Bangladesh launches $130 laptop for schools
Bangladesh on Tuesday unveiled a $130 (Dh477) locally made laptop that it
hopes will help bridge the digital divide in the impoverished South Asian
country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled the Doel -- or magpie -- laptops at a ceremony in the capital Dhaka, saying the computer, made by state-owned telecom company TSS, would help Bangladesh become a middle-income nation by 2021.
"(There are) four types of Doel laptops, the most basic one is priced at 10,000 taka ($130). The highest price is 26,000 taka," said government spokesman Shefayet Hossain.
Hossain said the idea of the cut-price laptops came from the education ministry, which aims to distribute them to tens of millions of poor students.
TSS has struck joint venture deals with two private companies to produce and market the laptops across the country, he added.
The Doel is Bangladesh's national bird.
Despite a booming economy, which has grown at an average six per cent each year over the last decade, Bangladesh ranks low on Internet and information technology penetration.
The government has said it hopes that the inexpensive laptop will aid in closing the digital gap in the country.
Digital inclusion has the potential to bring education to people in countries where educational infrastructure is limited, experts say.
Access to the Internet is also seen as a way to bolster health care, banking and other services and help lift millions of Bangladeshis out of poverty.
Last week, neighbouring India launched what has been dubbed the world's cheapest computer -- a $46 tablet device. The government is planning to buy 100,000 of the tablets to be given away for free to students.
http://www.emirates247.com/news/world/bangladesh-launches-130-laptop-for-schools-2011-10-11-1.423021
Doel, the First Bangladesh-Made Android Laptop Unveiled
Yesterday Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced their first domestically-produced laptop, the Doel. Produced by a state-owned telephone company, Telephone Shilpa Sangstha, the laptop will have four different models, but it is the low-end model, the 10,000 Taka or $130 USD model, that will run an unspecified version of Android.
The Doel name, as implied by the logo, comes from Bangladesh's national bird, a small black and white bird, known as the magpie robin in the West.
The Doel’s “primary model” (likely the basic model running Android) has the following specs:
■800 MHz VIA processor with 512 MB RAM
■10.1″ LCD screen, 1024 x 600
■16 GB internal flash memory
■SD card slot, 2 USB ports
■webcam
■Wi-Fi
Currently Telephone Shilpa Sangstha is only domestically producing 10% of the components used in the Doel laptop range. But their managing director, Mohammad Ismail, has said that within 6 months, they plan to produce 60% of the Doel laptop components.
Similar to the project behind the $35 Android tablet that India recently released, these inexpensive Doel laptops are geared toward increasing computer literacy in Bangladesh. Initially, government employees will be getting the Doel laptops, but soon afterwards, a plan for distribution to students and the general public will follow.
The Digital Bangladesh project has a goal that by 2021, the entire country will be digitally connected. However, opponents to the project say that Bangladesh’s internet connectivity is currently rather poor, and distribution of these Doel laptops before a proper infrastructure is in place will do nothing to improve that fact.
Be that as it may, it’s great to see Android and other OSes being used in developing countries for projects aimed at increasing computer literacy. Access to the internet has moved from a luxury to a necessity. The sooner people all over the world are able to take advantage of internet connectivity, the better.
Via Electronista, International Business Times
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled the Doel -- or magpie -- laptops at a ceremony in the capital Dhaka, saying the computer, made by state-owned telecom company TSS, would help Bangladesh become a middle-income nation by 2021.
"(There are) four types of Doel laptops, the most basic one is priced at 10,000 taka ($130). The highest price is 26,000 taka," said government spokesman Shefayet Hossain.
Hossain said the idea of the cut-price laptops came from the education ministry, which aims to distribute them to tens of millions of poor students.
TSS has struck joint venture deals with two private companies to produce and market the laptops across the country, he added.
The Doel is Bangladesh's national bird.
Despite a booming economy, which has grown at an average six per cent each year over the last decade, Bangladesh ranks low on Internet and information technology penetration.
The government has said it hopes that the inexpensive laptop will aid in closing the digital gap in the country.
Digital inclusion has the potential to bring education to people in countries where educational infrastructure is limited, experts say.
Access to the Internet is also seen as a way to bolster health care, banking and other services and help lift millions of Bangladeshis out of poverty.
Last week, neighbouring India launched what has been dubbed the world's cheapest computer -- a $46 tablet device. The government is planning to buy 100,000 of the tablets to be given away for free to students.
http://www.emirates247.com/news/world/bangladesh-launches-130-laptop-for-schools-2011-10-11-1.423021
Doel, the First Bangladesh-Made Android Laptop Unveiled
Yesterday Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced their first domestically-produced laptop, the Doel. Produced by a state-owned telephone company, Telephone Shilpa Sangstha, the laptop will have four different models, but it is the low-end model, the 10,000 Taka or $130 USD model, that will run an unspecified version of Android.
The Doel name, as implied by the logo, comes from Bangladesh's national bird, a small black and white bird, known as the magpie robin in the West.
The Doel’s “primary model” (likely the basic model running Android) has the following specs:
■800 MHz VIA processor with 512 MB RAM
■10.1″ LCD screen, 1024 x 600
■16 GB internal flash memory
■SD card slot, 2 USB ports
■webcam
■Wi-Fi
Currently Telephone Shilpa Sangstha is only domestically producing 10% of the components used in the Doel laptop range. But their managing director, Mohammad Ismail, has said that within 6 months, they plan to produce 60% of the Doel laptop components.
Similar to the project behind the $35 Android tablet that India recently released, these inexpensive Doel laptops are geared toward increasing computer literacy in Bangladesh. Initially, government employees will be getting the Doel laptops, but soon afterwards, a plan for distribution to students and the general public will follow.
The Digital Bangladesh project has a goal that by 2021, the entire country will be digitally connected. However, opponents to the project say that Bangladesh’s internet connectivity is currently rather poor, and distribution of these Doel laptops before a proper infrastructure is in place will do nothing to improve that fact.
Be that as it may, it’s great to see Android and other OSes being used in developing countries for projects aimed at increasing computer literacy. Access to the internet has moved from a luxury to a necessity. The sooner people all over the world are able to take advantage of internet connectivity, the better.
Via Electronista, International Business Times
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