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Simputer

A low cost portable computer

BYB.SRI DEVI

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The Simputer is a low cost portable alternative to PCs, by which the benefits of information

technologies can possibly reach across the digital divide. It has a special role in developing economies

because it offers the possibility that illiteracy is no longer a barrier to handling a computer. One key to

bridging the digital divide is to have shared devices that permit truly simple and natural user interfaces

based on sight, touch and audio.

The Simputer prototypes were launched on April 25th, 2001 and the complete design details of

the Simputer have been made available on the web site (www.simputer.org). An innovative licensing

mechanism has evolved through intense discussion within the Simputer Trust. We acknowledge the

influence of the Free Software movement in this regard. However, the Simputer General Public

Licence (SGPL) is more complex in many ways, partly due to the nature of hardware and partly to

ensure that there are sufficient incentives for continuous innovation on top of the Simputer platform.

abstract

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INDEX

No. Chapter Page No.1 Introduction 42 what is a SIMPUTER? 83 History 134 SIMPUTER Licensing 165 SIMPUTER Specification 196 Interfaces 227 Application of Simputer 238 Features 249 Deployment 2910 Some working areas of Simputer 3211 Conclusion 3512 References 36

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INTRODUCTION

The Simputer is a self-contained, open hardware handheld computer, designed for

use in environments where computing devices such as personal computers are deemed

inappropriate. PicoPeta Simputers Pvt. Ltd unveils Amida Simputer for the retail market.

It's simple, it's portable. At about Rs. 9,000 per piece, it's highly affordable. It is

compatible with your everyday PC, helps you check e-mail, browse the Net, keep accounts, and get

information. When the invention of the Simputer (Simple Computer) was announced in 2001, it

instantly captured the imagination of the world. The venerable New York Times called it the most

important invention of 2001 ahead of Apples G4 and Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system.

Here was a computer that was rewriting every rule associated with computers.

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It's simple, it's portable. At about Rs. 9,000 per piece, it's highly affordable. It is

compatible with your everyday PC, helps you check e-mail, browse the Net, keep

accounts, and get information. When the invention of the Simputer (Simple Computer)

was announced in 2001, it instantly captured the imagination of the world. The venerable

New York Times called it the most important invention of 2001 ahead of Apples G4 and

Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system. Here was a computer that was rewriting every

rule associated with computers.

Cont…

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Fig. Simputer

Image

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What Makes Simputer Different From Regular PCs?

Simputer is not a personal computer. It could however be a pocket

computer. It is much more powerful than a Palm, with screen size 320 x 240

and memory capability (32MB RAM). The Wintel (Windows + Intel)

architecture of the de facto standard PC is quite unsuitable for deployment on

the low cost mass market. The entry barrier due to software licensing is just too

high. While the Wintel PC provides a de facto level f standardization, it is not

an open architecture. The Simputer mean while is centered around Linux which

is freely available, open and modular.

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WHAT IS A SIMPUTER?

What exactly is the Simputer? Put quite simply, it is more complex and

powerful than a palm top.

For example, in terms of screen size (320x240), memory capabilities

(32MB RAM) and the OS (GNU/Linux). It runs on an Intel strong-arm chip.

The chip is known for its low power consumption. The Simputer runs on three

AAA batteries or off the mains. It can also use rechargeable batteries, but the

charger is not built in. Thus, the Simputer is basically a low-cost computer with

multiple connectivity options. It will be modular and based entirely on free

software from the Open Source Initiative. Its primary input will be a touch-

sensitive overlay on the LCD display panel.

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Brains Behind The Concept

A small group of scientists of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and

some engineering professionals from the firm Encore Software have designed this

simple device, and set up a trust to take it to the world.

This device, called a Simputer, will be launched formally on April 25 in

Bangalore.

This gadget is not a PC. It is a simplified device more like a pocket

computer. What distinguishes it from other hand-held devices is its smart card reader.

Besides, it also has an Information Markup Language that is, amongst other thing,

smart card aware. It will also have the use of extensive audio in the form of text-to-

speech and audio snippets.

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Affordable Computing

The projected cost of the Simputer is about Rs 9000 at large volumes.

But even this is beyond the means of most citizens. The Smart Card feature that

the Simputer provides enables the Simputer to be shared by a community.

A local community such as the village panchayat, the village school, a

kiosk, a village postman, or even a shopkeeper should be able to loan the device

to individuals for some length of time and then pass it on to others in the

community. The Simputer, through its Smart Card feature allows for personal

information management at the individual level for an unlimited number of

users.

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idea germinates

The Simputer project was conceived during the organisation of an

international seminar on information technology for developing countries, conducted

during Bangalore IT.com, Karnataka's annual IT trade show, in October 1998.

A discussion paper highlights the need for a low-cost mass access device that

will bring local-language IT to the masses. The initial discussions introduced the term

Simputer as an obvious twist on the word computer.

For the purpose of establishing originality, a slightly more complex acronym

was invented to fit the name Simputer: simple, inexpensive, multi-lingual computer.

And finally in order to appeal to computer geeks, a more complex expansion

was also coined, namely simple, inexpensive multi-lingual people's computer.

