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@wikimedia.org> 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@wikimedia.org>
Reply-To: WMF Staff Mailing List <staff@lists.wikimedia.org>
To: WMF Staff Mailing List List <staff@lists.wikimedia.org>


(sorry it's CNN, I know... but interesting read)


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

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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