The iSlate: A New Tablet Notepad for India

The iSlate tablet holds the promise of empowering millions of Indian school kids with an electronic gadget to aid them in their studies. Developed by researchers in Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, the iSlate is a solar-powered tablet which aims to be a basic electronic notepad for school kids in rural India. This initiative is different from Indian HRD Ministry's $35 tablet for university students by 2011.

The iSlate aims to replace hand-held slates and chalk used by millions of Indian school childrens in rural areas. According to a TOI report, Krishna Palem of Rice University -- who's collaborating with Singapore's Nanyang Technological University over the iSlate -- says, "India's full economic potential will only be realised with sustainable, low-cost technologies that benefit all segments of the population."

The iSlate tablet's chips are designed in collaboration with Switzerland's Center For Electronics And Microtechnology -- the iSlate's solar-powered mechanism will be similar to the functioning of a solar-panel seen on most modern calculators.

The iSlate tablet / notepad will be introduced and tested in India by a Hyderabad-based NPO ViDAL, who will test the first iSlate tablets in a nearby village. There is no word on the iSlate's pricing or detailed specs.

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