Much has been made of the $100 wind up computer for the 3rd world. http://www.news.com/2100-1044-5884683.html . It has always seemed to me that this was a solution in search of a problem. Certainly, I do not think the targeted markets (the poor of Brazil, China, Thailand, Egypt and South Africa) would list high cost of Dell PC’s as one of their top ten needs.
I came across another approach that is needs focused: health care for poor.
The platform suggested is existing cell phones, probably the recycled type, that are far below the $100 price point, and are backed by in-place networks with government controlled and subsidized pricing. Microsoft is kicking in a million dollars of seed money to study this application http://research.microsoft.com/ur/us/fundingopps/RFPs/CellPhoneAsPlatformForHealthcare_RFP.aspx
It is interesting to see that the need to culturally integrate the platform by inclusion of social networking, etc. is part of the RFP
Certainly, the field of ‘telemedicine’ is being pursued in first world economies with vigor. Much can be done with special purpose devices. http://www.applieddata.net/Devices/Industry_Health_Fitness.asp
I wonder how this will develop?
Lawrence Ricci
http://www.embeddedinsider.com/
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