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Solar Powered Computers Planned for Rural India

Posted by samzenpus on from the heliotropic-keyboards dept.

securitas writes "BBC Technology correspondent Ram Dutt Tripathi reports on India's Uttar Pradesh state where authorities plan to use solar energy to power computers in rural village schools. The cost to run the solar panels is anticipated to be £1,000 per school. According to the report, up to 80% of homes have no power and most government-run primary schools have no power at all. In 2003 the Uttar Pradesh state government bought '1,000 computers for selected primary schools in all 70 districts' with another 1000 to be purchased this year, 'but most of these will not work because there is no power available.' The project is similar to a solar-powered school computer lab on the Isle of Wight."

7 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. Isle of Wight by Hatta · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, if they have enough power for Jimi Hendrix, shouldn't they have enough power for a computer lab?

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    Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  2. Well... by inertia187 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've had mine for a while now, and it's great. Until it gets dark, like right about n

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    A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
  3. Re:Why not generate power... by NarrMaster · · Score: 3, Funny

    What is this "the gym" you speak of?

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    That's right. All your base.
  4. Use the flies powered fuel cell by mache · · Score: 4, Funny

    Didn't we just see a robot powered by a fly digesting fuel cell. The heck with solar power. India has plenty of flies. Just power the school's computer lab with flies.

    -- Mache

  5. Just what we need more Indian computer users by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 2, Funny
    Isn't the usual slashdot instinct to bemoan computer jobs going to India? This is where it starts.

    With a little training your job can be outsourced to someone moonlighing on a solar powered computer in a school in India. Damn, those jobs must suck.

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    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
  6. Sounds like a job for by ColonBlow · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sun microsystems.

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    free online diet tracking.
  7. Re:Wonder why 1000 pounds!? by Zorilla · · Score: 2, Funny

    Somebody want to buy this guy an "enter" key?

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    It would be cool if it didn't suck.