[thelist] Fw: [LINK] - The Simputer: A handheld for the masses?

N.D. navin_dhanuka at yahoo.com
Sat Jan 12 08:27:47 CST 2002


While one person hesitates because he feels inferior,
the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior.
~Henry C. Link

----- Original Message -----
From: "N.D." <navin_dhanuka at yahoo.com>
To: <linuxers at mm.ilug-bom.org.in>
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2002 7:54 PM
Subject: [LINK] - The Simputer: A handheld for the masses?


> http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-8441711.html?tag=mn_hd
>
> Handheld computers are commonly seen as geek toys for affluent mobile
> professionals.
> An Indian group hopes to change that image with the Simputer,
> a device designed to bring portable computing and the information age to
> developing countries.
>
> The Simputer Trust, a group of individuals from the Indian Institute of
> Science, and
> Encore Software are behind the device. Vinay L. Deshpande, CEO of Encore,
> said
> the machine is expected to arrive in the second quarter.
>
> The finished product, which will run the Linux operating system, will be
> slightly
> larger than a Palm handheld but will operate as a simple portable
computer.
> It will use 32MB of flash memory and 32MB of RAM.
>
> Other hardware features include a built-in modem, infrared port and USB
port
> for
> connection with other devices.
>
> The interface comprises mainly icons and graphics on a 240-by-320-pixel
> touch screen.
> The device also supports text-to-speech capability and will be able to
> provide voice
> feedback in local languages, according to specifications provided by
Encore
> Software.
>
> Sharp Electronics Singapore has been engaged to provide its monochrome and
> color LCDs, flash memory and smart cards for the Simputer. At a media
> briefing Friday, Encore said Sharp will also offer its engineering
expertise
> to help with the development of the device.
>
> Sharp's Zaurus handheld, recently rereleased in the United States, also
uses
> Linux.
>
> To use the Simputer, individuals will need to purchase a smart card to
store
> personal information.
> Once inserted into the device, the card will provide access to private
> information, such as bank accounts.
> The Simputer will initially be available for government organizations.
> It will be targeted at businesses and consumers at a later date, Deshpande
> said.
> India will be one of the first countries where the product will be made
> available, he said.
> Bangalore, India-based Encore, which develops digital signal
processor-based
> software
> and embedded systems, began the project two years ago, working on the idea
> of getting
> rural areas in India networked and connected to the Internet.
>
> The Simputer will be used in villages and districts so that small
> communities can share the
> device for various uses such as sending and receiving e-mail and carrying
> out banking transactions.
>
> Expected to cost about $200, the Simputer will be powered by three AAA
> batteries
> that can offer 6 hours to 8 hours of continuous usage, Encore said.
>


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