The third version of low cost tablet 'Aakash' will be a delight for
its users as developers are likely to equip it with a SIM slot and more
exciting apps, all within the existing price band.
About 50 lakh 'Aakash 3' tablets are expected to be rolled out in
the next phase, the global tender for which may be floated in February
next year.
According to committee members engaged in developing the third
version of Aakash, the endeavour will be to make the product as
indigenous as possible and involve multiple vendors.
"Our ultimate aim is to imbibe the usage of tablets in the
education system and create an ecosystem for this," said Deepak B
Phatak, committee member and professor in IIT- Bombay's Department of
Computer Science and Engineering.
According to Phatak, computer giants world over are amazed with
the device and there is a keen interest among several vendors to
participate in this venture.
Aakash 3 will have a faster processor supporting both Linux and
Android operating systems and come with advanced memory, he said.
"It could also have a SIM card slot so that people can use it as a communication device," Phatak said.
Apart from Phatak, Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT-Madras along
with hundreds of students and other partners are also involved in making
the new Aakash 3.
One of the aims of students involved in the project is to develop
an application for the tablet that can tell pulse rate among many
others.
It will also have a larger distribution and servicing system so that owners can get their tablets repaired locally.
Playing down controversies suggesting that several of the tablet's
components were of Chinese make, Phatak said emphasis has been placed on
adding value to the product with the objective of enhancing its
efficacy among students.
He also suggested two models for Aakash 3 -- one for schools and the other for colleges.
The most recent version, Aakash 2, developed by IIT-Bombay along
with C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing), was launched
by President Pranab Mukherjee in November.
The tablet is available for students at subsidised rate of Rs 1,130 while the government purchases it at Rs 2,263.
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