EDITORIAL
It is time to squeeze out maximum help from what technology can offer
Thanks to our young techies, Goa is gaining some ideas that promise to help tackle its long-standing challenges. Whether these will ultimately work out or not, only time will tell. But fresh thinking can definitely bring in new optimism; that is something we all ought to cherish.
For instance, in recent months, two small but impressive initiatives have caught some attention. One is a knowledge-driven solution to solving – rather, reducing – Goa’s public transport woes. The other is an attempt to build a Romi Konkani AI (Artificial Intelligence) chatbot. Largely outside the public glare, techies and other volunteers, led by Yash Ganthe, have been working to develop Geographical Information Systems and develop software for digitising bus routes and timings. Their discussions might not make much sense to the average person or the uninitiated. But if it offers solutions, who can complain?
Alden do Rosario, a Goan based in the US, is working to build an AI chatbot for Romi Konkani. This could give a new lease of life to an age-old language and its scripts, which we otherwise feel the need to spend time fighting over. Massachusetts-based Rosario says it needs much text in Romi Konkani, which the AI can learn from. So, the current appeal is to anyone with access to copyright-unencumbered PDF files to consider sharing them. Such text, he explains, is used to train an AI in the Konkani style and language, much like teaching a child.
Technology’s problem is that it sometimes easily gets overcome with hype. At the same time, it’s easy to overlook its potential. Currently, it’s to draw out effective solutions, not be overly pessimistic, and also squeeze out maximum help from what technology can offer. For instance, there are many ideas as to what could possibly be done, now or in the near future. One can’t help wondering if AI-powered visitor management systems, IoT (Internet of Things)-enabled waste bins, smart parking, and data-driven tourism policies could help Goa’s quest for sustainable tourism management. Or if drones and satellite monitoring of environmental changes, AI for predicting coastal erosion patterns, and blockchain for tracking mining licences could help us cope with environmental pressures.
Likewise, some preliminary – but far from sufficient – work has been done for app-based citizen reporting on garbage hotspots. Agri-tech apps could make direct farmer-to-consumer sales possible. IoT-enabled precision farming or AI-driven soil and crop analysis has been spoken of much but are yet to be seen in the field. Online skill-development platforms with AI-based career guidance could help our youth and connect Goan talent to global job markets. Goa can surely make do with effective AI-based Konkani language learning apps, speech-to-text transcription tools for Konkani, and building digital archives of Goan literature and folklore.
Blockchain-based land records and AI-driven RTI processing could solve grievances faster and improve governance. Only our experts would know how realistic telemedicine platforms, AI-powered diagnostic tools and GPS-enabled ambulance tracking could be in health systems. Marine monitoring based on AI, blockchain for tracking sustainable fishing practices and IoT sensors to detect illegal activities are not far-fetched to dream of at this stage.
Let’s weed out the hype that goes with tech. This leads to overbilling, unfulfilled expectations and ineffective working. Machines are only as good as the men behind them. Committed techies need to show the way and deliver on initiatives that really bring in results.
