Friday, July 23rd 2010

Government of India Unveils Sakshat $10 Tablet PC for Students

The Government of India today unveiled the much talked about 10 Dollar Tablet PC for students. Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal unveiled the tablet which is initially priced at 1,500 Indian Rupees (US $30), but is expected distributed for 500 Rupees ($10) once manufacturing is streamlined. The device is named Sakshat (meaning "personification" in Sanskrit), and boasts of performance-grade hardware for a device of its class. It has a 10.5-inch multi-touch colour screen, ARM processor, 2 GB of memory, cloud storage, WiFi b/g and 10/100 Ethernet for connectivity with school networks, a highly-customised OS based on the Linux kernel, supporting Adobe Flash for online videos and interactive educational content, and a digital camera.

School curriculum will be distributed to students in an interactive format, as well as drive "e-classrooms" for live-streaming classes from eminent teachers to students from across the country. The device supports OpenOffice.org and open document formats, as well as Adobe PDF, and various multimedia formats. Sakshat was developed by students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) from various IIT institutes across the country. As part of the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology, Sakshat will be backed by a network connecting 18,000 educational institutions and 400 universities.
Sources: IBNLive, PCWorld India
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125 Comments on Government of India Unveils Sakshat $10 Tablet PC for Students

#51
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
Easy Rhinowell it is one thing to address problems and another to solve them.
No government in the world can solve problems, it can only address them.
Posted on Reply
#52
Easy Rhino
Linux Advocate
btarunrNo government in the world can solve problems, it can only address them.
i could not agree more.
Posted on Reply
#53
DaedalusHelios
btarunrA 300-page college ruled notebook costs $0.10 in India, a ballpoint pen that lasts decently long costs $0.05, etc. What does it cost in the US? By now you must already be feeling stupid for comparing two totally different economies like that.
I just thought while we are working on numbers I would simplify it a little.

3,560,000,000,000 x .032= $113,920,000,000 spent on up to 1,173,108,018 people in India
14,260,000,000,000 x .053= $755,780,000,000 spent on up to 310,232,863 people in the USA

Not to mention the average age is younger in India than in the USA which increases the possibility of pulling from that pull of funds and spreading it thinner.

A good portion of modern schooling in the USA is now done online so paper and pens are not used but for a portion of classes. I don't feel stupid BTW. I am working on completing two engineering degree programs while working in the USA. :D

I don't blindly defend my country's image. If it fails to accomplish something, I am open to discussing ways we can work together to improve it. You have the power to change more in your community than I do since you are in your country's upper class.
Posted on Reply
#54
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
DaedalusHeliosI just thought while we are working on numbers I would simplify it a little.

3,560,000,000,000 x .032= $113,920,000,000 spent on up to 1,173,108,018 people in India
14,260,000,000,000 x .053= $755,780,000,000 spent on up to 310,232,863 people in the USA

Not to mention the average age is younger in India than in the USA which increases the possibility of pulling from that pull of funds and spreading it thinner.

A good portion of modern schooling in the USA is now done online so paper and pens are not used but for a portion of classes. I don't feel stupid BTW. I am working on completing two engineering degree programs while working in the USA. :D

I don't blindly defend my country's image. If it fails to accomplish something, I am open to discussing ways we can work together to improve it. You have the power to change more in your community than I do since you are in your country's upper class.
Nah, that still is an apples-oranges comparison.

Initiatives such as this and the Right to Education Act 2010 make sure Indians can do the same (work, study, earn more degrees).

I don't blindly defend my country's image, either. Right now it's far better than what you're making it out to be (or at least want to make it out to be).

You can start learning about how education is making India competitive from here:


www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-Global/Local%20Assets/Documents/Manufacturing/dtt_2010%20Global%20Manufacturing%20Competitiveness%20Index_06_28_10.pdf

Manufacturing is every economy's biggest sector (propels economy the fastest), so manufacturing competitiveness can be extrapolated on the economy's competitiveness for growth projections.
Posted on Reply
#55
DaedalusHelios
btarunrNah, that still is an apples-oranges comparison.

