The new $35 "Computing Device"

Last week I read with sadness the "launch" of the $35 Computing Device by the Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal. While the specific details about this product are still not known it is clear that the Government has still not given up on its rather unfortunate attempts (so far) of trying to facilitate the creation of a low cost computer. Today the Mobile Phone is already a $35 computing device and is set to go lower still. Why on earth is the Government trying to facilitate the manufacture of a device that the Worlds leading Hardware Technology Giants have not succeeded in delivering (at this price point) and more importantly a device that may not even have a market and may need to be subsidised ?

The examples of the disastrous "Simputer" and the various earlier avatars of the "low cost computer" launched by the State are fresh in the memory of those like me who believe that the Government's priorities in this area are all too misguided.

By conventional wisdom a Computer can transform the quality of education and knowledge acquisition by people especially children across the World. Equally it is (naively) believed that if a Computer was priced at an affordable price point then everyone would simply go out and buy it. While the first argument may be true the second calls for more careful scrutiny. People will buy something if they find it useful not just because it is affordable. Unless the user becomes aware and convinced of the utility of the computer it is unlikely that they would buy it just because it was cheap. So creating an awareness about the world that the PC with internet access can open our childrens minds to is the first step. For the poor in this country that is yet to happen on a mass scale. Unfortunately this does not seem to be a priority for the Government.

The Mobile phone example is there in our country as a reminder as to what role the Government should play in enabling access to technology. People found Mobile phones useful and simply went out and bought them. The Govt. played the role of the Regulator and allowed the Private operators to provide access. The Government did not develop and launch a "Low Cost Mobile Phone." The Mobile Phone revolution did not happen because Rs.1000/- Mobile phones were available(For a long time they were not) . It happened long before the 1000 rupee phone came in. People (including the "poor") across the country were more than willing to pay Rs.3000 (thats almost twice the $35 device cost) or more for a Mobile phone because they found it useful.

The Broadband story in India is another revealing example. Broadband penetration is hardly in the region of 20-30 million subscribers while the Mobile phone penetration is more than 15 times that number. While obviously price and the attendant infrastructure costs are one reason for the low penetration and stagnant growth I do not believe it is the only reason. A large number of people in this country just did not see any worthwhile reason to go out and get themselves a Broadband connection. As Mobiles become more and more feature rich there will be fewer reasons to buy a PC not more.

So if the Government believes that a Computer can transform the lives of the people it should explain to them how this would happen. What are the Government services they can access? What education programs can they avail of? What regular utility activities can they perform using the Device? How would it make their lives better the way a Mobile phone did (allowing them to speak to their near and dear instantly, get business done on the double etc.) ? Also, what would a PC offer that a Mobile phone would not except for the larger user interface?

The priority of the Government should be strengthening the electronic delivery of Government to Citizen Services, ensuring that E-Education Programs are mainstreamed and facilitating the movement of the processes of Governance to the electronic mode.

Instead of this the Government is funding the development of a device that promises to seriously erode India's credibility in the International Technology arena.

Already there is a great deal of scepticism based on the past track record of the Government in this space. The $35 Dollar Computing device is neither a good idea nor a sound business case. Mr.Sibal is one of the country's top lawyers and an extremely intelligent man. He will see reason before long.