Hi All My apologies for cross-posting to those of you who subscribe to the mailing lists Fouad Riaz Bajwa already sent this message to, but the info seems to me relevant to the Digital Divide Network too. Best
Claude ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Fouad Riaz Bajwa Date: Apr 25, 2007 1:27 AM Subject: [pakistanictpolicy] Various alternative hardware access solutions from across the globe To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Various alternative hardware access solutions from across the globe By Fouad Bajwa, FOSS Advocate. We have seen many projects for alternate hardware access being initiated around the world as a means to reduce the Digital Divide and provide humanity access to Information and Communication Technologies, and, in particular with connectivity to the Internet to access an unlimited potential of knowledge and online resources produced form around the globe. I would like to point to a number of such initiatives taking place in various parts of the world to benefit everyone: OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) from USA The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is an educational project targeted at bringing a US$100 for the world's poorest children living in its most remote environments. The OLPC XO laptop is believed to be a potent learning tool and will help nations of the emerging world to leapfrog decades of developmentâimmediately transforming the content and quality of their children's learning. The project aims at convincing and working with governments of the developing world to buy OLPCs and distribute them to their children. The laptop runs a custom developed open source operating system called Sugar OS. OLPC Cost: The OLPC target price is US$100 per laptop but requires both Governments to buy a certain high volume ranging from a million units at least. OLPC will possibly also offer a gift programme that will be launched soon to gift two laptops to children around the world. OLPC Website: http://www.laptop.org INK mPC - INK Mobile PC Affordable Computing For Everyone from Canada The INK Mobile PC project is targeted at bringing affordable computing for everyone especially to 4 out 5 people throughout the world whom have either never before seen or accessed a computer. The INK project defers from the OLPC project because it does not focus on only education but all segments of life and does not require selling at least 1 million units after convincing governments. Everyone from around the world from children to adults can easily buy the laptops. The laptop will be equipped with open source operating system. INK's technology and product design minimizes the three main costs of computer ownership including hardware, software and after-sale services and support. INK mPC Cost: INK is prepared to offer an internet ready laptop computer with that can profitably be sold, without government subsidies, for well under $300 and will possibly be available in small as well as large volumes through various sales and distribution networks worldwide and in the developing world. INK Media Website: http://www.ink-media.org Simputer - Low cost portable alternative to PCs from India The Simputer is a low cost portable alternative to PCs, by which the benefits of IT can reach the common man developed by PicoPeta Simputers Pvt Ltd India. It has a special role in the third world because it ensures that illiteracy is no longer a barrier to handling a computer. The key to bridging the digital divide is to have shared devices that permit truly simple and natural user interfaces based on sight, touch and audio. The Simputer meets these demands through a browser for the Information Markup Language (IML). IML has been created to provide a uniform experience to users and to allow rapid development of solutions on any platform. An Amida Simputer is also available for the retail market. Simputer Cost: The projected cost of the Simputer is about Indian Rs. 9000 at large volumes. Simputer Website: http://www.simputer.org Sirius - Low-Cost Handheld Computer from Pakistan Sirius is produced by Five Rivers Technologies (Pvt.) Limited, Pakistan. It is a low-cost Handheld computer that makes use of multiple, low consumption processors, a 128x64 monochrome backlit LCD screen, rechargeable batteries, a communications capability to interface with other computers (PCs included), cell phones and peripherals, zero moving parts and a full QWERTY keyboard. The device form factor lies somewhere between a PDA and a sub notebook. Sirius is an open platform for mobile solutions, uses a locally developed AlephOSp, provides graphical user interfaces, serial communication with PCs or peripherals supporting both English and Urdu languages to access E-books, set-up study sessions, review for exams, E-Schooling for remote areas and numerous other Industrial application. Sirius Cost: When production is done in volume, the price of the handheld computer may drop anything in between Pakistani Rupees Rs. 5,000 per unit to Rs. 2000 per unit. Sirius Website: http://www.fiveriverstech.com/sirius.htm http://www.fiveriverstech.com/frt-sirius.pdf The work of the author is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License unless otherwise noted, meaning that you can use them however you like for non-commercial purposes provided that you attribute the source (see below) and share derivative works under similar license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pakistanictpolicy/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pakistanictpolicy/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ -- Claude Almansi CH-6532 Castione gruppo di lavoro Noi Media www.noimedia.org Swiss Internet User Group www.siug.ch _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
