Now lectures on your TV and mobile phones

As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between IGNOU and Time broadband, the open university will broadcast its lectures via the IPTV (Internet Protocol Television). This is the first time that an university has been in such a collaboration.  

The multimedia lectures will encompass all the 140 programmes provided at IGNOU. Users will have to attach a set top box to their computers for availing this service. The course material is available free of cost on the IGNOU website, users will  have to download it. This will be of interest to everybody, right from farmers to housewives to students wanting to gain extra knowledge. "This agreement is our way  of reaching the masses and initiate self learning," says V N Rajasekhkran Pillai, vice chancellor, IGNOU.

 The mobile phone lectures will be  an abbreviated version of the ones that are broadcast on the TV. This will be presented keeping in mind the mobile terminology and the time spent with the phones. "By providing lectures on mobile phones we are trying to reach a wider audience and also increase the level of interactivity," explains Irfan Khan, senior vice president, Time Broadband. Services Pvt Ltd. 

The tie-up  will be a revolution in the field of education. "We are trying to create a convergence of all the three mediums of communication (TV, internet and mobile phones) to provide education and learning to the people," says Khan. Pillai, believes that this initiative will help create a better quality of life for the people.

r_prachi@dnaindia.net