In an effort to bridge the gap between the rich and poor, access to information and complete exclusion from resources, India has unveiled the new cheap tablet that is similar to an iPad touch screen mobile tablet. The government hopes to completely roll out the new tablet at around $35 in 2012.

Sceptics say that the Indian government has already attempted the launch of a similar cheap tablet for education not too long ago, but because of the price tag and subsequent quality, failed. According to them one can expect low quality screen resolution, minimal functionality and of course also exceptional slow speed when going with such cheap tablets.

One, however, must still acknowledge the effort by the Indian government to make information and Internet more accessible for the purpose of education. Such steps have already been taken in the USA with huge success and it is hoped that the South African government will also take initiative to ensure that school kids and students get their own iPad like tablets.

What Do the Indian Tablets Offer?

The developers have mentioned a range of functionalities such as complete web browsing support, word processing capabilities as well as video conference apps. The only drawback will be the speed of such tablets and it is hoped that the earlier failure two years ago will not be repeated. The best IT colleges have been involved in the development of the tablet to be released by the Indian government. At present the government is still looking for a reliable manufacturer to produce the mobile computer, although positive reaction from the private sector has shown tremendous promise.

Drawbacks of the Tablet

One of the main drawbacks of the tablet is the fact that it doesn’t have a hard drive.  Storage space and thus the loading of programmes can be a problem. With the large storage capacity of memory sticks it shouldn’t be a problem, provided the students don’t lose their flash disks, which is often a problem at educational facilities. Memory cards have replaced hard disks and with that then the problem of accidental loss of memory sticks has been solved, not that it would be any different for memory cards.

The upside of such is that you can easily upgrade storage space by just getting a larger capacity memory card for the device. You can also buy more cards and thus ensure that you can make backups of vital information.

Apple iPads Too Expensive

Apple’s iPad costs around $500, which makes it a bit too expensive for large scale roll-out and if the cheaper tablet reaches the market and fulfils in the basic computing needs, one can expect more governments to follow India’s example. This of course, can also mean that Google Android based tablets which are relatively cheap can be used in classrooms all over the world. If Apple wants to keep the lead, they will have to come up with a cheap tablet as well or drop their price, which will be highly unlikely.

Linux Operating System Used

Mr Sibal the Minister of Human Resource Development in India has explained that the operating system will be Linux, which will ensure that the price of the tablets can stay low. They still want to get the price lower. Although entering the market at around $35, the idea is to eventually drop the price to $20 and then to $10. This is where the plan may go wrong as certain things can simply not be so cheap and still compete with more functional products on the market according to sceptics. The India government has, however, already shown that they are wrong:

Positive Features of the Cheap Tablets

• Wi-Fi enabled
• Touch screen
• The screens are 7 inch in size
• Battery back-up
• Handheld devices and fully portable
• SD card
• Google Android 2.2. operating system based
• Storage space for up to 2 GB
• Upgradable storage space with memory cards
• 12 Month warranty

The Indian government is positive that this new roll-out will not be a repeat of the previous attempt to introduce a cheap laptop to the educational institutions of the country. Their key players are the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science.

Launch of Tablet in School Shows Probable Success

The fact that 500 school kids have already received the cheap tablet computers shows that the Indian government is serious. The success will thus depend on the functionality of the tablets. Manufacturers have responded positively on the Indian government search for manufacturing companies to help realize their dream. Datawind has already offered to produce tablets at $35 for the government subject to the placement of an order for one million tablets. The Indian government will then subsidize the laptops to ensure a lower cost to students.

The private sector has also indicated that they will get involved in subsidizing the units to ensure the realisation of the target price of $10 per tablet. At present the iPad from Apple holds the leading position in the market. Second to Apple is the Galaxy Tab from Samsung. The units can thus become something to stir lower prices overall.

Apart from the Datawind tablets improved web access, Internet access plans are also on the table.  The Indian government also plans the roll-out of Wi-Fi across board to ensure full Internet access throughout the country. This will be important for the schools and tertiary institutions located in the rural areas.

India Leads the Way

Although rather idealistic, it is a step in the right direction and one closely watched by other governments around the world.

India is indeed doing groundbreaking work in the field of information access and education for the masses through the tablet supply plan. One can just hope that the South African government will do the same for all the schools in the country and not only the Model D schools. This may definitely be the way forward, saving on paper, space and ensuring better access to information and computer applications for all. Such a bold step, if well executed, could ensure better education for all in Third World countries.