For your info! ----- Original Message ----- From: Alan G. Alegre <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: NetAktibista Group <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; PH-Cyberview List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 6:36 AM Subject: [netaktibista] Fw: [News: Simputer ready for year-end launch > > 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 > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* > Frederick Noronha | Freelance Journalist > | 784 Saligao 403511 Goa India > Ph [0091] 832.409490 or 832.409783 Cell 9822 12.24.36 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* > > -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- > [pip] - from the <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> electronic mailing list > . whole earth partnership, informatics & participation . > . http://www.igc.org/habitat/wepip . > > > ___________________________________________________ > hosted by vancouver community network www.vcn.bc.ca > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> FREE COLLEGE MONEY CLICK HERE to search 600,000 scholarships! http://us.click.yahoo.com/zoU8wD/4m7CAA/ySSFAA/9rHolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 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/ _ Philippine Linux Users Group. Web site and archives at http://plug.linux.org.ph To leave: send "unsubscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to the Linux Newbies' List: send "subscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
