OLPC and Classmate PC

Last week Intel announced that they are finally introducing their "version" of OLPC dubbed the Classmate PC in India for a price of about 10,000 INR. Though as always I take the price tag with a pinch of salt because as always this price appears to be one what is subsidized and not the retail price (as in you can't buy this from a third party vendor or a distribution outlet, at least at the price which is quoted for).

Though it is made to appear that the goals of OLPC and Classmate PC to make available computing resources for those underprivileged to have an access to a full blown desktop or laptop available today are altruistic on the part of the parent sponsoring companies and rivals at the same time (AMD and Intel respectively), I see more selfish motives. Even though it is the OLPC foundation that is spearheading the development of OLPC, Intel sees it as a competition from AMD. In an attempt to make available the computing power to the next billion, the companies (AMD, Intel and Microsoft alike) only seem to be in a mood to capture the larger market share.   

Classmate PC appears to me no different from the Mobilis developed by an Indian company called Encore Software Ltd. Both of these offer compact computing power within the form factor of a very light laptop computer. Even the OLPC project falls in the same category. The only difference that I see is the real hardware and the software combinations used. While Mobilis uses an Intel StrongARM processor with a commercial distribution of GNU/Linux called the MotaVista, Classmate PC uses an Intel Celeron-M processor and possibly Microsoft's $3 software (which is basically a cut down version of Windows and Office). OLPC on the other hand is developing their own version of Linux distribution derived from the Fedora project and uses an AMD processor. But I feel, that none of these "laptops" meant to basically address the larger issue of digital divide seems to serve the real purpose.

Firstly, the foremost criterion of bridging the digital divide is to break the price barrier of a computing device. Mobilis (and its earlier avatar of Simputer) when introduced was touted to be a sub 10K INR device; now it costs 20K INR + extra 2K if you need connectivity options. OLPC was supposed to be $100 device now that is already reached somewhere to $150 (or more?). I do not see a reason why Classmate PC will have the same problem.

Secondly, the basic idea of providing a portable computing device to bridge the digital divide at the cost that is substantially high is flawed. Yes 10K INR or $100 is very expensive for people who can't get even proper schooling, I am not counting the once who do not even manage to feed them properly as I feel that the the digital divide can only be broken in steps.

Thirdly, the idea of providing a portable computing device to a group of kids also seems to be flawed to me. When you have portable computing device, it becomes a personal object, you are tied to it, you start depending on it, you learn to use it and you customize it to your needs and taste. When such a device is used in a group it looses its sheer advantage and appeal. And I feel this is exactly the reason why the Simputer's target audience was a big mistake. You can't expect a PDA form factor device to be shared with the whole village community. You do not share a mobile phone, do you? You also do not share your laptop the same way!

Fourthly, who is responsible for repairing and supporting these devices. I see no indication on the part of the sponsors in this respect.   

Lastly, I feel the refurbished PCs should also be considered as a means to bridge the digital device, rather than generating new e-waste.

All this seriously makes me think hard as to whether there is a better solution to this so-called problem of "digital divide"? Can this be achieved via a community activity and not like what currently appears to be largely spearheaded by big corporations eager to get market share in the next billion? Could the price of a decent personal computing device with connectivity options (which may require un-conventional way of designing these devices) be brought down to 1K INR (roughly $25)? (The mobile phone industry has already come up with such options with Reliance Infocom introducing 770INR (roughly $20) mobile phone in Indian market, of course the goal of phone is different (or is it?) but that is exactly the kind of pricing required of a computing device to make it accessible to the larger lot of us.) And finally as the target is a large mass of people (not millions, but well over a billion), how do we make these computing devices greener?

If you, like me feel that these questions be addressed for a better "digital world" of tomorrow, I would like to know your opinion. And possibly come up with a viable practical "first step" solution...

revisiting olpc

Well not exactly, but this NY Times article on the schools in US abandoning the "one-to-one" computing programs as it hardly improves the learning abilities of the kids, is something that really needs to be thought about.

The article notes that in the seven or so years it was functional in many schools, the box has more served as distraction in the learning process.

Incidences like these should be taken seriously and probably we need to study a lot before blindly implementing a new technology driven learning scheme.

As of now India has taken a stand of opting out of the OLPC project, possibly because of these very worries?

back to olpc again!

Via PC1 initiative website has more reference to views about pros and cons of OLPC. Check is here.

Btw, Via PC1 initiative is also working towards the same kind of goal using a different approach though. And they have a research center in Mumbai too!

on OLPC: why indian policy makers should rethink?

Till my last post of the OLPC (one laptop per child) subject, I was wondering whether someone in India had experimented with the idea of providing access to computers for underprivileged or rural kids?

I was pleasantly surprised to find the "Hole-in-the-Wall" project being run by NIIT in coordination with International Finance Corporation.

From the hole-in-the-wall site:
"The acquisition of basic computing skills by any set of children can be achieved through incidental learning provided the learners are given access to a suitable computing facility, with entertaining and motivating content and some minimal (human) guidance."
is some thing we should seriously look at, rather than outright scrapping of OLPC in india.

Dr. Sugata Mitra, Chief Scientist at NIIT, who is toying with the idea of providing computer access to the kids since 1982, and allowing them to acquire the skills and education on their own is a prime example of why such projects are needed at a large scale in India. And with the GOI honoring Dr. Sugata with Dewang Mehta award for Innovation in Information Technology, the government probably itself recognizes the need for such work.

India could set an example on how to make technology accessible to the masses .... only if we think right and take right decisions.

PS. To know more about the "Hole-in-the-wall" project visit: http://www.hole-in-the-wall.com/

on OLPC and RTIA

Two disconnected issues. But the way in which policy makers are taking decisions (and giving reasons for them) on these apparently important matters should be of real concern and .

A few days ago, the HRD ministry had indicated that OLPC (one-laptop-per-child) program is *not* suitable for children of rural India... providing some absurd reasons like: ".. the problems (health) faced by rural child is well known, and would be further complicated by usage of laptop". and it goes on to give so many other reasons (by quoting foreign experts)! I fail to understand why no Indian expert is at all considered?

So is the case of Right To Information Act (RTIA) where an amendment to limited/ no access to "file noting" on certain "classified" areas is proposed. Similar acts in other countries were cited as example for the proposed amendment. This is simply not good for a health of democratic India, where we seem to be trying to do what others are doing, and simply not having our own views on these subject of prime interest to any democratic institution.

And as Arvind Kejriwal gets Magsaysay Award for the very RTIA that he and may others (including Anna Hazare) fought for, we simply wonder how our elected representatives are modifying a powerful act to suite some wested interests.