IIT Bombay Orders 1,000 Low Cost Netbook Computers to Conduct a Pilot Study

MUMBAI, July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Computing resources are no more a luxury but are a necessity in education. Lack of adequate computing resources hamper quality of education and hinder technological innovation. While low cost tablet computers, such as Aakash, are sufficient for most students to access educational material, for the creators, a larger screen and a keyboard become indispensable. Taking cognisance of this, many state governments have gone on to issue laptops and netbooks to their students. To make such efforts financially sustainable, it is required to keep the cost of these systems low. Availability of a computer system does not imply effective use of it. If our creators or makers have to make effective use of computers, we also have to come up with suitable methodologies to train them and give aftersales support, especially on the use of software.

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay will be conducting a pilot study on low cost netbook computers to address both the issues mentioned above. One of the objectives of this study is whether a low cost netbook computer is sufficient for the needs of our student programmers. The other objective of this study is to explore ways of establishing an ecosystem that will create, train and support the student programmers. To this end, 1,000 low cost netbook computers are proposed to be acquired in the first instance, as a pilot study.

Professor Kannan, IIT Bombay, and one of the investigators of Aakash Project, says, "The pilot project is targeted at makers - those who write computer programs. For us to become a developed nation, it is imperative to invest in students who can create technology." IIT Bombay has already issued a tender to purchase netbook computers. Details of the tender are available at this IIT Bombay website: http://www1.iitb.ac.in/stores/tender/

This initiative is funded by the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

About NMEICT

The National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) seeks to meet learning needs of 500+ million Indians through technology. Visit: www.sakshat.ac.in

About IIT Bombay

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, the second IIT to be set up in 1958, is recognised worldwide as a leader in the field of engineering education and research. It is reputed for the quality of its faculty and the outstanding calibre of students graduating from its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The institute has a total of 15 academic departments, ten centres, one school and four interdisciplinary programmes. Over the last five decades, more than 46,000 engineers and scientists have graduated from the institute. It is served by more than 600 faculty members considered not only amongst the best within the country, but are also highly recognised in the world for achievements in the field of education and research. Today the institute is recognized as one of the centres of academic excellence in the country. Over the years, there has been dynamic progress at IIT Bombay in both academic and research activities, including a parallel improvement in facilities and infrastructure to keep it on par with the best institutions in the world. Visit: www.iitb.ac.in

Media Contact: Prabhakar Deshpande, [email protected], +91-9821089074, Consultant, Aakash Labs