Hole-in-the-Wall Computer Kiosk Project - India
Initiated in 2002 by New Innovators in Information Technology (NIIT), this experimental programme seeks to demonstrate that children from even the most disadvantaged and isolated areas in India can teach themselves to use computers. Most recently expanded to include Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district, the programme involves the establishment of computer kiosks that are designed to withstand the high humidity, dust, and heat of rural settings.
Communication Strategies
In an effort to initiate a 'minimally-invasive education' programme, 42 computers have been established in 13 kiosks in schoolyards throughout India (31 in Delhi, 10 in coastal Maharashtra, and 1 in Uttar Pradesh).
After computer teachers provide a basic one-hour introduction to basic concepts like CPU (central processing unit), keyboard, and mouse, children are encouraged to teach themselves how to use computers. Within a few hours, younger children, for instance, figure out how to play computer games like 'Escaping Monkey'.
After computer teachers provide a basic one-hour introduction to basic concepts like CPU (central processing unit), keyboard, and mouse, children are encouraged to teach themselves how to use computers. Within a few hours, younger children, for instance, figure out how to play computer games like 'Escaping Monkey'.
Development Issues
Technology, Children.
Key Points
Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district is a rain-swept, underpopulated green setting just north of Goa. Hole-in-the-Wall has so far faced challenges in building kiosks here, including power outages and dead phone lines; battery back-up has been helpful in ameliorating such problems.
Observation of the use of the kiosks through video cameras installed on trees nearby found that children, despite having a very limited understanding of English, learned basic operations of the PC for browsing and drawing within a few days. Children formed impromptu classes to teach one another, inventing their own vocabulary to define terms on the computer. Within a month of interaction, children were able to discover and use features such as new folder creation, cutting and pasting, shortcuts, moving/resising windows, and using MS Word to create short messages without a keyboard.
66 more computers are planned in 22 more locations by the end of 2003.
A video has been produced detailing this project. Click here to view a description of the video or to purchase the video.
Observation of the use of the kiosks through video cameras installed on trees nearby found that children, despite having a very limited understanding of English, learned basic operations of the PC for browsing and drawing within a few days. Children formed impromptu classes to teach one another, inventing their own vocabulary to define terms on the computer. Within a month of interaction, children were able to discover and use features such as new folder creation, cutting and pasting, shortcuts, moving/resising windows, and using MS Word to create short messages without a keyboard.
66 more computers are planned in 22 more locations by the end of 2003.
A video has been produced detailing this project. Click here to view a description of the video or to purchase the video.
Partners
NIIT, Centre for Research in Cognitive Systems (CRCS).
Sources
Article by Frederick Noronha sent to Bytes-for-All Readers list server on July 1, 2002; and Hole-in-the-Wall site.
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