The Aakash, India's $35 Tablet for Education and Development: How to enable the next billion Internet users?
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Description:
On 5 October 2011, Indian Minister for Human Resource Development, Kapil Sibal, announced the launch of a new low-cost educational tablet--the Aakash. The Aakash has been described by supporters as heralding a new 'Internet revolution' within Indian education, with the potential to be as revolutionary for educational computing as the mobile phone has been for personal communications. Its critics have noted this is not the first time such a device has been promised for India, recalling the fanfare that greeted earlier devices, such as the Simputer and the '$100 laptop' (OLPC) project.
What's different this time? Is this simply an idea--and vision--whose time has come? What role (if any) should government play in promoting--and possibly subsidizing, as with the Aakash--innovative products and approaches in this area? What does the mass availability of sophisticated, inexpensive computing mean for the delivery of public accountability and services in different sectors? How can development agencies like the World Bank support such initiatives and contribute to their sustainability and broader social and economic impact? Is there a need for an ecosystem approach to such initiatives?
You are invited to join a fascinating discussion with Suneet Singh Tuli, the CEO of DataWind, the company that developed the Aakash in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Rajasthan. We will learn more about this high profile initiative, help separate the hope from the hype, and gain a glimpse into the future of low cost computing in developing countries. Mr. Tuli will provide a background introduction to DataWind, and will talk about sustainable business models to drive broad adoption of computing and Internet devices in the developing world. Focusing on device, content and access as the three necessary pieces of the puzzle, he will present DataWind’s vision on developing sustainable ecosystems for each of these.
Keynote Speaker: Suneet Tuli, CEO, Data Wind
Discussants:
Mike Trucano, Senior ICT for Education Specialist, World Bank
Joshua Goldstein, Mobile Apps Spec., ICT Knowledge Platform
Moderator: Philippe Dongier, Sector Manager, ICT Unit, World Bank
To confirm participation, please RSVP to edevelopment@worldbank.org and indicate whether you would like to participate in person at the World Bank, Washington DC or join via webcast.
Speaker's Bio
Suneet Singh Tuli, Chief Executive Officer, Datawind
Suneet Singh Tuli is the founder and CEO of DataWind Ltd., responsibile for the overall vision, strategy and execution for the Company’s future. He has 20 years of experience as a serial entrepreneur, having previously launched two successful companies that conducted Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) on the Nasdaq stock market. Using patented technologies, these companies created a variety of scanning, printing and imaging products, which were sold worldwide through direct distribution and OEM/private-label channels. In these ventures he managed a team of over 250 professionals across eight countries. The innovative products and technologies created through these ventures have received numerous awards and accolades.