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Asia Pacific Next Generation (APNG) Camp has been organizing by the Asia Pacific Networking Group (APNG). The camp aims to discover and discipline the future Internet leaders in Asia Pacific (AP) region by learning and working with seniors. Those future leaders will be supported and collaborated to promote the Internet in their home country and the region by seniors and AP organizations for example - Asia Pacific Networking Group (APNG), Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), Asia Pacific Top Level Domain Association (APTLD), Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN), The Internet Education and Research Laboratory (intERLab) etc.
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The 5th APNG camp was held in conjunction with 18th APAN Meetings/QUESTnet 2004 in Cairns, Australia during 2-5 July 2004. This camp had organized the first fellowship program for AP young people from developing country, which were Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. There were also participants and speakers from other country such as Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, etc. The camp consisted of different sessions in both engineering and non-engineering area such as seminar of Internet development, history of the Internet presentation, working group (WG) discussion, and other activities.
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First day of the camp began with introduction of organizer, participants, and sponsors. We learned campfs purposes, sponsorfs activity, and other participants by each introduction. It was also included the Internet history session that consisted of fellowfs presentations of history of the Internet of their country: Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines, and Thailand. It was interesting to learn the history of the Internet from other countries because each country had unique history. The development of the Internet in each country has been growing differently; and it is now in different stage of development.
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We learned the fact that the development and the growth of the Internet depend on many factors for example: policy, infrastructure, needs of the Internet, senior and leader, and young generation. Most important factor of the history of the Internet is human. Nowadays, existing of the Internet founded on human desires. We desire to learn, develop, and use the Internet because we believe that it could ease our daily life and could help us achieve everything faster and wider. This is true if we posses ethic behavior in using and developing the Internet. It is great that the key persons are concern about this issue. Law, policy, regulation, and security system have also been developed to protect the violent use of the Internet. Promoting the use of the Internet should also focus on the responsibility of the Internet users to observe regulations strictly.
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Apart from the history of the Internet, the camp had provided sessions of introduction to the Internet relevant organizations in Asia-Pacific region, which were APNIC, APTLD, JPNIC, TWNIC, and intERLab. We have learned from speakers the figure and activities of each organization. Besides, we got contact with them as an advantage for further cooperation, assistances, and collaboration.
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Second and third day we learned about the Internet development for instance: VoIP technology, IPv6, DNS and DNS operation, security in the Internet, etc. It was a great time to learn from the experts and well known, they had generous delivered talks in this camp. We are inspired to learn more about the technology and make contribution of our knowledge and time to our own country and the region for the sustainable development. Besides, a session of local camp report from Taiwan, Korea, and Japan was also presented. Each country organized local camp for young people to promote the Internet and provided seminar of the Internet development. The local camp that they organized had completed successfully. They encouraged the fellows to start the local camp with guidance and assistance from them. This was one strategy to discover and promote the Internet in the country. Another session was working group discussion that separated the participants into 2 groups. One discussed about technical track and another one discussed about social track.
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The social track working group that I attended discussed on culture which mainly base on:
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- How does the Internet change our ordinary life and cultures?
- Who are the active agents and subjects, or the major force behind the changes?
- How common/different between Asia countries?
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We discussed and shared case studies from each country. It was excited to learn from each other. WG has encouraged us to do research impact of the Internet and consider our own Internet community on how it changes our ordinary life and culture and then share the research to other. Moreover, case studies of social track were also presented from Taiwan team.
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Apart from above mentioned sessions, the camp had also provided fun activity. We went to the zoo on top of a building; at the end of each day we had great time with very good dinners. I believe these recreations had successful in getting closer relationship between participants; we got to know other by chatting in ordinary issues and exchange contact and information.
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In conclusion, I would like to thank to APNG chair, APNG sec, camp chair, and key persons who have generous supports to us. I do very appreciate and grateful that I gained a lot of knowledge and experience, and felt comfortable and fun during the camp. The work that has been requested by the camp will surely get cooperation from me. The camp has made me please to contribute what I can not only for my own country but also for our region.
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