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MUMBAI: In the sixth episode of the series, Adam Shaw meets Jimmy Wales, founder of online encyclopaedia Wikipedia to find out how the site has grown from small beginnings to become one of the world?s most visited online information resources.
Adam and Jimmy Wales discussthe increasing democratisation of the web. Technological advances such as cheaper smart phones and mobile optimised websites mean millions more people in developing economies have access to the internet, which is causing a radical shift in the previously westernised voice of the World Wide Web.
In India, Horizon?s Reporter Rajini Vaidyanathan meets the founder of Delhi-based technology for social development company, ZMQ Software Solutions, to find out how their mobile phone apps and educational games are helping to empower the poorest in society.
Rajini also meets a group of women who have been able to start their own small businesses using apps, which provide access to microloans and teach basic economic skills.
In part two Adam and Jimmy Wales discuss the growing global trend of Open Data and the idea that all information collected by governments should be made available to their citizens in an easy to read format to generate new educational opportunities and stimulate commercial enterprise.
Adam then travels to San Francisco to find out how the city?s municipal government has been pioneering the Open Data movement, making thousands of statistics and data sets from its daily operations freely available to the public.
Finally Adam meets the city?s chief innovation officer Jay Nath to find out how information software designers are turning information as diverse as public transport timetables, crime mapping and food hygiene inspections, into lifestyle apps, which aim to improve the experience of living in the city. He also meets one resident who has done just that by creating her own app targeted at helping families with young children.
The Horizons series, sponsored by DuPont, airs weekly on Saturdays at 7.00am & 02:00pm and Sundays at 8:00pm and 1:00am.
Further information, online videos and behind the scenes content can be found at www.bbc.com/horizonsbusiness .
For all the latest news, behind-the-scenes pictures/videos and updates from Adam Shaw visit facebook.com/horizonsTVseries or on twitter at @horizonsbiz.
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