[Fsf-friends] Simputer FAQ (thanks to Edward Cherlin)

[Frederick Noronha (FN)]

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Message: 3
   Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2003 12:54:15 -0800
   From: Edward Cherlin <cherlin@pacbell.net>
Subject: Simputer FAQ

This is a draft FAQ for the Simputer, meant for anybody to e-mail 
to their friends who inquire what the Simputer is, and for new 
members of this list. Further questions and answers welcome.


Simputer FAQ

1. What is the Simputer?
2. What features make Simputers suited to use by poor people?
3. What are Simputers for?
4. Where can I get a Simputer?
5. What software runs on Simputers?
6. Where can I find out more about the Simputer?


1. What is the Simputer?

Although the Simputer (Simple, Inexpensive, Multilingual 
Computer) looks a lot like a PDA, it was designed primarily for 
use by poor people to provide access to health, education, 
information, and other services. As a Linux handheld with 
unequalled connectivity at an unheard-of low price, the Simputer 
turns out to be a platform well-suited to Free Software, 
commercial applications, and embedded systems of many kinds. The 
basic model starts at US$206.00.

The Simputer has the following connections built in.

Infrared (IrDA)
SmartCard reader/writer
USB master
USB slave
Sound I/O
56K modem
Serial port
Compact Flash connector
External power

Simputers can be connected to anything supported by infrared, 
USB, or Compact Flash interfaces, a serial port, or a modem. 
This includes wired and wireless LANs, the Internet, data 
acquisition systems, GPS, Flash storage devices, hard drives, 
CD-ROM and DVD drives, mouse, keyboard, external monitor, wired 
and IrDA printers, and most other computer peripherals and 
communications systems.


2. What features make Simputers suited to use by poor people?

The Simputer is designed with multilingual capability, including 
Text-to-Speech conversion for several languages of India. Voice 
recognition will be added later, and voice capabilities will be 
expanded to other languages.

A very large pool of no-cost software can be put on the Simputer.

Simputers can be shared using inexpensive SmartCards for private 
storage. This reduces the cost per person greatly.

Simputers use 2 AA batteries for power, or an external 
transformer. Lithium ion AA batteries can be recharged using 
solar or human power in areas where there is no electric supply.


3. What is the Simputer for?

Applications of the Simputer are in development in many areas. 
Applications directed especially at the needs of the poor 
include health, education, government services, microbanking, 
access to information, and general communication. Other 
applications include inventory management, agriculture, 
scientific and government data acquisition, financial services, 
construction, and many more.


4. Where can I get a Simputer?

Simputer development systems are currently available. This 
includes a monochrome Simputer, a color Simputer, and the 
Simputer SDK on CD-ROM, all for US$1500.00. The Simputer SDK 
includes all of the tools needed to compile applications for the 
Simputer on any supported Linux system, or on Windows.

Simputers are not in retail distribution. Some potential 
development partners are in discussions with Encore 
Technologies, the principal manufacturer, about retail versions. 
FCC approval is being sought in the U.S., and similar efforts 
are under way for other markets.


5. What software runs on Simputers?

The Simputer comes with standard Unix utilities, a hardware 
"control panel" set of utilities, and the following applications 
and demonstrations.

E-mail
Notepad
Address book (seven languages)
Calculator
Web browser
File browser
Unix terminal running sh shell command interpreter
MP3 music player
Image file viewer
IrDA printing utility

Banking demo
Billing demo
Land survey demo
Meter reader demo
SmartCard reader/writer demo
Text-to-Speech demo


There are thousands of Unix/Linux applications that will run on 
Simputers. Many have been compiled for the StrongARM processor 
in the Simputer, and are available for download. Others can be 
cross-compiled from source code on any system running the 
Simputer SDK, and then downloaded to the Simputer.

A Java system and several APL systems are being ported to the 
Simputer. Programming languages currently available for Simputer 
development include C, C++, Perl, Python, and LISP. There are 
Integrated Development Environments supporting all of these 
languages together with GUI development tools and numerous 
libraries. 


6. Where can I find out more about the Simputer?

The Simputer Trust (originators of the design)
http://www.simputer.org

Encore Technologies (manufacturer)
http://www.simputerland.com

Picopeta (manufacturer)
http://www.picopeta.com

The Showcase section of simputerland.com lists a number of 
applications and tools in development, and a number of partner 
companies working on Simputer development.
-- 
Edward Cherlin
Generalist & activist--Linux, languages, literacy and more
"A knot! Oh, do let me help to undo it!"
--Alice in Wonderland

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-- 
Frederick Noronha    : http://www.fredericknoronha.net  : When we speak of free
Freelance Journalist : http://www.bytesforall.org       : software we refer to
Ph 0091.832.2409490  : Cell 0 9822 122436               : freedom, not price.