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Encore to kick-off Simputer field trials in August

BS Regional Bureau

It's not a palm-top, it's not a computer. This pocket-sized device can talk to you, read out your e-mail and is called the Simputer.

After drawing global attention for many months now, this 'simple and low-cost' computing device is finally making it from the drawing-boards to the production stage. "By August, we should have 500 to 1000 Simputers ready for field trials in various applications," said Bangalore-based Encore Software vice-president Mark Mathias.

Encore is one of the teams working to commercialise this product, and make it relevant to the millions on the wrong side of the digital divide, kept out by the high cost of computers.

To be priced at an anticipated $200, the Simputer is drawing widespread attention. Not only is it versatile and inexpensive, but this innovation from India could drastically change the way in which the common man does his computing.

Specially, in the poorer parts of Planet Earth -- from countries like distant Cuba to the Philippines -- varied interest has come up in this product designed by a team of computer scientists at the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore. Some leading the team are returned-Indian expatriates from the US, who were challenged into using their skills to making computing accessible to the common man.

Mathias said: "We are moving pretty fast. We are talking to various (potential) manufacturers including reasonably large companies like Bharat Electronics." This product is specially made for the farmer and the villager. Its minimal components will ensure it is rugged. It is dust-resistant. Besides, it is shareable by many users, meaning the Simputer could be put out for use in a community hall or panchayat (village council centre).

It is based entirely on free software and, when produced in bulk, would touch prices as low as $200 (approximately Rs 9000). Besides, it will be useful for the common man's educational, communication and entertainment needs. "Our country needs uniquely local solutions for uniquely local needs," said Mathias.

Each Simputer, that sits comfortably in an adult's hand, would use a 'smartcard' device. This could be used for micro-banking applications to help the common man. A 'soft modem' would enable the Simputer to dial-up to a centralised server (and download relevant information like vegetable market prices) or even to the Internet.

"We're talking to the state government. We want to see whether the Simputer could help speed up the computerisation of land records. Someone could take this device into the field (for faster working)," Mathias added.

Each Simputer will have a SA-110 StrongARM CPU (central processing unit), 32MB of DRAM, 16MB flash. It will not have a keyboard, and data can be fed-into it through a stylus (pen-like computing device that sends out electronic signals) and a system called tap-a-tap devised by the Bangalore scientists.

You don't even have to be literate to use a Simputer. It's text-to-voice facility means it can read out - in your language - an electronic-mail message you receive, for instance. Simputers could be used to book train tickets - provided the infrastructure needed is set up. Or even to communicate with a tahsildar (South Indian rural village official); send out e-mail and voice-mail; undertake microbanking operations; or even for promoting education and literacy.

"Data-collection, telemedicine, keeping police records, and serving in community kiosks are some other applications for which this can be used. Like you have your STD (long-distance phone booths, ubiquitous across India), the future could be a Simputer booth," said Mathias. Someone suggested attaching sensors to the Simputer, to use the device check the purity of drinking water in rural areas, he says.

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