New Delhi, July 23: There are already strong protests among parents that their children hardly know how to write what with push button culture and the invasion of the computer into their world. The threat is getting even more serious with India producing a laptop for just Rs 1,500 ($ 35) – which makes it probably the world’s cheapest tablet.
Unveiling the laptop, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said the department was hoping to bring the price down to $ 10 if it is mass produced. This would be a boon for less privileged students – the segment it is being aimed at.
The laptop has all basic features like a built-in keyboard, a 2 GB RAM, Wi-Fi connectivity, USB ports and is powered by a 2-watt system for use in power-less areas. The Linux-based touchscreen laptop can also run on solar power.
The computing device will support functions like video web conferencing.
The HRD ministry, that led to the laptop being designed and developed, is seeking partners to mass produce the computer.
Professors, students and experts from IITs at Chennai, Kanpur, Kharagpur and Mumbai, and IISc, Bangalore, chipped in with their skills to help develop the gizmo.
|