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What makes the Simputer special?

One needs to understand the Simputer’s main features text-to-speech synthesis in

Indian languages, pen-based input (called tap-a-tap), portable palmtop-sized footprint,

Linux-powered, open hardware licensing, and the smart-card interface, among others.

The intended use of these features (and hence the Simputer) is for rural areas. The

text-to-speech features, portable size and low power requirements are meant to be of

immense use to people in these areas. Some of the applications that have been suggested are

micro-banking applications, rural commerce, and micro-credit applications.

Simputer has an edge over any palmtop. Palmtops can’t compute in Indian

languages and don’t have text-to-speech interfaces for Indian languages. They are also not

aimed for the mass market that the Simputer is targeting, and still have a more elitist user

community.

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HISTORY

The Simputer project was conceived during the organization of the Global Village, an

International Seminar on Information Technology for Developing Countries, conducted during

Bangalore IT.com event in October 1998.

A discussion paper highlights the need for a low-cost mass access device that will bring

local-language IT to the masses. The initial concept paper (PDF version) expanding on the initial

discussions introduced the term Simputer as an obvious twist on the word Computer. For the

purpose of establishing originality, a slightly more complex acronym was invented to fit the name

Simputer: Simple, Inexpensive, Multi-lingual computer. And finally in order to appeal to computer

geeks, ridiculously complex recursive acronym was also coined: Simputer: SIMPLE COMPUTER,

which expands to Simple, In-expensive Multi-lingual PeopLE's compUTER. The concept paper

outlines the technical requirements of the Simputer as well as the applications. However, this paper

is quite dated, and useful only as a historic reference.

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Layout

The writing of the Bangalore

Declaration on Information technology

for developing countries clarified and

fortified the concept of the Simputer

and its role in the larger picture. A few

items in the Declaration, specifically

highlight the role for a Simputer-like

device.

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structure

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SIMPUTER LICENSING

The system software of the Simputer, since it is Linux based is under GPL.

We have been working on a license similar to the GPL, but applicable to hardware. We

realized, after considerable discussions, that hardware has a significant difference that

precludes the possibility of using a simple extension of the software GPL. We now have

the first draft of the Simputer General Public License (SGPL) that we believe to be a

practicable license which at the same time facilitates the rapid spread of Simputers.

The SGPL has been reviewed further and the new version is now ready. The

Simputer General Public License

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SIMPUTER SPECIFICATION

HARDWARECPU

Intel StrongArm SA-1110 CPU Memory

16–64 MB of SDRAM08-32 MB Flash for non-volatile storage

Display Options240x320 LCD Colour or Monochrome Display Panel with

backlightInput Device

Touch-panel Overlay on LCD Display with a plastic stylus (Pen)

Direction and Selection Keys

Audio InterfaceAudio CodecSupport for external head-set

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SmartCard InterfaceSmartCard Reader/Writer

USB Interface

ConnectivityData ModemIrDA Interface

Connectors in Basic UnitSmartCard ConnectorIrDA TransceiverRJ-11 Telephone JackUSB Type-A ConnectorAC Adapter Input

Power Supply2xAA-sized Ni-MH batteriesInternal charge managementOperates with external AC Adapter

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ACCESSORIES

Expansion Docking Cradle Compact Flash [CF-II] Slot, USB Slave and

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

Operating System

Linux Kernel 2.4.18

Network Protocols

TCP/IP, FTP, Telnet, PPP, HTTP etc.

Application Libraries

GTK+, glibc

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Internet Access

Browser, Email, File-Transfer

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INTERFACES

•Touch panel overlay on liquid-crystal display.

•Speaker and microphone jacks

•Smart-card connector.

•USB connector (to function as host or device)

•Serial port

•Infrared Data Association (IrDA) port

•Grayscale /Super-twisted nematic display (STN)/Thin-film transistor (TFT)

(depends on model and manufacturer).

•Multi-I/O connector (in Encore's Simputer) giving additional (slave) USB,

and optional modem/VGA interfaces

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APPLICATION OF SIMPUTER

Analytica is one of the few developers of custom applications on the

Simputer, a low cost linux based handheld indigenously developed in India.

The Simputer is the first handheld Internet appliance to have been designed

entirely in India from the electronics to the software to the industrial

engineering for the housing of the device.

Analytica develops custom applications for various domains like Sales

and Retail, Data Collection Projects, E-Eductation, Transportation and Fleet

Management.

A case study of one of the projects on the Simputer undertaken by

Analytica is outlined here:

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Features

•It runs on a 32-bit 200MHz Strong Arm SA-1100 RISC Processor with 32Mb

DRAM of RAM.Permanent Storage of 16MB Flash RAM. 320x240 monochrome

LCD display panel. Plastic stylus on a touch-panel overlay as input devices. Audio

codec & pre-amplifier for built-in headphones/microphone. Smart Card reader/writer.

•The Simputer runs on the free-to-use Linux operating system software, making it

one of the few handhelds not to use Palm's software or a version of Microsoft Corp's

Windows.

•It can connect to the Internet through fixed-line or wireless networks, allowing local

governments and voluntary agencies to receive and transmit data such as farm prices.

