HRD unveils Rs 1,500 computer
Union human resources development ministry on Thursday unveiled a low-cost computer for students carrying a price tag of Rs 1,500. The computer has all basic features, including Internet browsing required for students and has been developed by experts, students and professors from IITs and IISc Bangalore.
While unveiling the device, HRD minister Kapil Sibal stated that the computer is expected to be available for students by 2011. “Our ultimate objective would be to bring down the price to Rs 470. And this can be done by mass production of such devices. It is just a matter of time that the potential of the device is felt by the corporate sector,” he added.
Ten different teams comprising of experts, students and professors from IITs and IISc Bangalore, with support of HRD ministry have been working on the project over the past two years to develop the low-cost computer.
“We have come out with the device at Rs 1,500 and now we invite individuals, entrepreneurs, firms and industries to produce the device as cheaper rates than this,” he said.
The HRD minister stated that the manufacturer as well as the distribution pattern has not been finalised as yet but said the price tag of Rs 1,500 has been computed after taking all aspects into consideration.
He stated that the computing device will support functions like video web conferencing facility, multimedia content viewing. The designs unveiled by the ministry do not have a hard disk and uses a Linux-based computing system.
The low-cost computer fulfils a key mandate of the government, to provide high quality e-content free of cost to all learners in the country under the National Mission on Education through information and communication technology.
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