The document discusses the Simputer, a low-cost portable computer designed to bridge the digital divide. Key features include a touchscreen interface, text-to-speech in local languages, and a smart card reader allowing devices to be shared within a community. The Simputer runs Linux and uses an open hardware license to encourage innovation. Potential applications include education, banking, health services, and access to government forms and services.

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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 4
2 what is a SIMPUTER? 8
3 History 13
4 SIMPUTER Licensing 16
5 SIMPUTER Specification 19
6 Interfaces 22
7 Application of Simputer 23
8 Features 24
9 Deployment 29
10 Some working areas of Simputer 32
11 Conclusion 35
12 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 FromRegular 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 BehindThe 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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SIMPUTERLICENSING
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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SIMPUTERSPECIFICATION
HARDWARE
CPU
Intel StrongArm SA-1110 CPU
Memory
16–64 MB of SDRAM
08-32 MB Flash for non-volatile storage
Display Options
240x320 LCD Colour or Monochrome Display Panel with
backlight
Input Device
Touch-panel Overlay on LCD Display with a plastic stylus
(Pen)
Direction and Selection Keys
Audio Interface
Audio Codec
Support for external head-set

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SmartCard Interface
SmartCard Reader/Writer
USB Interface
Connectivity
Data Modem
IrDA Interface
Connectors in Basic Unit
SmartCard Connector
IrDA Transceiver
RJ-11 Telephone Jack
USB Type-A Connector
AC Adapter Input
Power Supply
2xAA-sized Ni-MH batteries
Internal charge management
Operates 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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APPLICATIONOF 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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NEWUSES
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 WORKINGAREAs 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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