By Fakir Balaji, IANS
Jaipur : Global chipmaker Intel Corp is all set to roll out its Classmate PC, a portable mini-notebook, in Indian schools from August to digitally enhance the existing teaching format.
The Indian subsidiary of the $39-billion silicon firm has tied up with HCL Infosystems to hard sell the novel educational tool in thousands of schools across India for empowering students and teachers with computer literacy.
"The Classmate PC, designed and developed in India by engineers at our Bangalore development centre, will only complement the conventional or existing format of teaching and learning in classrooms in a digital form or e-way," John McClure, the Intel South Asia director (marketing), told IANS at a industry-media conclave here.
HCL, one of India's largest PC manufacturers, will be the prime vendor to distribute and maintain the Classmate PC for enhancing the education system and infrastructure in government-run as well as private schools, he said.
The innovative computing device, powered by Intel's Celeron mobile processor 900Mhz, comes with Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity. With a seven-inch LCD screen, 256-512 mb RAM and a flash memory of one-two gigabytes capacity, the portable device runs on Linux and Windows XP operating systems.
Weighing about 1.5 kg and having a three-four hour battery life, the product is being manufactured in China by Intel's ODM (original design manufacturer) Computex, a Taiwanes firm, for the Asia-Pacific region.
Since the $1-billion Intel World Ahead Programme was launched a year ago, the company has distributed around 32,000 Classmate PCs in the APAC region, including 10,000 units in select states across India on a pilot basis.
To be priced at about Rs.18,000, the PC will be customised to meet the local requirements in terms of rich content and features for quicker adaptability. Equipped with a water-resistant keyboard and rugged protective cover to prevent dust, the handheld device will be loaded with special content for two-way teacher-student and teacher-parent collaboration.
"In addition, the Classmate PC has an advanced theft-control feature, based on network-issued digital certification, and is powered to run mainstream applications, including video and educational software," McClure said at a preview of the product.
"The game plan is to encourage innovation and enable schoolgoing children to communicate worldwide, developing 21st century skills such as digital literacy, problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration," he added.
HCL Infosystems vice-president Rajendra Kumar said the Classmate PC would revolutionise classroom learning by taking teacher-student interaction to a higher level in schools across the country.
"A large number of public and private schools have already started setting up computer labs to expose students to the world of information and communication technologies (ICT) and equip them with skills that will empower them in e-learning and qualify them for high-tech jobs," Kumar pointed out.
HCL will also rope in content developers and education service providers to offer customised and integrated learning solutions. It will reach out to schools and educational institutes across the country through its distribution network.