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Bridging the Digital Divide With PCtvt?
maddu writes "Dr. Raj Reddy, a pioneering researcher in artificial intelligence and a
professor at Carnegie Mellon University, plans to unveil his new project, called the PCtvt, later this year - it's a $250 wirelessly
networked personal computer intended for the four billion people around
the world who live on less than $2,000 a year, according to the NYT (free reg. req.) He says his device can find a market in developing countries,
particularly those with large populations of people who cannot read,
because it can be controlled by a simple TV remote control and can
function as a television, telephone and videophone." We've previously covered the somewhat conceptually related Simputer.
Instead of just reducing the prices further and thereby reducing margins for manufacturers, we are incuding them to fire more people, bringing down incomes on average and thus again starting off the cycle...
Increasing prices always bring increasing incomes....
"Doing what i can, with what i have." ~ Burt Gummer
Why, oh why didn't he use linux, like the Simputer? Maybe Microsoft are supporting this to use as the next weapon in the battle to keep the developing world away from Free Operating Systems.
Mod parent up!
That a AI researcher and professor thinks that he has the best skills to create a mass-market product that requires extreme low cost high volume engineering skill. Engineers spend days figuring out how to save a couple of *cents* on a project like this.
It's a nice idea and it should be done, but he's not the one that's going to do it.
"Eve of Destruction", it's not just for old hippies anymore...
Worse yet- he doesn't realize that the grand majority of those 4 billion people not only live on less than $2000 a year- they live on less than $365 a year (since the going wage at the bottom of the third world is $1/day). Does he really expect people to give up 2/3rds of their yearly salary just to get a TV set/Telephone/Videophone? And don't you have to be at least symbol-literate to use a remote control or keyboard?
SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
Guess what? Not everybody in the world needs to own their own PC. Not even every family. A village with 250 families could each kick in a buck, and share it.
Frankly, if you look at the impoverished, tribal, un-industrialized parts of the world, they have very little need for videophones or email. I doubt, given the choice, that many of these destitute tribes/villages would take the computer over say, a well or access to penicillin or hunting/farming supplies.
Why don't we get them some agriculture and other basic infrastructures in place?
Are eggheads really so self-absorbed that they think the biggest problem these people face is how to get their e-mail?
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
There's definitely precedent.
"When I was in my first year of college, I told my father that I was going to own a 4K computer someday! And he said, 'Yeah, but they cost about as much as a house!' And I said, 'Well then, I'll live in an apartment.'" -- Steve Wozniak
Having said that even though I think people in these places in this situation could afford it I'm not sure it will be largely successful. I do however think there will be takers.
targeting "particularly those with large populations of people who cannot read"
Hmmmm, and I always thought that's what AOL was for ?
Here's my 2 pence, they/someone should include software to help teach people along with TV, DVD player, and whatever internet browsing tools they feel these people "need"
What separates Mr. Reddy's approach from other efforts is his belief that even the world's poorest communities can become a profitable market for computers...
He's no saint...
"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."--Benjamin Franklin
You'll notice the opposite is true here in the "developed" world. Nine months after every major blackout, ice/snow storm, there's a mini baby-boom. People don't get nookie when they're watching Survivor and sitcom reruns (If having sex during Survivor is what turns your crank, I don't want to know).
TV programmes have also had a huge cultural impact- showing financially independent women in their 30's? Downright radical.
The guy who came up with this is a geek, and he's thinking about bringing technology to the masses. There's nothing wrong with that- people ought to contribute to our common advancement with what knowledge they know and are passionate about.
Information: "I want to be anthropomorphized"
This shows median salaries in India based on certification. The median salary for someone with a MSCE gets $4560 a year. Getting an MSCE is way above reading.
I couldn't find any sources on secretary salaries in India, but I bet its less than that and secretaries probably need to be very proficient in reading and other office skills including computer use(but not always). India seems like a prime target for this kind of product, lots of people making less than 2k a year, who can read and are probably interested in computers.
some people just never learn
a normal fully functional PC without the need of expensive internet connection, maybe not the top of the line, but fair fast one, is less than $250, with some promotion, dell 400SC was $180 with a free palm, it was $250 a while ago too
why on earth those people keep "inventing" those thin client, networking PC, with price tag no cheaper than a more capable PC, and trying to sell it?
how many times they needs to try before they realize "THIS DOESNOT WORK"!!!