Intel launches rugged PC for rural India

Bangalore, Mar 29 (UNI) Intel Corporation today officially launched an innovative PC platform that has been developed exclusively to meet the needs of rural villages and communities in India.

Designed as a result of defining locally relevant computing solutions based on Intel technology, the Intel-powered Community PC platform was equipped to operate in a community setting, while accommodating the varying environmental conditions prevalent in the country, Intel said in a release here.

With an objective to bridge the urban-rural divide, Intel also announced its 'Jagruti (Awakening) initiative, designed to provide rural communities in India with greater economic and social opportunities. By collaborating with leaders in business, Government, education, online services and internet service providers, Intel's Jagruti programme would support the spread of rural internet kiosks based on the new Intel-powered Community PC.

These kiosks would help accelerate access to benefits of information and communication technologies in villages across India.

To address issues such as frequent power breakdowns and environment, the Intel-powered Community PC platform had been developed to be a fully functional, expandable and shared-access computing solution. ''It is a highly reliable, manageable system that supports remote diagnostics and control features under low power requirements.'' The chassis had been designed to withstand dusty conditions, varying temperatures and high himidity. It had a removable dust filter and integrated air fan to regulate the temperature of the motherboard. The chassis was designed to keep the motherboard cool at temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius and the PC was resistant to humidity levels of 70 to 85 RH (Relative Humidity), the release said.

The PC had a customised power supply unit, which comprised an integrated power supply and an uninterruptible power supply unit, allowing the PC to maintain continuous load power in the event of a power outage. The total power consumption of all peripherals was less than 100 watts.

Intel expected many of these Community PC platforms to be deployed in internet kiosks common in Indian villages. The kiosks would provide neighbouring communities with access to services such as e-Government forms, saving time and money for potential users, the release said.

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