The tech blogs have all been ablaze with the announcement that India has revealed a $10 laptop. Some of the blogs have broken the news that it may, in fact, cost $20. India is determined to bring cheap computing to the masses, but the government will not subsidize the cost of the computer. However, the cost to access the Internet will be subsidized.
Implications - The $10 laptop is built to be smaller than other models that are surprisingly sleek and look very hi-tech. The laptop was created as India's reply to the "One Laptop per Child's XO and Classmate of Intel." They come in different colors and even feature a screen that can swivel. In a world where people are constantly using the Internet for education, it is important that everyone can have access to a computer.
What's Driving This Trend
- Affordable Computing
- Industries can explore manufacturing cheap laptops to improve accessibility of computing devices.
- Sleek Design
- There is a potential innovation opportunity for tech industries to create smaller, sleeker, and more affordable devices.
- Internet Subsidization
- Governments or telecommunication companies can explore subsidizing the cost of Internet access to make it more accessible to all.
Who This Affects Most
- Technology
- Tech companies can invest in R&D to create more affordable, yet high-tech devices like the $10 laptop.
- Education
- Schools can explore distributing affordable laptops to students to improve their access to educational resources.
- Telecommunication
- Telecoms can innovate and offer more affordable Internet packages to increase the number of people who can access the Internet.
