Why not a Rs.5000 computer?
January 15, 2008, The Hindu
This opinion piece highlights the fact that despite the existence of several technology initiatives which attempt to the bridge the digital divide, none of these initiatives have managed to reach out to the audiences they claim to serve. While the latest addition to this list is the XO computer by the One Laptop Per Child Project (OLPC), Indian initiatives which have faced similar fates include the Simputer and Mobilus. The author says that its one thing to create a perfect machine like the XO in a research laboratory, making the same initiative succeed in the field is a totally different proposition. On the other hand, an initiative like mobile telephony has proved extremely successful and demonstrates that for a product to be successful, it needs to be seen to provide a good value proposition both in terms of money and functionality. The author urges the IT industry to take it upon itself to create a computer which would cost Rs 5000/- which would be seen to provide value for money and help bridge the digital divide.