Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Facebook has become an excellent platform to develop computer videogames.

Some days ago the Peruvian Institute of Computing and Information Technology (Cibertec) launched Chancon Fighter, an application that combines entertainment and learning.

This is a simple game where users have to choose a character first, and then select an option: to play alone or against other players.

The game includes some general knowledge questions: there will be three options falling down and the player must type the right one before they hit the top bottom. It's intended to be a way to speed up the mind and learn.

Chancon Fighter also has a chat box allowing players to talk and challenge each one. To try it out, enter to: apps.facebook.com/chanconfighter

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru stores will start selling TV sets ready for digital TV signal on Saturday, Feb. 13, which will be equipped with technology for the ISDB-T standard.

“We are offering four models which include a decoder, two of them of LCD technology and the other two of LED technology. We are starting with the ones from 32" to 47," declared Javier Ugarte, from LG Electronics, the company which will start selling these appliances in Peru.

Sony will have their digital-enabled Bravia TV sets ready for the Peruvian market in April.

In addition, América Móviles (Claro), will start selling cell phones with the technology “One Seg” that allows to watch digital TV.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The first Peruvian nanosatellite, called Chasqui I, will be ready to be launched to outer space during the second half of 2010, said Aurelio Padilla, Rector of the National University of Engineering (UNI).

The Chasqui I is only 10 cm long and will weigh almost one kilo, added Padilla.

This nanosatellite will be launched from Russian territory, with the logistics help of the Technical Stare University of Kursk, which owns modern launching platforms and is authorized to conduct operations in the space.

Padilla stressed that this satellite will not only take photographs of the earth for climatic, environmental and archaeological studies, but also will “prove that Peruvians are able to conduct high-level science researches.” The images will be used by the Peruvian-Japanese Center of Seismic Research and Disasters Mitigation, among other scientists.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Right after Google Inc. announced its arrival in the Peruvian market, the company let everyone know they are also searching for “a Peruvian professional that knows the market and can be seen as one of the users.”

According to Daniel Gertsakov, Google's Sales Director for Latin America, Google Inc. is “excited” about the challenge of entering Peruvian market, and about the steps to be taken aiming to boost the use of internet and e-commerce.

“We are planning to hire local talent, a Peruvian professional to conduct our operations in Peru. The idea is that they will be Google's local face,” stressed Gertsacov. Those interested in applying must meet three requirements: professional preparation, education and personal values.

The profile required to qualify as a candidates is listed in google.com/jobs/locations.

Click here to read a recent interview with Google's Latin America director, the Brazilian Alexandre Hohagen.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

Andina

In order to monitor the weather in Machu Picchu and the surroundings areas of Cusco, Peru's National Meteorology and Hydrology Institute (Senamhi) purchased 6 weather stations, the head of this institution Wilar Gamarra said Saturday.

He pointed out that there are 4 weather and 2 hydrologic stations; and six more are expected to be purchased this year.

“All stations are intended to do research in Machu Picchu sanctuary and the surrounding areas to study the weather,” he told RPP Radio.

Likewise, he mentioned that Senamhi is working in Cusco developing other projects like the readjustment to climate change in coordination with the Environment Ministry.

“Through this project, studies on the effects of climate change and how people living in extreme poverty areas along Apurimac and Urubamba River should be adapted," he added.

He also said that Senamhi is developing a regional project of adjustment to climate change with the cooperation of Switzerland, the United Nations Development Programme and other organizations.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Cell phone users in Peru will soon be able to access to the national weather forecasts system (Senamhi) from their cell phones, reports Peru21.

The forecasts that will be available via cell phones during the first stage of this service are the ones corresponding to Piura, Cajamarca, Trujillo, Lima, Iquitos, Pucallpa, Cusco, Juliaca, Arequipa and Tacna.

This service is intended to benefit Peruvians and foreigners as well, since everyone needs to be better informed and aware of the weather conditions, and how this can affect their daily lives.

Senamhi's weather alerts will also include advice to minimize the risks generated by weather conditions.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

“Crazy Combi,” the Facebook game created by Peruvian company Inventarte, has hit a record of having been played 100 million times since July 2009.

The application is also evolving into Crazy Combi 3D, which will be available at the new Peruvian webpage kaybo.com.

“We expect to reach one million of unique users during the first three months,” says the company's owner, Javier Albarracín.

“We also want to become the bridge between Asia and Latin America, aiming to develop and commercialize videogames throughout the region,” he remarks.

"Crazy Combi" has currently 400,000 unique users per month, who play this game 10 or 15 times a month.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Up to 1,500 passports were issued daily in Lima between January and March, according to Norma Ramirez Castillo, Director of the General Direction of Migrations and Naturalization.

Ramírez pointed out at the fact that the demand of this document also rises during July and August, but the modern technological equipment has allowed to reduce considerably the time used to serve all the passport applications.

"In certain special cases we can issue a passport in only 5 minutes, via our interconnected system," stressed Ramirez.

This public institution had setup a stand showcasing a mobile office at the "First Technology Exposition Fair," developed at Real Felipe Fortress at Callao, where dozens of citizens were issued (or revalidated) their passports in only five minutes each, during the five days that the fair lasted.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

A videogame was created on the internet, in which the point of the game is to shoot Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez in order to prevent him from hurting or damaging anyone.

This game is hosted on the Peruvian website www.l2datanet.com, and it seems somebody modified the game "Bug-heads Revenge" from Legitgames.com and put Garcia Perez's head in instead.

The game is divided into several levels, and each level is harder than the previous one.

Moreover, the videogamer has seven chances to charge the gun and shoot the President.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

"Freezing is over," announced popular Facebook group "No a Keiko" administrators, who rejects an eventual election of congresswoman Keiko Fujimori for President.

The disqualification prevented the group administrators to update statements, links, photos, or videos.

The group administrators made the announcement through Twitter, and local netizens left messages supporting them.

Up to now, "No a Keiko" has more than 13,400 followers.

The news posted via Twitter were answered by many fans. "Congratulations!", and "Justice is done!" said some of the messages.

"No a Keiko" describes itself as a group created to promote a country free of corruption, with respect for democracy and in defense of human rights, so it rejects Keiko Fujimori's candidacy for President because "its represents a backward movement in democracy's consolidation."

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.