Interesting article, Ashish. Thanks for sharing! -- Rahul
On Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 12:44 AM, ashish makani <ashish.makani at gmail.com> wrote: > I would echo Atanu Dey's thoughts in his blog post here > http://www.deeshaa.org/2011/10/08/aakash-blue-skies-vaporware/ > cheers > ashish > > On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 10:50 PM, Rahul Banerjee <banerjee at > cs.washington.edu> > wrote: >> >> Thanks for the link, Yaw! That was highly entertaining and instructive >> of how vicious the competition can be in these areas. >> >> Like the Indian politicians' hype on one side, the pooh-pooh'ing of >> this "cheap tablet" initiative from other quarters is equally amusing. >> >> The picture in the Times of India article (btw, TOI is known as "the >> TOI-let paper" in India for its sensationalist tabloid content and >> total lack of journalistic standards), was ostensibly of new hardware >> being put together by students at an engineering college (VIT), under >> massive constraints (financial and technological). But showing these >> photos of a nascent project to ridicule it? Not cool. >> >> For contrast, here's a picture of the original Apple computer (it used >> to be sold as a hobbyist's DIY kit): >> >> http://retrogameandcomputer.com/img/computer/apple1-circuit-board-complete.jpg >> Too ancient? Here's a picture of a DIY board you can buy today for >> your own Android projects: >> http://dangerousprototypes.com/wp-content/media/2011/05/SeeedADK.jpg >> >> I don't see a screen in either, but I'm pretty sure that both >> platforms support displays. My point is that _all_ projects look like >> ugly boards in the beginning. Sometimes, people cover it with a box >> (sometimes reporters look at the box and mistake it for "a storage >> device"). >> >> And, for your weekend entertainment, I insert here the TOI report >> (quoted in the article): >> <snip> >> As Times of India reports, so far, this Indian project is vaporware: >> >> ? ?The so-called laptop actually turned out to be a storage device >> containing megabytes of data info which can be accessed by a user by >> connecting this device to a laptop. It meant that unlike the internet, >> this device can display that information that has already been stored. >> </snip> >> "megabytes of data info" -- priceless! >> >> -- >> Rahul >> >> On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 5:43 PM, Yaw Anokwa <yanokwa at gmail.com> wrote: >> > carlos forgot the link. >> > >> > >> > http://www.ictworks.org/news/2011/10/07/why-indias-35-aakash-android-tablet-edutech-red-herring-ict-deployments-education >> > >> > On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 12:40, Carlos Rey <crey at ehas.org> wrote: >> >> Hi all, >> >> >> >> I'm following with a lot of interest your discussion and I just read >> >> this >> >> post at ICTWorks' website and thought it may be of interest for it. >> >> >> >> Regards, >> >> >> >> Carlos >> >> >> >> On 07/10/11 19:28, James Dailey wrote: >> >> >> >> Tapan's assessment rings true for me. >> >> I would also say that in my experience, Technology is both an amplifier >> >> and >> >> aspirational. ?Beyond mere amplification, an important distinction >> >> should be >> >> made between an amplification of current "ways of doing business" and >> >> dramatically new ways of doing business that are a result of a tipping >> >> point >> >> that the technology allows us to reach. >> >> Are ipods, itunes, and the digitalization of music strictly necessary >> >> for >> >> us? ? Does it make sense for our society to spend billions on that >> >> while >> >> there were perfectly good ways of listening to music? ? My take is that >> >> it >> >> is an irrelevant question - we live in such a world. ? We live in a >> >> world >> >> where people (given a choice) aspire to own the newest and greatest, >> >> and >> >> where ICT enables new modes of business/interaction/service delivery in >> >> the >> >> real world. >> >> The democratization of technology, the widest possible adoption, >> >> though, >> >> requires a price point and a set of features /form factors / >> >> experiential >> >> benefit that - on balance - are sufficient in their aspirational bounty >> >> and >> >> their tipping "pointiness". >> >> This new $35 device, with a touchpad, seems like a great move - and a >> >> huge >> >> opportunity. ?More moves in this direction would include a better >> >> battery, >> >> solar thin film on the reverse side