Monday, June 4, 2001		Lens on IT

Chinese children enjoy a computer lesson at a kindergarten in Xian, Shaanxi province. Learning to operate a computer and to speak English are nowadays considered the basic and necessary skills in modern Chinese society, according to a recent survey.

Peruvian presidential candidate Alejandro Toledo (R) shows a girl his computer with a direct satellite Internet connection that he has installed inside his campaign bus during a visit to a Lima shantytown. Toledo will face off with rival Alan Garcia in the polls .

Hong Kong actress-singer Kelly Chan poses for photographers at a news conference to promote computer equipment for Pacific Century CyberWorks in a Hong Kong shopping centre.

A salesman displays a computer for a couple at the 17th International Computer Expo 2001 in Hong Kong . About 400 companies are participating in the EXPO this year. 

Tim Wiggins of NCR's Advanced Concepts Solutions Laboratory in Dundee, Scotland, uses his personal digital assistant (PDA) to demonstrate accessing money from a conceptual automated teller machine (ATM) . Nicknamed "The Red Egg" because of its shape, it is the world's first ATM that can be accessed by a handheld wireless device or mobile telephone. 

— Reuters photos