[school-discuss] Re: [DS-discuss]Experience setting up computers in college

["Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org>]

Update from India... FN

On Fri, 25 Apr 2003, Saurabh Jain wrote:


> Hi Everyone
> 
> I've been on this list for quite some time now, silently observing what's
> going on. I thought I'll mail after Fred mailed, and also I saw this
> discussion about an orphanage.
> 
> I've worked with only two things for the past five years - social
> organisations and Linux.
> 
> I'm about to graduate from IIT Madras. I've maintained a lab here with 64
> diskless Linux clients. We've been able to convince many other departments
> to switch over to Linux and thin clients, and also demonstrated Beowulfs.
> 
> Since I was already active with AID (http://www.aidindia.org), ASHA
> (http://www.ashanet.org), CRY and other NGOs, I tried sneaking Linux into
> their projects. I haven't met with much success yet - most of these guys
> are Linux-wary :((. I will be installing Linux at "The School, KFI" in
> Adyar once I'm done with my project. Though it's a far cry from an
> orphanage, it's still a beginning.
> 
> My mother has run her own computer center ever since I've been around. So
> I'm sort of a very early starter in computer administration, having
> dirtied my hands with 8" floppy drives. My experience tells me that kids,
> computers and learning are a great mix - even if the kid is illiterate.
> I've been trying hard to make computers as low cost and reliable as
> possible, so the good guys sponsoring comps for rural/slum schools can get
> better value for their money.
> 
> Currently I've been able to integrate Tamilinux into the RedHat 9 PCs in 
> my lab, and passed around Tamilinux Demolinux CDs to some interested NGOs.
> 
> I used the limited knowledge of Electrical Engineering that my department
> has been able to force into me, to design a smaller power supply that
> includes some power conditioning (spike buster, etc). Throw in a small
> battery for the 5V suspend voltage pin built into an ATX supply socket,
> and you can have a PC that is power-proof without having a full-blown UPS.
> 
> This is just one of the projects that we've been working on to scale down
> PCs and make them more relevant to India. Sort of doing a Schumacher with
> comps. I've also worked on 802.11b based connectivity for rural areas -
> build a inter-village network that can carry educational videos, local
> radio, etc.
> 
> I would have loved to work more with Demo@Schools but I'll be joining a
> job in Bangalore this summer. In any case, I'm a no-gooder at Tamil, so
> my field visits are always big bummers.
> 
> If any of you would like to see/copy working thin clients (LTSP style or 
> better), please contact me any time (contact in signature). I can also 
> give contacts of lots of NGOs that have installed and operate computers in 
> Corporation schools in Chennai. Many of them are good friends - shall we 
> start arm-twisting them into adopting Linux ;)
> 
> Regards,
> Saurabh
> 
> -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
> saurabh@ee.iitm.ernet.in                        +91-44-2255-3246
> SF3/B, Vasanth Apts, 58 Velachery Main Rd, Velachery, Chennai 42
> Office: Dept of Electrical Engg, IIT Madras, Chennai 600 036, IN
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Demo@Schools - taking Free software to education
> Demo-schools-discuss@nongnu.org - discussion list
> http://mail.nongnu.org/mailman/listinfo/demo-schools-discuss
> 

-- 
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Frederick Noronha (FN)        | http://www.fredericknoronha.net
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http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks
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