IIT students take computers to villages

KANPUR: In earnest pursuance of the New Age mantra — technology at your doorstep — scientists at the IIT here have developed a battery- powered "infothela" equipped with an assortment of Internet and telecom facilities to impart the benefit of information technology to people in remote areas.
Laced with "digital mandi" facility, this "infothela" may later be christened as "computer thela".
Prof Prashant Kumar of the IIT’s mechanical engineering and designing department, said that a prototype of the "infothela" was ready and would work with the help of BSNL’s cable network. In the first phase, experts plan to conduct services of this appliance between Kanpur and Lucknow, covering about 50 villages.
This all-weather technological "thela" has been designed keeping in mind the outdoor services that it will provide and will be shock-, vibration-and dust-resistant as well. It will have the facility of 17-colour display.
Prof S G Dhande, director, IIT, had first revealed the ambitious project in a speech in Lucknow on February 2, this year.
This 200 kg, Rs 70,000 worth of wireless "infothela," developed under Media Lab Asia Project by the IIT-ians will spread information about education, health, weather, agriculture and employment among the people.
It will also come handy in checking land records. The most attractive part of the "infothela" is the "digital mandi" which will ensure an electronic platform for business of agro-commodities.
The "thela" can also be used for getting details about holy places, religion, education and even astrology related issues.
Prof Prashant said: "We envisage that application of "infothela" will touch the roots of the village economy. This task could be accomplished by enabling digital marketplaces for agro-commodities. This will also alleviate the cash crunch faced by farmers through active participation of various banking and para-banking institutions."