SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR CORE INDUSTRIES

       Software Park Thailand and its parent organisation, the National Science and Technology Development Agency, are working with the Industry Ministry to set up pilot projects using service-based technologies aimed at lifting the performance of Thailand's core industries, tourism agriculture.
       Manoo Ordeedolchest, president of Software Park Thailand's board and a member of the NSTDA's board, said the park would fill the role of a technology supporter. Initially, it will help to produce human resources with service-based technology skills, but eventually it will develop a service-based platform called a Digital Connected Service, to work for the two flagship industries.
       In part, the move is a bid to drive and promote the local software industry in the new era of a service-based economy. The park plans to be more proactive in promoting and building awareness of service-based technologies among local software businesses.
       The key to service-based technology is service-oriented architecture (SOA). There are two main styles of Web services developed by SOA: simple object access protocol (Soap) and representational state transfer (Rest). The goal is to identify component-based software technology that will enable small-and medium-sized software companies to develop software in compenent form, rather than as completed applications or solutions.
       One example of a Rest-based SOA is Amazon's affilate network - or, for that matter, any e-commerce affiliate network. Another example of a Rest-based SOA is Google's AdSense network. REST-based SOAs are bound to see much wider adoption throughout the web than Soap-based SOAs.
       Manoo said the park planned to promote and build awareness of Rest-based SOAs among local software companies.
       "Rest-based SOAs are lightweight SOAs that suit small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They can be designed and developed for easy, uncomplicated tasks. A viral effect is built around this kind of SOA.
       "The park will join with universities in promoting this kind of technology through interdisciplinary curricula," he said.
       Meanwhile, the park is also planning to launch a social website in the next two months to promote component-based software technology throughout the online community. The website will initially offer 40-50 component software prototypes designed according to REST-based SOA. By the end of this year, it plans to have about 200 component-software pieces available.
       "This social website will be designed as a component-software marketplace for both users and developers. Users, especially SMEs, can visit to find the component software they need, by shopping or posting their requirements. Software houses will then have a great channel by which to reach the market - especially SMEs - and will have a chance to learn and work on SOA," Manoo said.
       As well, Software Park Thailand will introduce its Digital Connected Service, which it hopes will apply the principles of current popular social networks to the real industryh sectors.
       The park will work with partners to integrate the social network technology and Web 2.0 with "last mile" communication channels such as community radio, to deliver information and services to agricultural producers and tourism businesses in remote areas.
       "This pilot will be a trial for integration and use of advance technology - Web 2.0 - and traditional communication - community radio channels. It will not only prove the concept of blending these technologies to help lift up the country's core real sectors, but also create new market opportunities for local software businesses," Manoo said.