Aakash: World's cheapest touchscreen tablet to be launched

If Tata Nano wasn't enough for the world to shook their head & take notice, here comes another product from India's stable that may change outlook of world towards the technical innovation taking place in India. Government of India is set to launch an Ultra lost cost touchscreen tablet Sakshat "Aakash" by the end of June 2011.  The biggest shocker is its incredible price: Rs 2200/- ($35) for general public & Rs. 1100/- for students.

Specifications & features

There is till some ambiguity regarding the actual specs of the product & needs to be taken with a grain of salt. We can know the real specs of Sakshat Aakash only after getting our hands on the products. But for a tantalizing glance, here it goes:-

Hardware Specification

• Display: 7" Touch Screen
• Keyboard: Built in
• RAM: 2GB
• Connectivity: Wifi,  2 USB ports
  
• Operating System: Linux (Android)
  
• Power: 2 watt
• Mini SD card slot, SIM card slot, 
• Output: Video out port, 3.5 mm headset jack

Features

• Video web conferencing facility,
• Multimedia content viewer for example pdf, jpeg, zip, etc,
• Computing capabilities such as Open Office, SciLab
• Internet browsing with flash plug-in, JavaScript.
• It would be packed with an educational software developed by Indian Institute of Technology
  
• 2 watt system is used up by this laptop so that it can even perform in areas where power supply is low. 
• 3 hours of uninterrupted operating through a non-removable lithium-polymer battery
• Linux system is programmable in this laptop. 

Purpose

National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology is supporting this project to enlighten students. There may be many methods to spread education but this one would prove to be an innovative style of imparting knowledge. The education which would touch the lives of every student through this mode of technology would be possible easily. 

Where to buy?

The laptops will be distributed in institutions by the HRD ministry.
As a part of India’s National Mission for Education, Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) 504 universities and 25,000 colleges countrywide would be the recipients of these laptops. Nearly 10,000 tablets will be dispatched to IIT-Rajasthan later this month, while some 90,000 devices will be rolled out over the next four months, according to reports.

Info
Looking at the price & general specification of the product, a natural question comes to mind - What about quality? Is it possible that Sakshat Aakash is built from sub-par quality components or may be doesn't adhere to safety standard meant for Electronic products. Reports suggest that it will be under FCC guidelines of CE certifications & ROHS compliant.

Unveiling the prototype of the gadget, the human resource development minister Kabil Sibal told that it was India's answer to the "$100 laptops" developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. This ambitious project was the outcome of experts from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras and IIT Bombay. The contract for Sakshat Aakash was given to HCL Technologies.

Video Demo

If all this sound unbelievable, then watch the demo of the prototype..

Sakshat Aakash is considered to be a revolutionary gadget, as it aims to connect the rural India with the ongoing technology boom. The tablet, which is mainly meant for students, is an attempt to ensure accessibility of information and latest technology for the masses in the rural areas.

The low cost Sakshat Aakash tablet project, if executed well, could prove to be a unique initiative that will empower and bridge the gap between rural and urban India.

Just a minor update: On Launching, the name of India's cheapest touchscreen tablet was changed from Sakshat to Aakash. (09-10-2011)

http://ourdigitallives.blogspot.com