Current Issue (Issue 165)

Sakai is a set of software tools designed to help instructors and other users create course and project websites on the World Wide Web. Simply we can say it a courseware. Actually it is an enhanced version of the original CourseTools. All Sakai users have a personal workspace, where one can see activities from all their sites as well as any personal activities added here.

One can also see tabs for one or more course websites or project websites, depending on how many you have set up and how many you participate in. Using a web browser, users choose from Sakai's features and functions to create a site that meets their needs. Without having the knowledge of HTML, one can create -

- A website where an instructor or project director can make announcements and share resources, such as electronic documents or links to other websites.

- A website that serves as an online discussion board.

- A course website where students can work on and submit assignments electronically.

The software also provides the facility of Chatting, Discussion and Email archive. One can also read topical news from online news sources.

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Site of the Week:- http://www.indianpatents.org.in/

This is the website of Patent Facilitating Centre of TIFFAC (Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council). The Centre provides the Patent search facility for Indian, US and European patents and also provides abstracts/full text. This service is free for universities, academic institutions, Govt. R&D institutions and Govt. departments. It also gives the access to 2 databases viz.

1) Ekaswa - A Database: Patent applications filed in India as published in the issues of the Gazette of India (Part III, Section 2) from January 1995 onwards.

2) Ekaswa - B Database: Patent applications notified for opposition in the Gazette of India (Part III, Section 2) published from January 1995 onwards.