Making them learn the 'genius' way

Initiated in March 2004, the 4IG team, which includes Mominul Hoque, Asfaque Ahmed and Mohammed Salehin from International University of Bangladesh (IUB) and Chowdhury Iftekhar Hossain from North South University, made their debut in the tech community through their participation at the recently held Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) Computer Fair. At the BCS showcase, the 4IG team displayed their Flash-base products like, 'Arshan- Amar Pora', 'Bigyaner Khela', 'Fanious' , 'Shadhin Bangla Mail', and 'Mobile Mela'. Each of these products has been created by the 4IG from the scratch and put under marketing distribution for the first time.

4IG's website www.4ingenius.com also has a flashy outlook, literally reflecting a fine work of Flash, like their products, which are all visually enthralling. The website is another way of getting information on their products.

Apart from software production, the team is also involved in producing corporate solutions to other local companies, including web page solutions, server implementation, customised software development, 3D animations, graphics and printing solution, and they also have their own printing press.

"We have tried to create some interactive software products for children," said Hoque, a third-year BBA student at IUB, the young managing director of 4IG, while reflecting his views about 'Arshan-Amat Pora', 'Funious', and 'Bigyaner Khela'. The reason behind making flash-based products is that it would easily click on any youngster's mind with its colourful and flamboyant outlook, which 4IG has tried to make consistent in their products.

Arshan-Amar Pora, a tutorial for 37 year old children has Aladin's Genie accompanying them throughout the programme. "This will not only draw the kid's attention for a longer period, but will also allow us to use some pre-established colour and figures which are already widely accepted in their world," says Hossain, marketing manager and one of the technical hands of 4IG. And this is exactly how Arshan is different from any of the educational software available in the local market. The software has interactive ways to learn numbers, to understand the hand-clock, Bengali and English rhymes and stories, introduction to animal world, knowing the human body, learning the calendar and colours.

'Bigyaner Khela' has a collection of games using the basics of physics in most cases. Nothing more than household essentials such as cups, books and paper are required to perform these games in practice. The instructions are in Bengali and thus would be best suited for kids who know how to read the language. Knowledge on gravity, suctions, wire-tensile, air, magnetisms, and many more are prospected through the software.

"This is almost like buying a book on scientific games from the book fair," says Hoque, " the only difference is that children of this generation are getting more and more accustomed with their household computers as soon as the term 'games' is mentioned. Of course, this is what has driven us all the way long and have the children as only focused users," Hoque adds. Seventeen biographies of different pioneer scientists from around the world in different times and major scientific discoveries are also included.

'Funius' is an amazing collection of what is more appropriately stated as 'things to do', including wallpapers, games, interactive learning software, trailers, screen-savers and animal videos. The software part includes sections such as ABC-Colour, Anim-Colour, Global pets, and Melody Assistant, which focus on stirring the youngsters' knowledge-base and proclaiming them to learn faster with developing an eager interest on software solutions that comprise most of the today's world. "High-quality 3D games, and not just one but more than ten different ones, are a major attraction. Funius will be in good demand among the children once they know how to claim it," hopes Hoque.

Shadhin Bangla Mail is an effort, which is inspired by Linux systems, and the way they would use open source codes in all their products. "We have done the same with Shadhin Bangla Mail," states Hoque, while mentioning how keeping the source code open allows it to remain customisable by the user at his or her requirement. This would also let small-time programmers to learn how to manifest mailing products," hopes Hoque, reflecting on the brighter sides of keeping an open source code.

4IG's effort in bring in all available information on about 150 leading mobile phones from around the world under one banner is -- 'MobileMania'. Through this CD, any user would avail himself with information about data-connectivity, computer compatibility, ring tones, logos, games, and many other similar cell-phone functions. "Any information available about these sets elsewhere is made available here, " states Ahmed.

Currently all these 4IG products are available in major software-distributing markets around the capital. "We are hoping to route our products towards the rest of the country in due time," states Hossain. While mentioning pricing of these products, which ranges from Tk 80 to a high of Tk 120, he says that at present 4IG will only seek marginal profit. The team hence strictly mentions the copyright policy of the country, and how it lacks any stern enforcement from the law enforcers.

Citing that the government should take initiative to stop piracy and pointing it out as a vital reason against pulling in any international ICT-company into the local market, Hossain said, "It is hard to conceive it when we find 4IG products being copied, and there is so less you can do about it."