for easy recharging in the tropics, >> >> hardened for outside field use (water proof against rain storms/ dust >> >> proof >> >> against the road), and lower price. >> >> The poor pay more for their services (water, power, information) than >> >> the >> >> rich on a per unit basis, and so shared access models and lower cost >> >> technologies that dramatically lower the barriers and increase the >> >> availability is a - on balance - a net positive. >> >> - James Dailey >> >> SEATTLE >> >> >> >> On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 7:36 PM, Tapan Parikh <tapan at cs.washington.edu> >> >> wrote: >> >>> >> >>> Ive never understood Kentaros point here, or at least why its >> >>> delivered >> >>> with such pessimism. >> >>> Its strictly a glass half-full, half-empty kind of argument. ?Of >> >>> course >> >>> technology does not achieve its effect in isolation. ?Of course you >> >>> need all >> >>> the rest of the things Kentaro mentions. ?But an "amplifier of your >> >>> intent" >> >>> still sounds pretty awesome to me. ?This is what Steve Jobs was trying >> >>> to do >> >>> for us, and what we are trying (successfully or unsuccessfully) to >> >>> achieve >> >>> for the poor and marginalized through ICT4D. ?Im not saying that >> >>> computers >> >>> are the best or most appropriate technology, but the potential is >> >>> there, and >> >>> that is why we are working to achieve it, and why it is still >> >>> research. >> >>> I find Joyojeet's critique much more interesting. ?Are computers truly >> >>> amplifiers, or are they strictly aspirational? ?Said another way, is >> >>> high >> >>> technology perceived as an end in and of itself, or do we understand >> >>> its >> >>> true machinations*, and use them for some other higher purpose - the >> >>> highest >> >>> being to learn, and through the process become better people, or a >> >>> better >> >>> society. I am sure everyone who has worked in ICTD has directly >> >>> observed >> >>> "gadget lust" in our partners, users, and without doubt, in ourselves. >> >>> Summarizing my point, the important question is "are u the one riding >> >>> the >> >>> horse, or is the horse riding you?". ?The jury is still out on this >> >>> for >> >>> ICT4D, as it is for the rest of the World, IMHO. >> >>> >> >>> *?For the philosophy and German buffs, see Heidegger's "The Question >> >>> Concerning Technology". >> >>> >> >>> On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 6:55 PM, Yaw Anokwa <yanokwa at gmail.com> wrote: >> >>>> >> >>>> rahul, >> >>>> >> >>>> i would encourage you to check out >> >>>> http://www.kentarotoyama.org/research. i think his work on >> >>>> technology as an amplifier and the ten myths of ict4d will be quite >> >>>> insightful. >> >>>> >> >>>> yaw >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 18:16, Rahul Banerjee >> >>>> <banerjee at cs.washington.edu> >> >>>> wrote: >> >>>> > Yes, I agree that this is simply another hardware platform on which >> >>>> > people can build stuff. It is a solution enabler, not a solution in >> >>>> > itself. However, this price point means that one can deploy >> >>>> > solutions >> >>>> > for cheaper than with existing hardware. >> >>>> > >> >>>> > I think we all agree that *solutions* built on top of hardware >> >>>> > platforms change people's lives -- cheap hardware simply opens up >> >>>> > such >> >>>> > possibilities to interested parties who want to build solutions, >> >>>> > but >> >>>> > don't have enough money for expensive hardware. >> >>>> > >> >>>> > I would like to emphasize this point -- the best ideas can come >> >>>> > from >> >>>> > anywhere. Once you let such a cheap device loose into the wild (so >> >>>> > to >> >>>> > speak), I'm certain that several talented people will come up with >> >>>> > good ideas and implement them. What remains to be seen is how many >> >>>> > of >> >>>> > those are useful and improve people's lives significantly. >> >>>> > >> >>>> > -- >> >>>> > Rahul >> >>>> > >> >>>> > On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 6:02 PM, Clint Tseng >> >>>> > <cxlt at cs.washington.edu> >> >>>> > wrote: >> >>>> >> Yes, but your argument is centered around how the technology is >> >>>> >> better. I >> >>>> >> don't think I have to point out who we're echoing when we say that >> >>>> >> technology alone is not enough. We could make the Galaxy S2 or the >> >>>> >> iPhone 4 >> >>>> >> cost $10 and it simply wouldn't make the kind of difference you'd >> >>>> >> hope >> >>>> >> for >> >>>> >> (eg, much at all). >> >>>> >> The App Store is not available because you have to pay Google >> >>>> >> licensing fees >> >>>> >> to put it on your device, which would have driven the cost up. >> >>>> >> Touchscreens are nice, but I don't think any of this will truly >> >>>> >> matter >> >>>> >> for >> >>>> >> the populations we're talking about until we see voice technology >> >>>> >> like >> >>>> >> Siri >> >>>> >> develop to the point where you don't need to care that you're >> >>>> >> talking >> >>>> >> to >> >>>> >> technology. At that point, perhaps it's worth revisiting the >> >>>> >> distribution of >> >>>> >> generic technology to remote regions and untrained users without >> >>>> >> caring >> >>>> >> about what their actual needs are. For now, it's still much better >> >>>> >> to >> >>>> >> actually do the footwork to figure out what people need and give >> >>>> >> them >> >>>> >> that >> >>>> >> than to try to hand out or sell general purpose computing devices >> >>>> >> and >> >>>> >> hope >> >>>> >> to make a difference. >> >>>> >> $0.02. >> >>>> >> -Clint >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> On Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 3:16 PM, Rahul Banerjee wrote: >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> Against a cell phone, the tablet's screen is a compelling >> >>>> >> argument. >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> However, I don't know if really poor people (who are mostly >> >>>> >> illiterate) would go for a tablet over a *television* -- I've >> >>>> >> observed >> >>>> >> that even people living in illegally constructed shacks next to >> >>>> >> train >> >>>> >> tracks always have a DTH antenna dish sticking out from the roof. >> >>>> >> My >> >>>> >> belief is that: >> >>>> >> 1. TV's are dead simple to operate -- turn them on and they work. >> >>>> >> If >> >>>> >> you can't navigate your magical tablet's touchscreen, you have a >> >>>> >> magical paperweight. >> >>>> >> 2. There's decent infrastructure in place (in India) to get a >> >>>> >> direct-to-home subscription. I've been to some pretty remote >> >>>> >> places in >> >>>> >> India (places that are accessible only using off-road vehicles and >> >>>> >> are >> >>>> >> completely cut-off for three months during winter) and nearly all >> >>>> >> these houses had dish antennas. AFAIK, 3G-based data plans aren't >> >>>> >> that >> >>>> >> ubiquitous yet (you could only get them in certain cities in India >> >>>> >> last time I checked -- about 2 months ago). >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> The battery question is an interesting one -- I read a review >> >>>> >> which >> >>>> >> stated that the battery life is two hours. I've observed in urban >> >>>> >> slums that (illegally) hooking up wires to overhead electricity >> >>>> >> supply >> >>>> >> cables (a dangerous practice, to be sure) is common. I'm not >> >>>> >> claiming >> >>>> >> that this is the norm everywhere, but financial pressure often >> >>>> >> eliminates batteries anyway :) >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> I'm going to keep on harping on the "poor but intelligent/talented >> >>>> >> student" angle. These are the people who'll benefit the most from >> >>>> >> such >> >>>> >> a device. Imagine being able to read textbooks on this! Btw, I >> >>>> >> also >> >>>> >> discovered in the review that the App Store / Marketplace is >> >>>> >> disabled, >> >>>> >> which is *not cool*. Maybe they don't expect the target users to >> >>>> >> have >> >>>> >> connectivity, but this severely limits the platform. There are a >> >>>> >> ton >> >>>> >> of free apps out there which the users cannot get, and now custom >> >>>> >> delivery platforms will have to be built for every project (I'm >> >>>> >> thinking of textbooks, telemedicine, the fieldwork apps like the >> >>>> >> Verbal Autopsy stuff, etc) >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> I've rambled enough here. My summary would be that this is a giant >> >>>> >> step forward, but the poorest of the poor (think indigent poverty) >> >>>> >> won't magically lift themselves out of poverty using this one >> >>>> >> device. >> >>>> >> However, it does generate lots of exciting possibilities for >> >>>> >> "slightly-better-off" segments and it can be an enabling device >> >>>> >> for >> >>>> >> several projects on a shoestring budget. >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> -- >> >>>> >> Rahul >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 1:00 PM, Fritz Meissner >> >>>> >> <fritz.meissner at gmail.com> >> >>>> >> wrote: >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> Just brainstorming a hypothetically compelling reason: consumption >> >>>> >> of >> >>>> >> locally-made movies, which I'm given to understand?currently >> >>>> >> happens >> >>>> >> wholesale on cellphones in India. Would the move to tablet form, >> >>>> >> i.e. >> >>>> >> bigger >> >>>> >> screen and (one would hope) better sound, make for a massively >> >>>> >> improved >> >>>> >> experience? >> >>>> >> The Aakash could be a better investment than a TV / DVD player, >> >>>> >> given >> >>>> >> the >> >>>> >> greater capacity and reusability of USB or SD cards compared to >> >>>> >> DVDs. >> >>>> >> Of >> >>>> >> course, the TV has a bigger screen, but it doesn't run on >> >>>> >> batteries. >> >>>> >> How >> >>>> >> much would a TV cost? >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> Fritz >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 3:15 PM, Jerome White >> >>>> >> <jerome at cs.caltech.edu> >> >>>> >> wrote: >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> However, there is a "rural/poor" segment that could afford this: >> >>>> >> those >> >>>> >> making between 5 and 10 thousand Rupees a month. In fact it's what >> >>>> >> some >> >>>> >> spend on a mobile phone. However, with the mobile, there is very >> >>>> >> compelling >> >>>> >> reason to make such an investment. A similarly compelling reason, >> >>>> >> from >> >>>> >> their >> >>>> >> perspective, to own this device isn't clear to me. >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> But, at least we've got another device to help us generate >> >>>> >> publications :) >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> jerome >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> On 06-Oct-2011, at 4:11 PM, Fritz Meissner wrote: >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> How much is $35 to the poorest of the poor? I recall an economics >> >>>> >> study >> >>>> >> that paid Indian workers the equivalent of a monthly salary, I >> >>>> >> think >> >>>> >> that >> >>>> >> was 50USD... 35USD is beyond cheap in the West but perhaps still >> >>>> >> not >> >>>> >> affordable in that context. >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> OTOH if the tablet is locally made, perhaps just the work that the >> >>>> >> manufacturer provides will be beneficial. >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> Fritz >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 1:32 AM, Joyojeet Pal <joyojeet at gmail.com> >> >>>> >> wrote: >> >>>> >> I agree with Yaw on this -- sure, it is great that this technology >> >>>> >> is >> >>>> >> so >> >>>> >> cheap, and one can argue that similar such efforts have brought up >> >>>> >> new >> >>>> >> technology innovations (Netbook etc) and various other benefits, >> >>>> >> what >> >>>> >> is >> >>>> >> deeply problematic is the idea that this will solve the issues of >> >>>> >> development in India, and Indian minister Kapil Sibal's announcing >> >>>> >> the >> >>>> >> project as being some kind of a dig out of exclusion >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> (http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/india-announces-35-tablet-computer-to-help-lift-villagers-out-of-poverty/2011/10/05/gIQAPT8PNL_story.html) >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> If you look at UNDP's latest HDI report on India, you may find >> >>>> >> that >> >>>> >> someone should find this claim at least quixotic, given that the >> >>>> >> country >> >>>> >> ranks 119th in the world for what ranks are worth. India as a >> >>>> >> state >> >>>> >> spends >> >>>> >> among the lowest on education (3.6%) and healthcare (1.1%) and has >> >>>> >> an >> >>>> >> income >> >>>> >> inequality problem that is by all measure growing yearly, gender >> >>>> >> inequity is >> >>>> >> 0.748 (on a scale of the 'best' at 0.212 and 'worst' at 0.814). >> >>>> >> the >> >>>> >> average >> >>>> >> Indian spends 4.4 years in formal schooling.. the list goes on and >> >>>> >> on. >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> i'm not saying this is not a significant achievement, my concern >> >>>> >> is >> >>>> >> tying this to development in such a way, in fact specifically in >> >>>> >> the >> >>>> >> perception that this could be the state's part in