ICFOSS is set to commence R and D on the popular smart-device platform, ''Android'', through a composite project awarded to it by the Department of Information Technology (DIT), India.
''Android'' is a FOSS-based generic Operating System platform for mobile phones, pads, slates, tablets and a variety of other emerging devices, a press release said here today.
It is promoted by the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 84 IT and Telecom firms led by Google, which originally owned the platform.
The components of DIT Project include supporting Indian language localisation, standardising hardware extensions to Android devices, exploring 3D gesture-based User Interfaces; creating a context-aware framework for Android, developing multipurpose applications on the platform and providing policy recommendations for an open hardware architecture in view of the rapid obsolescence of these devices.
Four out of the six project components approved are to be implemented by ICFOSS at Technopark, Trivandrum, while the other two are to be implemented by CDAC Delhi and CDAC Chennai.
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The DIT project on Android will help ICFOSS to create and incubate an internal R and D facility. The Governing Body of ICFOSS, chaired by Minister for Industries P K Kunhalikutty, has decided to take immediate steps required to encourage such R and D, including the possible setting up of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in smart devices such as mobile phones, pads, slates, tablets and newer developments such as wearable computing devices. Our proposed international campus will have a strong R and D focus besides Academic Research, Advocacy, Outreach and Training," Satish Babu, Director, ICFOSS said.
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