•It also has a speech synthesiser that can read English and Indian texts, making

computer use possible for more than one third of Indians who are illiterate.

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Development

There has been a huge number of mails expressing interest in contributing to

the growing Simputer effort. We have setup a mailing list for Simputer Development

related efforts.

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NEW USES

Encore is now targeting new markets such as electronic government, utilities,

health care, education, banking, financial services, and the manufacturing sector. It has

tied up with about 10 independent software vendors who have developed applications

around the Simputer for these market segments.

"We still see bridging the digital divide as an opportunity for us, but we are

also looking at new market opportunities where the sales cycles are typically shorter,"

Deshpande says.

Encore is shipping 200 Simputers this month, with another 1000 units

scheduled for next month. Some of these shipments are against trial orders.

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Why simputer? Why not?

The global launch of the Simputer is marked more by scepticism than hope

and hype. Ironically, when the news about the Simputer first broke a couple of years

ago, it was heralded with much excitement. The media hype raised hopes of

development organisations that have been working to bring the benefits of ICTs to

disadvantaged communities.

But its failure to retain the interest of designers, manufacturers, the Indian

government and venture capitalists, coupled with repeated delays in its launch, has

given rise to scepticism about its marketability and sustainability. Recently even its

utility for the poor and non-literate people has been questioned and debated.

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Ease of use

Ease of use has to be an important guiding principle

if this device is to gain a substantial measure of popularity. A

low-cost version of this device may be targeted to the home

user, whereas a slightly higher functionality version can be

designed for use in cyber kiosks where people can come in and

surf at their convenience.

The Simputer can also be used in schools to allow

them to offer Web access to students at relatively low-cost. It

can also leverage the pervasiveness of telephone lines and

enable users to enjoy a new level of services from their net

service providers.

This could be in areas as diverse as Web-enabled

email access, home banking, home shopping, educational

services and new forms of entertainment

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DEPLOYMENT

•Simputers were extensively used by the Government of Karnataka to

automate the process of land records procurement.

•In 2005 they were used in a variety of innovative and interesting

applications, such as automobile engine diagnostics (Mahindra and

Mahindra in Mumbai).

•Used for Electronic Money transfer between UK, Ghana and others.

•Recently simputers are deployed by police force to track traffic offenders

and issue traffic tickets.

•Used by Indian Military.

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Multiple benefits

"This provides us several benefits. We benefit

from the experience of the vast global pool of

experts working on software problems. We also

have access to the entire source code, which

enables us to deploy the software on any

hardware platform that might be cost-effective

for us at a certain point in time. It will also have

the benefit of peer review processes that ensure a

relatively robust and stable end product."

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Poor’s man computer

A reason often stated is that the poor have no need

of computers before their basic needs (such as

electricity) are met. However, the Simputer was

never designed to be a "poor man's computer" (a

position often used by the media)- it was a device

designed to help bridge the digital divide. While

most people tended to look at the cost of the

Simputer as a factor, they ignored the fact that the

"cost of ownership" for the end-user of the device

in villages was not the cost of the device, but the

cost of the Smart card used to store the user's data.

The device itself should be considered shared

infrastructure for the village.

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SOME WORKING AREAs OF SIMPUTER

•FORM-FILLING

I want to reserve a train ticket to Mumbai.

–Use the Simputer to submit a reservation form.

•COMMUNICATION

Can I meet the Tahsildar today?

–Use your Simputer to check his availability. You don’t have to trek ten km to find out.

E-mail, voice-mail to near & dear

–Use the Simputer to send / receive

•MONEY ORDER

Dear Postman, can I withdraw Rs 100 from my account?

–Your money order e-transaction has arrived on my Simputer. Let me credit your smart card

first.

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•EDUCATION / LITERACY

•Simputer’s high-resolution display facilitates images, local-language text.

Combined with audio files and text-to-speech in local languages, this will

facilitate literacy, self-learning

•MICRO-BANKING

Use the Simputer to take banking to the individual’s doorstep, not the other

way around. On-the-spot receipts electronically generated.

•RURAL HEALTH STATISTICS

State Health Depatments can empower their health workers with Simputers

for collection of health statistics in the villages, regardless of location.

•HEALTH

Portable Ultrasound

Telemedicine

Cont…

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•DRINKING WATER

Simputer with appropriate sensor interfaces can facilitate quality

checks

•POLICE

Information Retrieval

FIRs

Criminal records

•COMMUNITY KIOSKS

Public Services

Land Records

Utilities payments

Information dissemination

Cont…

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CONCLUSION

Simputer is a low-cost multilingual, mass access handheld device that uses

Indian language user interfaces to provide information technology based services to

the multilingual population of India.

In the next decades, new devices and technological solutions for the existing

problems of underserved populations will continue to find their way to markets around

the world. The Computador Popular and the Simputer are pioneering projects that will

be pilot case studies for subsequent work in the area, as research in this now nascent

field moves towards a more structured and investigative methodology. They offer

valuable lessons in the study of initiatives in technological equity.

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references

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ANY QUERIES?

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THANK YOU