providing >> >>>> >> development in >> >>>> >> india. i think it hurts the cause of folks working in this space >> >>>> >> at >> >>>> >> the very >> >>>> >> least. >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> On Wed, Oct 5, 2011 at 7:03 PM, Yaw Anokwa <yanokwa at gmail.com> >> >>>> >> wrote: >> >>>> >> the hype around this tablet is terrible. >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> i think it's great to have cheaper technology, but android >> >>>> >> tablets, >> >>>> >> even cheap $35 android tablets, will not lift villagers out of >> >>>> >> poverty. i wish it were that easy... >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> On Wed, Oct 5, 2011 at 15:49, Rahul Banerjee >> >>>> >> <banerjee at cs.washington.edu> wrote: >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> Sorry for the spam, but I couldn't resist sharing such wonderful >> >>>> >> news: >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/India-announces-35-tablet-computer-for-rural-poor-2203509.php >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> (Actually, the government is subsidising its price (which would be >> >>>> >> closer to $50), but it's still pretty amazing that something like >> >>>> >> this >> >>>> >> exists at all) >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> -- >> >>>> >> Rahul >> >>>> >> _______________________________________________ >> >>>> >> change mailing list >> >>>> >> change at change.washington.edu >> >>>> >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> _______________________________________________ >> >>>> >> change mailing list >> >>>> >> change at change.washington.edu >> >>>> >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> _______________________________________________ >> >>>> >> change mailing list >> >>>> >> change at change.washington.edu >> >>>> >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> _______________________________________________ >> >>>> >> change mailing list >> >>>> >> change at change.washington.edu >> >>>> >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> _______________________________________________ >> >>>> >> change mailing list >> >>>> >> change at change.washington.edu >> >>>> >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> _______________________________________________ >> >>>> >> change mailing list >> >>>> >> change at change.washington.edu >> >>>> >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> _______________________________________________ >> >>>> >> change mailing list >> >>>> >> change at change.washington.edu >> >>>> >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> > >> >>>> > _______________________________________________ >> >>>> > change mailing list >> >>>> > change at change.washington.edu >> >>>> > http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >>>> > >> >>>> >> >>>> _______________________________________________ >> >>>> change mailing list >> >>>> change at change.washington.edu >> >>>> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> _______________________________________________ >> >>> change mailing list >> >>> change at change.washington.edu >> >>> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> James Dailey >> >> skype: jdailey >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> change mailing list >> >> change at change.washington.edu >> >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Carlos Rey Moreno >> >> Investigador Fundaci?n EHAS - www.ehas.org >> >> Soluciones TICs apropiadas para zonas rurales de pa?ses en Desarrollo >> >> Edificio de Biblioteca, Despacho B013, E.T.S.I.T URJC >> >> Camino del Molino s/n - 28943 Fuenlabrada (Madrid) - ES >> >> Tel.: +34 91 488 87 13 ? ?/ ? ? M?vil: +34 666 01 92 82 >> >> Skype: carlos.reymoreno >> >> Twitter: creym >> >> Si quieres estar al d?a de las actualidad de las TIC para el >> >> Desarrollo, >> >> suscr?bete en http://lists.ehas.org/listinfo.cgi/ticxdh-ehas.org >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> change mailing list >> >> change at change.washington.edu >> >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >> >> >> >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > change mailing list >> > change at change.washington.edu >> > http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> > >> >> _______________________________________________ >> change mailing list >> change at change.washington.edu >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change > > > >
