IE : Meant for healthcare, IIT-K 'infothelas' now sold as scrap : Sept 25, 2007

Meant for healthcare, IIT-K 'infothelas' now sold as scrap
 Project failed due to poor Internet connectivity
 RAO JASWANT SINGH
KANPUR, , SEPTEMBER 23

IT was a novel experiment that combined pedal cart with computers to take
medical care to rural areas where roads were either non-existent or in bad
shape. But Kanpur IIT's innovative project, 'Infothela', failed - thanks to
poor connectivity of Internet.

One infothela (a pedal cart fitted with computers) is parked at a scrap
dealer's shop on GT Road. The unusual vehicle, with 'Infothela, IIT-Kanpur,
Media Lab Asia', written on it in bold letters catches one's attention. It
was once part of a Rs 30 lakh project. Scrap dealer Mohammed Iqbal says he
bought four Infothelas, complete with computers and other equipment, from
IIT-K for Rs 40,000 each. He dismantled the vehicles and sold off the
components, making a good profit. "One Infothela is still parked inside the
institute; they are not selling it for some reason," he said.

Project investigator Professor Harish Karnick, who is a faculty member at
the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Department, said infothela did
not click because of bad connectivity. The institute could only produce the
technology, its implementation was not in their hands, he added.
The project was started in 2001 and concluded in 2004. Since then the
vehicles were parked inside the campus.

"When we don't get connectivity, there is no use of infothela," he said.
The infothela was meant to provide and exchange information through fax,
internet and telephony for purposes of education, entertainment,
agriculture, and weather, but its main purpose was to make medical care
available to people in rural areas.

Each Infothela cost around Rs 50,000. It carried a personal computer which
was to be connected to internet using wireless technology. The battery for
running the computers and other equipment got charged while the vehicle was
pedalled. The infothela also carried diagnostic facilites, like BP checking
and blood sugar testing equipment.

Publication : IE; Section : National; Pg : 13; Date : 25/9/07
URL :
http://70.86.150.130/indianexpress/ArticleText.aspx?article=24_09_2007_623_008