Building social technology

How technology would have made difference if focus was not just pure commercial but social enhancement?

This year Indian parliament has passed Right to education act where every child in India has a right for education. Government is suppose to make available funds for government run primary education, payment of teachers, nutritional food (mid day meal scheme) and infrastructure like Schools. It’s anybody’s guess how successful this act would be. The ministers and administration involved in education department has clearly shown lack of vision by not investing in the medium of education. Still 90 % of the schemes focus on physical based school where in some places students have to hike 10 Km every day. Its an irony India’s so called IT skills is not utilized for addressing this problems.
2010 marks the start of small hand held tablet pc segment with Apple, Dell and Samsung stealing the show. As I go through the review I can’t stop thinking of the fact that these are the perfect solution for countries like India and Africa to spread education. If mobile phones can come with 1GHZ processors (costing 20K Rupees) then definitely tablet pcs can be made in much cheaper rate and distributed among the kids.

There are two main question which people would ask for a project like this 1. How this technology would help? and 2.How to make this commercially viable?
Look at the solution below

1. How this technology would help?
As mentioned earlier students from many remote village has to trek around 10 KM to reach school. In most of the cases school building is in a dilapidated condition and with lack of basic facilities like water and electricity. With 3g enabled device students can stay connected and learn from home as well. Also, since long time students have been burden with loads of outdated printed books which can be replaced by digital contents. Also since most of the devices have audio visual communication aids it can be used for healthcare and social improvement schemes as well. Since a low powered processor is used the battery back would be a great advantage. Solar charges can be built to charge these devices.

2. How to make this commercially viable?

Cost is the main factor which acts as hindrance for such projects. But here also there are simple solutions.
1. Manufacturing cost: Mass production and use of local components would definitely reduce the cost of such devices. Electronics is cheap, it’s the commercial value of higher end chips and proprietary software which makes it the device expensive. Government should start manufacturing of such units which take the commercial and profit angle out of it
2. Commercial sponsorship: Rural market of India is one of the largest driver of economy. Rural marketing figures on the top in the marketing budget of all FMCG company. Sponsorship and advertisement through this device would enable the makers of such device earn profit and mass reach for marketers
3. Sponsor a Tablet: Sponsoring a Tablet PC can be promoted as tax saving opportunity and surely many people for opt for this option.

All it requires is a will power to make a change and use technology for social benefit. I hope one day this would be a reality in India