InkMedia Mobile Computer

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URL = http://www.ink-media.com/Ink-About.html

Description

From the Wikipedia [1]:

The InkMedia mobile computer (Ink MC) by Ink-Media Inc. (www.ink-media.com) Canada, is a low cost mobile computer running Linux/FOSS[2] costing under US$300 manufactured for the developing and developed world to reduce the digital divide. InkMedia have a different technology and approach to market than the other low cost computer initiatives. It was developed after experience in India showed how the traditional PC fared badly with respect to overheating, hard drive failures and virus infections, all of which added to the total cost of ownership. The Ink MC is ROM based and so has no hard disk or moving parts. It draws power more like a mobile phone and can run on a 12V car battery or solar power solution. As an individual productivity tool it is designed to bring inclusive access to technology to the following social and economic sectors of society." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InkMedia)

Project Background

"InkMedia's mission, is to produce portable, powerful and people driven products to bridge the digital divide. Its main activities involve producing a highly innovative low cost ROM based laptop computer to tackle the digital divide. InkMedia's research and prototyping began well before the concept of other low-cost laptop projects like One Laptop Per Child and Classmate PC were introduced. The InkMedia is already commissioned by OLDES, an EU co-funded project under the IST Programme costing 3.65 million euro (under 6th FWP Sixth Framework Programme) with a funding of 2.5 million euro.

The InkMedia business and distribution model is based upon providing distribution through local channel business partners whom they see as key to supporting sustainable development. They want the local partner to add value in ways that are appropriate to their local communities, for example through providing content or training services and thereby offering employment opportunities. This is a for-profit approach but is augmented by the Gerry Morgan Foundation, a charitable foundation. Currently manufacturing is based in Beijing but InkMedia are seeking opportunities to expand the manufacturing and/or assembly bases to other regions." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InkMedia)

Gerry Morgan is the inventor of InkMedia.

Key Features

For the technical specs see http://www.ink-media.com/Ink-Specs.html

"Ink MC is a Mobile Computer which radically reduces the Total Cost of Ownership from initial cost, to software licensing and maintenance. The InkMedia design ensures that the typical points of failure are removed as:

- There is no hard disk to fail, slow down or pick up viruses. - It has no moving parts to overheat and there is only a usb connection between the keyboard and the computer, which is located behind the screen. - The keyboard can be detached leaving the computer as a screen reader. - Users save files to a usb stick/MP3 player, network or web server. - This helps schools who currently struggle to recover work from a hard disk when the laptop fails. - Ink MC is designed as a personal productivity device but it can just as easily be used as a public computer for example in clusters for flexible use across a school. - It does over 90% of what most people need on a day to day basis through its Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), which includes Open Office. - There is no training overhead as it is simple to use and users are not expected to carry out running repairs." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InkMedia)