As part of an initiative aimed at responding to what the company sees as the need for Guyana to accelerate access to technology-driven tools that will lend critical support to its development direction, STARR Computers Chief Executive Officer Michael Mohan has told Stabroek Business that the company has signed an Agreement with the Japanese company, Seiko Epson Corporation (EPSON) under which the local technology distributor is now an Authorized Service Center for Epson products marketed here.
Ranked among the world’s largest manufacturers of computer printers, and information and imaging related equipment, EPSON, Mohan told Stabroek Business, brings a high-profile reputation to Guyana that is likely to attract the significant attention of the enlightened technology community here.
Just over a week ago EPSON completed a certification training exercise with STARR Computers staff at the local company’s Brickdam complex aimed at familiarizing them with its range of hi-tech equipment including its Interactive Projectors, Digital Scanners and Enterprise EcoTank Printers. The exercise, Mohan said, was part of a process of preparation for equipping the company to become an Authorized Service Centre for Epson products. Mohan told Stabroek Business that STARR is regarding its accession to the position of an Authorised Service Centre for EPSOM as the high point of a partnership with the Japanese company that has existed for more than a decade. “This accomplishment enhances the Smart Classroom initiative we started seven years ago,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohan, who says that STARR is “monitoring closely” the gradual emergence of an oil and gas industry in Guyana, including what will be the incremental need to place key technological tools at the disposal of the country if it is to manage the sector efficiently, told this newspaper that STARR welcomes the indications given by ExxonMobil and its partners that it intends to support the country’s drive to create a local educational regime that will enhance local technology-related skills in order enable a higher level of local preparedness for future employment opportunities that will inevitably emerge as the country’s oil and gas recovery programme unfolds.
STARR’s breakthrough partnership with EPSON marks the continuation of a succession of marketing and training agreements which the company has signed with high profile international technology companies, beginning with an agreement with the flagship South Korean company, SAMSUNG, seven years ago, under which staff received training in the setting up of Smart Classrooms.
Asked to share his views on the future of local Smart Classrooms, Mohan said that if such a programme is to make an impact, teachers needed to be trained, classroom security needed to be enhanced, and funding needed to be made available. “Beyond that, it was not my view that we were ready to adapt to the Android operating system to run its (Smart Classroom) educational application in the classroom,” Mohan said.
The STARR Computers boss told Stabroek Business that the company has since gone on to develop its own Virtualized Smart classroom solution “by integrating Lenovo, APC and HP with N-computing on a Windows platform.” He said that several local private schools have since taken advantage of that option and proceeded to successfully deploy “our solution for their classrooms.”
Mohan told Stabroek Business, meanwhile, that by adding EPSON technologies to its list of partners STARR can now “deploy virtual electronic chalkboard where a digital pen is used to markup contents to an electronic chalkboard while interfacing with up to fifty multiple input devices simultaneously across multiple operating platforms.” Such a system, he said, would facilitate students who utilise multiple devices including desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets while running on Windows, Android, Linux and IOS platforms. At the classroom level, Mohan said, “in an environment where the projected screen is too small from one projector due to size of classroom, we can now stitch two projected screens into one large synchronized screen.”
During his exchange with the Stabroek Business Mohan alluded to some of the particular benefits which he said can be derived from the company’s new agreement with EPSON. “Paper stockpiling of records and general prints has always posed a fire-related challenge in Guyana. Now that legislation was passed to digitize data contents for regulatory compliances, the EPSON high speed digital scanner is fast becoming a storage tool of choice. Data can now be stored in multiple locations for centuries and can be easily accessible. A technology tool of this nature can be invaluable to the records storage sector in Guyana,” Mohan said.
