Aakash is a series
of Android-based tablet computers produced by British company DataWind. It is manufactured by the India-based
company Quad, at a new production centre in Hyderabad, under
a trial run of 100,000 units. The
tablet was officially launched as the Aakash in New Delhi on 5 October 2011
(Kurup, 2011).
 |
| Source: tekdig.net |
It has been launched with the aim of
linking colleges and universities in an e-learning program. Aakash Tablet is the
subsidized student version sponsored by the Indian government. This tablet
has been launched with a vision of bridging the digital divide, and the
government hopes to reach out to millions of students through this initiative
(Timmons, 2011).
Using this device and its connectivity,
the students can access all the content available in the Sakshat portal and
other educational websites (Singh, 2012). The student is not dependent on a
physical classroom and can access world class lectures and content on this
device in the any corner of the country.
 |
| Suneet Singh, CEO of DataWind. source: sikhachievers.com |
There is no stopping for Aakash tablet as DataWind CEO Suneet
Singh Tuli said that this tablet is going places and the whole world is taking
notice of this ‘made in India’ tablet. He said that the tablet has generated a
lot of interest among international organizations like UNESCO and several world
leaders. Speaking to media in New Delhi, he said, “Several prime ministers and
ministers have evinced interest in Aakash who want it for their country in
thousands” (Tripti, 2011).
Aakash tablet has a great potential
of reaching millions due to the low cost. When the tablet reaches every nook
and corner of the country, an entire generation will have access to educational
content and will soon enable them to be at par with their global counterparts.
 |
| source: tablettechtoday.com |
Due to its economically friendly nature as well as
positive implications that possibly could arise from its innovation, it is
believed that it serves as a major platform to harness quality graduates within
a nation hence improving social dysfunctions and lapses through the
availability of the internet practically everywhere. The internet also serves
as a tool which operates in building communities in terms of lacklustre education,
infrastructure as well as poverty (Liechsten, 2010).
References
1. Kurup, S 2011. "'We want to
target the billion Indians who are cut off'". Times of India. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
2. Timmons, H 2011. "Aiming for the
Other One Billion". New York Times, retrieved 25 June 2012.
3. Singh, J 2012. "Aakash: This
Sky Has Limits", LightReading (India),
retrieved 25 June 2012.
4. Tripti, L 2011. "India Announces World’s Cheapest Tablet". India Real Time, viaThe Wall Street Journal, retrieved
25 June 2012.
5. Liechsten, P 2010, “The internet and
socialism”, The Wall Street Journal, Retrieved 25 June 2012.
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