Initiatives such as this and the Right to Education Act 2010 make sure Indians can do the same (work, study, earn more degrees).

I don't blindly defend my country's image, either. Right now it's far better than what you're making it out to be (or at least want to make it out to be).

You can start learning about how education is making India competitive from here:
img.techpowerup.org/100723/bta9837.jpg

www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-Global/Local%20Assets/Documents/Manufacturing/dtt_2010%20Global%20Manufacturing%20Competitiveness%20Index_06_28_10.pdf

Manufacturing is every economy's biggest sector (propels economy the fastest), so manufacturing competitiveness can be extrapolated on the economy's competitiveness for growth projections.
TBH that is the only strong point for India. Where it is headed from outsourcing and not how people are provided for. It works as an equilibrium. As soon as living conditions are better and people require a better wage that outsourcing will leave and move to the next horribly desperate patch of civilization that bends to the will of its oppressors.

Cheap labor and an uneducated mass of people are always used as the "work horses" of developing nations in manufacturing. Is it because the people doing assembly line work are all educated. No. Education would make for a heavily automated manufacturing sector. Globalization and outsourcing create an equilibrium effect. The horribly desperate work force of a developing nation works for cheaper than those of a developed nation that provides well for its citizens. TBH with how service oriented the USA is, I am surprised to see them that high on the list. I guess that is just from expensive pens and notebooks. :p

A great measure of if a place is a good place to live or not is also wealth distribution and standard of living. Literacy rate is important but many developing country's skew that number as much as possible.
Posted on Reply
#56
n-ster
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

GOOD REPUTATION UNIVERSITIES

THE AMERICAN DREAM

common, I know USA isn't perfect but it isn't that bad...
Posted on Reply
#57
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
DaedalusHeliosCheap labor and an uneducated mass of people are always used as the "work horses" of developing nations in manufacturing. Is it because the people doing assembly line work are all educated. No. Education would make for a heavily automated manufacturing sector. Globalization and outsourcing create an equilibrium effect. The horribly desperate work force of a developing nation works for cheaper than those of a developed nation that provides well for its citizens. TBH with how service oriented the USA is, I am surprised to see them that high on the list. I guess that is just from expensive pens and notebooks. :p
It is evident that you did not bother to read that report before coming up with that.

I'll just quote the "India" (on why it's #2) text for you:
India
Perhaps more surprising is that India is now positioned at number two—and gaining an even stronger foothold on that position over the next five years. India’s rich talent pool of scientists, researchers, and engineers as well as its large, well-educated English-speaking workforce and democratic regime make it an attractive destination for manufacturers. Since the mid-1990s, India’s software industry has escalated to new heights and post-economic liberation has also opened a pathway to unprecedented market opportunities for Indian manufacturing. Moreover, beyond low-cost, Indian manufacturers gained experience in quality improvement and Japanese principles of quality management, with the largest number of Deming Award winners outside of Japan.19 The country is also rapidly expanding its capabilities in engineering design and development and embedded software development, which form an integral part of many modern-day manufactured products.20 The importance of India to manufacturing executives around the world underscores two important points.

First, strength in research and development— paired with engineering, software, and technology integration abilities—are viewed by global executives as a vital element of the talent-driven and innovative manufacturing enterprise of the 21st century. Second, manufacturing executives increasingly view India as a place where they can design, develop and manufacture innovative products for sale in local as well as in global markets.21 These factors explain, in part, India’s rise from a low-cost, “back office” location to a country that is well-positioned to be an active participant in the entire value chain—as well as it now being viewed by many executives as an integral part of their global manufacturing enterprise
and location strategy.
Posted on Reply
#58
Easy Rhino
Linux Advocate
so long as america and the rest of the western world outsource labor to india and china they will continue to see their manufacturing base grow and thus their economy. but as these developing asian countries become educated the cost of their labor will increase making them less competitive. and if the USA continues this great recession than they can count on us even less to buy their stuff and to bring them jobs.
Posted on Reply
#59
DaedalusHelios
btarunrIt is evident that you did not bother to read that report before coming up with that.

