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[ox] Simputer ready for year-end launch



Interessant, ware eigentlich ein erster echter Anlabfall
SEHR laut uber Open Hardware nachzudenken....


SIMPUTER READY FOR YEAR-END LAUNCH

The Hindu, Aug 25, 2001 Page 13

By Anand Parthasarathy

KOCHI, Aug 24 -- The pocket-sized computer -- called Simputer --
developed by a group of Bangalore-based academics and
technologists, will be available for sale to corporate
organisations in India by November this year and to the general
public in the first few months next year.

Since the first announcement earlier this year, the 'Simple
Inexpensive Multilingual Computer' has attracted global attention
for its innovative design features which are intended to bridge
the 'digital divide' and bring the benefits of computer
technology to the rural masses who may not be comfortable with
English and are intimidated by having to use conventional
keyboards.

The model now being readied incorporates a novel, stylus-based
text entry system called 'tap-tap', obviating the need for a
keyboard. Using a specially developed software called 'Dhvani', a
built-in loudspeaker speaks the text entered in Hindi, Kannada or
Tamil.

In another first, the Simputer works on just three standard AAA
batteries which can be easily bought anywhere in the world. To
keep down the system cost, the operating system is based on the
'open software' Linux and the computer works on a StrongARM (for
Advanced RISC Machine) chip which consumes much less power than
the Pentiums.

A USB, or Universal Serial Bus connector, has been provided to
link with printers and other standard peripherals.

Mr Mark Mathias, vice-president (hardware development) at the
Encore Software Ltd, the company involved with the professors and
students of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in the
'Simputer Trust' which developed the machine, told this
correspondent on telephone from Bangalore that by early 2001,
they expect to have the marketing machinery in place to sell it
to direct customers.

The selling price is expected to be around Rs 10,000 or $200.
Non-governmental and voluntary agencies involved in projects to
empower India's rural population had shown a lot of interest in
using the Simputer, Mr Mathias added.

Its innovations to pare the cost have also attracted widespread
interest in the international IT market. "I don't know anyone
else in the world who is producing a comparable sophisticated
computer at this price," Mr Kenneth Kennistone, social scientist
with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was quoted
recently as saying. (ENDS)

Check out http://www.simputer.org
Join a list discussing the Simputer: send blank email to
<simputer-subscribe egroups.com>

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Frederick Noronha | Freelance Journalist
| 784 Saligao 403511 Goa India
Ph [0091] 832.409490 or 832.409783 Cell 9822 12.24.36
fred bytesforall.org
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