In what can be described with words that we used to describe the OLPC of 5 years ago, India's Ministry of Human Resources announced the invention of a prototype tablet computer that will puportedly sell for only 1,500 rupees or US$35.00.
Specs are: a Web browser, multimedia player, PDF reader, Wi-Fi and video conferencing ability using 2GB of RAM, a memory card instead of a hard disk for data storage plus USB ports and a solar - power option, which is important for far flung areas.
It is rumored to run on Android, or at the very least run some Linux flavor.
The Indian ministry claims it can be available to Indian school kids up to University level as early as next year.
I can see two caveats however: One, the road from prototype to actual production is long and unpredictable, as realized by the earlier 'for school children' project, MIT's OLPC, which ended up costing $200 instead of it's earlier announced $100, a fortune for its target users.
Second, as with most provide - internet - to - schools projects, I've always felt there should be equal emphasis on content other than the spotlight put on the device that's going to be used, primarily because I've always wondered how exactly the internet can do to help in educating children.
I can understand if the device is used for distance learning or specifically, teachers located in far places reaching out to kids far away, and conducting a classroom or some similar closed - network method. But if it were up to me, as for general internet access I'd keep children away from the Internet, at least until they are of a mature age enough to comprehend what they see on it.
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