Hello Everyone
In response to Mr. Newstead's mail there are a couple of things I wanted to
say, First It's an interesting prospect but I do want to point out that its
only a prototype developed in response to OLPC, so they've been working on
this for more than a couple of years. Press releases like these have taken
place a few times in the capital in the last few years, with other private
companies claiming to manufacture the cheapest laptop and desktop, most of
them never see the light of the day beyond a press release and some
publicity. In light that its a government project, there is a good chance
that this device also might not go into production in the near future.
Eventual price target of $10 or even the current $35 projection for that
matter just doesn't seem realistic to me, maybe some IT experts from
Bangalore might comment more on this.
As for the political connections, I might be able to arrange something with
Mr. Kapil Sibal, but please bear in mind that there might be a big
scheduling issue with the Commonwealth Games that are going to be organized
in the capital at the start of October, as the minister of Human Resource
Development and an important member of the Government he might be real busy
in the run up to the games, the Delhi government has made the games its top
priority for the past 5-6 years. Not to mention that its also going to be
pretty hectic for the rest of the city in the run up to the games as well.
Please feel free to contact me if there is anything I can do.
Salmaan Haroon
On Sat, Jul 24, 2010 at 1:53 AM, Barry Newstead <bnewstead(a)wikimedia.org>wrote;wrote:
Interesting article. A couple of top of mind
thoughts:
1. Wouldn't it be great to have a preloaded version of Wikipedia on all of
these computers...and a simple tutorial for how to edit Wikipedia when they
get these computers online. Anyone want to coordinate on this?
2. It would be great to meet with the Human Resources Development Minister
and possibly other relevant government officials when I'm in India in
September. Anyone have warm connections for us to start a dialogue?
Best,
Barry
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [WMF Staff] [press] CNN on
india's $35 laptop Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:54:04 -0700 From: Jay Walsh
<jwalsh(a)wikimedia.org> <jwalsh(a)wikimedia.org> Reply-To: WMF Staff Mailing
List <staff(a)lists.wikimedia.org> <staff(a)lists.wikimedia.org> To: WMF
Staff Mailing List List
<staff@lists.wikimedia.org><staff@lists.wikimedia.org>
(sorry it's CNN, I know... but interesting read)
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/23/india.thirty.five.dollar.la…
India unveils $35 computer for students
By *Harmeet Shah Singh*, CNN
*STORY HIGHLIGHTS*
- India: Connectivity to all colleges is key to achieving education
goals.
- Officials say the price would gradually fall to $10 a piece
- The country's literacy rate stands at 65 percent
*RELATED TOPICS*
- India <http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/India>
- Computer
Technology<http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Computer_Technology>
*New Delhi, India (CNN)* -- India has unveiled a $35 computer prototype
as part of its program to provide connectivity to its students and teachers
at affordable prices.
Kapil Sibal, the country's human resources development minister, displayed
what he called a low-cost computing and access device in New Delhi on
Thursday.
The ministry said the price would gradually fall to $10 a piece.
India said connectivity to all its colleges and universities is key to
achieving its education goals.
Home to a billion-plus population, the country's literacy rate stands at 65
percent, according to the 2001 census figures.
Nevertheless, the South Asian nation has made giant strides in various
areas since it opened up its economy in the early 1990s.
The country ushered in a telecom revolution that delivered mobile telephony
to nearly 600 million people in just a little more than a decade with highly
competitive call tariffs.
Now, India is preparing for another leap into the digital world.
Recently, it auctioned off its airwaves for third-generation services to
enable super-fast multimedia streaming of wireless.
The move is aimed at bringing India's online market on a par with its
booming cell-phone business through Internet penetration with technology
allowing quick access, data transfer and entertainment on mobile handsets.
The country has announced plans to link up all its 250,000 village councils
by 2012 in a bid to plug massive broadband divides between rural and urban
communities as it emerges as one of the world's few growth markets.
Authorities say technical institutions involved in designing the new device
are now setting up research to address price and quality issues in
developing budget gadgets for students.
"The aim is to reach such devices to the students of colleges and
universities, and to provide these institutions a host of choices of
low-cost access devices around Rs 1,500 ($35) or less in near future," the
human resources ministry said at the launch of the computer.
Ministry spokeswoman Mamata Varma said the government aimed to introduce
the new touch-screen computing tool at higher educational institutions in
2011.
The ministry, she said, is expected to tender out contracts to private
companies for mass production of its prototype.
The Linux-based computer is equipped with an Internet browser, a PDF reader
and several other facilities, she said.
--
Jay Walsh
Head of Communications
WikimediaFoundation.org
blog.wikimedia.org
+1 (415) 839 6885 x 609, @jansonw
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