varieties, adding desired genes to subject plants, and how long it would take. He said maybe around 5 years pa rin. Dr. Dar is a very orderly and approachable person , and being the Futurist, I wanted to talk to him further by email. So we exchanged cards.

It was such a nice, somber feeling, being around research people. And it was quite an eye opener.

On Having a 'Philippine Solar Cell Valley' and Brain thrust groups

My friend, a Mr. Dennis Posadas journalist for BUSINESSWORLD Magazine, and a Director for the "Philippine Congressional Commission on Science, Engineering and Technology" published 4 articles on Solar as a Sunrise Industry (pardon the pun):

[Aug 19, 2008] http://itmatters.com.ph/columns.php?id=posadas_081908
[Aug 26, 2008] http://itmatters.com.ph/columns.php?id=posadas_082608
[Sept 2, 2008] http://itmatters.com.ph/columns.php?id=posadas_090208
[Sept 9, 2008] http://itmatters.com.ph/columns.php?id=posadas_090908

In it he outlined a company called Sunpower who produces Sillicon Solar Cells with a whopping 22% efficiencty AND based here in the Philippines.

I agree. Energy demand will be so big, there will be a need for even the old version solar panels, even at oil at US$ 106+ per barrel (NY Crude) as of today September 9, 2008.

My comment to Mr. Posadas; So you want to capitalize on Sunpower's presence to start the Solar Industry in the Philippines? Just a few suggestion on how to start this industry

1.0 according to your book RICE and CHIPS, there should be Brain thrust Groups, that should commingle, be open to exchange and share ideas, persons who can network to capitalize on Skill, talent, resources to establish the workings of such an Industry. First you gotta find the critical resource persons and companies to build the Industry. Does the Philippines have the MINIMUM required talents and resources to start the ball rolling? I know UP Diliman receives massive amounts of resources for its ECE (Electronics and Communications Engg) and EE ( Electrical Engg) departments ( I left UP just when there was an ECE course in UP Engg), and ASTI has been working with Microchips since 1997 ( In collaboration with Taiwan firms?).
.
2.0 According to the Technology Management book published by UP Dil, around year 2000, it took decades for Korea to catch up with world standards in CNC Technology, first by partnering with the more advanced Japanese Industrial Companies in the 60s, then slowly forming their own R & D, and ultimately, catching up in Technological capability as the rest of the Advanced World.

THESE GUYS NEVER HAD INTERNET RESEARCH CAPABILITIES. I suggest you do an Obama Strategy of Integrating Web Capabilities ( Technology Review Magazine Article "How Obama Really Did it") in 2.1) Communications with Brainthrust Networks, 2.2) Developing Research Finding and Distributing Techniques and 2.3) Funding of Research thru Internet Capabilities, into a seamless integrated system.

2.1 There are many, many Philippine Researchers in the Philippines and overseas. I read about them in the Philippine Star Newspaper (The "Star Science" article) Every Thursday. They are found on the TLRC government website(requires password) (This stands for the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center, the central arm of the Philippine DOST - Dept of Science and Technology - for diffusion of new livelihood and technology. Many, many technologies are available here thru their E-Technobank LIBRARY, accessible on the internet thru Prepaid Cards, which I also have).

This is quite remarkable, but I doubt if there is any comprehensive COMBINED Directory of Philippine Researchers and Scientists and their specialties. If this were real, it would be in demand by Industry, and it would make it MUCH easier to find the right specialist for their products or services.

2.2 This was something I had noticed about Philippine Technology Researchers; they were not very good in searching for useful technical stuff on the net.

Searching for information, ANY kind of Information , was something I honed thru a decade of Internet Research for New Products, Skills, Techniques in my company.
Every year, it would gets easier and easier to search for data, skills, techniques, patents, methods on any field of expertise, EVEN THOUGH theres more data out there.

But, it can get very hard or very long to search, if you dont know the proper systematic internet searching techniques , or the complete resources available (blogs, instructables, patent sites, e-commerce sites, market sites).

Websites now have a definite formal structure that makes them easily searchable, but few know that ( There is even a Professor in Insead, the European Management School, who knows how to AUTOMATE the art of making a book or a Manual, simply by groupings complementary facts from the Internet) .
Researchers in our country, know all the tools and statistical techniques to test new products, but are not adept at searching quickly for New Products or Services, Inventions (thru patent sites), Manufacturing or Fabrication techniques (thru invention sites like www.instructables.com ), in the Internet.

Its not even part of our academic curriculum. Like UP, theyre just thrown to the elements of nature to find the research on the internet. It takes time and experience to know which sites are reliable sources and which internet tools are the most effective at getting the desired information, and an ORDERLY and EFFICIENT METHOD of storing research information for whatever use you might need. Surely Academia can spare 1 semester for students to learn the art of Information Searching.

We should follow something like the Japanese; They have one special agency, regularly sifting thru the world patent offices for new technology and SUBMIT these TECH UPDATES to their Japanese Corporations. THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE GOVERNMENT SENDS THEM REGULAR MAIL ON NEW, USEFUL TECHNOLOGIES, FROM ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD, THAT THEY CAN ADAPT TO IMPROVE THEIR PRODUCTS OR SERVICES. Its called "Competitive Intelligence" and Philippines has nothing like that here. Without the constant diffusion of Technology, ESPECIALLY to the SMEs, we would not be able to grow faster than we should.

2.3 Integrate Funding for Research to promotion of research studies, so funding can be generated quickly, especially from Overseas Filipinos and Filipino Corporations. Do the Obama strategy; make it very easy for our affluent Filipinos to give to badly needed research. One single website outlining our Philippine research thrusts, possible researches, its impact to Philippine Industry and funding required to make it successful (maybe payable by credit card), will go a long way to making it successful.

I'm bushed. That's all for now.