I'll just quote the "India" (on why it's #2) text for you:
I addressed it in my edit above your post. I make long revisions. Sorry. :)

It used to be imperialism and now it is outsourcing capitalism. For extreme examples of my equilibrium effect read about how Nike creates factories and pulls out of impoverished nations. It is evil how they let them starve when they pull out but that is what India will face one day if they don't focus on having a more self sustaining economy. If they suddenly had no trade with other countries there would be a mass starvation as an extreme example. But if they effectively curbed their population growth it might not even be an issue. With current trends at a population growth rate of 1.376% and a population of 1,173,108,018 people in 2010.
Posted on Reply
#60
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
DaedalusHeliosTBH that is the only strong point for India. Where it is headed from outsourcing and not how people are provided for. It works as an equilibrium. As soon as living conditions are better and people require a better wage that outsourcing will leave and move to the next horribly desperate patch of civilization that bends to the will of its oppressors.
There is an elementary difference between Chinese manufacturing and Indian. If foreign manufacturers walk out of China, that will badly damage its economy, because a large chunk of its GDP relies on exports. Whereas, India's domestic consumption is strong enough to keep the economy's dependence on exports low. Exports don't contribute to the GDP as much as it does for China. Which is why you're more likely to come across ISRO sending missions to the moon even as first-world rants that we have people to feed.

You can refer to IMF's global cumulative current account figures for that.
Posted on Reply
#61
DaedalusHelios
btarunrThere is an elementary difference between Chinese manufacturing and Indian. If foreign manufacturers walk out of China, that will badly damage its economy, because a large chunk of its GDP relies on exports. Whereas, India's domestic consumption is strong enough to keep the economy's dependence on exports low. Exports don't contribute to the GDP as much as it does for China. Which is why you're more likely to come across ISRO sending missions to the moon even as first-world rants that we have people to feed.

You can refer to IMF's global cumulative current account figures for that.
It is true that people in the first world value feeding the poor over making trips to the moon.

The major two problems for China is pollution and feeding its populous. Its population growth is controlled and its need to feed such a large population can be completely covered by its investment in South America. The Transoceanic Highway is set to make buying food and trading with South America easier and China is set to use that as its "bread basket". So the only serious problem I see them facing is pollution but I don't have a solution for that other than better waste disposal methods in manufacturing.

How will India feed its populous and curb its population growth? I haven't seen any feasible plans on that subject. Have you? That is why I was wondering why they put effort into subsidizing this handheld device when those other impending problems seemingly aren't being addressed adequately. Maybe you can shed some light on that subject?
Posted on Reply
#62
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
thats gonna put a hole in Apples IPad sales
Posted on Reply
#63
Easy Rhino
Linux Advocate
eidairaman1thats gonna put a hole in Apples IPad sales
haha no it wont. those are going to people in india who could in no way ever afford an ipad.
Posted on Reply
#64
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
ipad is not worth it to me.
Posted on Reply
#65
DaedalusHelios
eidairaman1thats gonna put a hole in Apples IPad sales
Easy Rhinohaha no it wont. those are going to people in india who could in no way ever afford an ipad.
eidairaman1ipad is not worth it to me.
:laugh: You guys are hilarious.
Posted on Reply
#66
WhiteLotus
What the hell happened here?

Is this truly a case of complete and utter sour lemons behind a very thin veil of Envy? Honestly, for shame on some people here, ridiculing a country's program to educate the masses because they themselves can't do it. Honestly, for shame.
Posted on Reply
#67
Easy Rhino
Linux Advocate
WhiteLotusWhat the hell happened here?

Is this truly a case of complete and utter sour lemons behind a very thin veil of Envy? Honestly, for shame on some people here, ridiculing a country's program to educate the masses because they themselves can't do it. Honestly, for shame.
neither sour lemons nor envy on my behalf. i simply think the program will not work.
Posted on Reply
#68
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
makes me wonder how many kids in india are in school compared to those of the US, japan, China, UK, Russia, Korea
Posted on Reply
#69
DaedalusHelios
WhiteLotusWhat the hell happened here?

Is this truly a case of complete and utter sour lemons behind a very thin veil of Envy? Honestly, for shame on some people here, ridiculing a country's program to educate the masses because they themselves can't do it. Honestly, for shame.
What are you talking about? Online course material and cloud computing versus feeding and caring for the poor first. It is a debate about strategy in a developing country. Not comprehending the discussion and claiming shame on others? A little dramatic there buddy. :rolleyes:
Posted on Reply
#70
n-ster
education leads to better lives, more money and better ways to get food anyways
Posted on Reply
#71
n-ster
WIKIPEDIA SAYS IT CAN BE RECHARGED WITH SOLAR POWER !!! :eek: man the gov. pays alot per unit lol

omg apparently 2 Watts only o.O this would be awesome to have lol
Posted on Reply
#72
WhiteLotus
Erm, I honestly think you guys have no idea how valuable this project will be to the average Indian, and that you don't realise that India is NOT the west.

You want to decrease the poor, educate them. What's the saying, give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach him how to fish and he'll eat for a life time. Or what ever it is.

This project a) educates the masses, and b) help reduce the number of poor.

And the definition of poor is different in India, just because they don't have a huge truck to drive them to and from their half acre house with 45 inch plasma tv and top of the range PC, XBOX does not make them poor.

Well done to the Indian government to produce such a powerful tool, I look forward to the day when they over take the west in terms of economic prowess.
Posted on Reply
#73
DaedalusHelios
n-stereducation leads to better lives, more money and better ways to get food anyways
No education works fast enough to properly feed, provide shelter and cure desease in a timely fashion. You rely on institutions for that first when you have 1 billion people to take care of. Poverty is a huge problem over there and developing a skilled workforce the size of India's population could solve just about any problem. But providing them the means to survive is more important first IMO. What use is an educated dead person? Also the investment is lost if they die from bad living conditions or don't receive the nutrients vital to brain development and so on.
Posted on Reply
#74
Rakesh95
WhiteLotusErm, I honestly think you guys have no idea how valuable this project will be to the average Indian, and that you don't realise that India is NOT the west.

You want to decrease the poor, educate them. What's the saying, give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach him how to fish and he'll eat for a life time. Or what ever it is.

This project a) educates the masses, and b) help reduce the number of poor.

And the definition of poor is different in India, just because they don't have a huge truck to drive them to and from their half acre house with 45 inch plasma tv and top of the range PC, XBOX does not make them poor.

Well done to the Indian government to produce such a powerful tool, I look forward to the day when they over take the west in terms of economic prowess.
Really well said dude, if they can be educated to their full potential then that will probably mean a better future for him and his family. Of course food and water is another issue but the Indian government are also addressing these issues as well.

I don't think we need to be sharing numbers and figures here either, its just a goverment taking a very good initiative to help brighten the future of India. I dont live in India but i do go there every now and then and we should also remember.... this is TPU, so we cant just conclude that India isnt doing anything else for the poor.. Just my opinion.
Posted on Reply
#75
n-ster
DaedalusHeliosNo education works fast enough to properly feed, provide shelter and cure desease in a timely fashion. You rely on institutions for that first when you have 1 billion people to take care of. Poverty is a huge problem over there and developing a skilled workforce the size of India's population could solve just about any problem. But providing them the means to survive is more important first IMO. What use is an educated dead person? Also the investment is lost if they die from bad living conditions or don't receive the nutrients vital to brain development and so on.
you talk as if there were no measures taken atm!

there are and this is one of them... This might keep the smart indians from leaving India

and imagine how much you can learn with this device... Prices in India are low enough to be able to live if all you family is healthy, now if the father is sick... That is another story o.O
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