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<title>Simputer</title>

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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Simputer</span></span>

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</style><table class="infobox hproduct vevent"><caption class="infobox-title fn summary"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"></span></caption><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"></span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Manufacturer</th><td class="infobox-data"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20000425104016/http://www.ncoretech.com/">Encore</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://picopeta.com">Picopeta</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Type</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Mobile_device" title="Mobile device">Handheld computer</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Lifespan</th><td class="infobox-data">since 2002</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Media</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Smart_card" title="Smart card">Smart card</a><br><a href="USB" title="USB">USB storage devices</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="Operating_system" title="Operating system">Operating system</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Linux" title="Linux">Linux</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="Central_processing_unit" title="Central processing unit">CPU</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="StrongARM" title="StrongARM">StrongARM</a> SA-1110 206 MHz <0.4 W</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Memory</th><td class="infobox-data">64 MB</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Display</th><td class="infobox-data">3.8" 320 x 240 LCD screen (B&W/STN/TFT) displaying greyscale/4096/65536 cols</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Input</th><td class="infobox-data">320 x 240px <a href="Touchscreen" title="Touchscreen">touchscreen</a><br>USB keyboard</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Touchpad</th><td class="infobox-data">Entire screen</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Connectivity</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Infrared" title="Infrared">Infrared</a> <b>·</b> <a href="USB" title="USB">USB devices</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Power</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Lithium-ion_battery" title="Lithium-ion battery">Lithium-ion battery</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Dimensions</th><td class="infobox-data">142mm x 72mm x 20mm<br>206 gm</td></tr></tbody></table>

<p>The <b>Simputer</b> is a self-contained, <a href="Open-source_hardware" title="Open-source hardware">open hardware</a> Linux-based <a href="Mobile_device" title="Mobile device">handheld computer</a> that was first released in 2002, developed in, and primarily distributed within <a href="India" title="India">India</a>. The product was envisioned as a low-cost alternative to <a href="Personal_computer" title="Personal computer">personal computers</a>. The Simputer project had the initial goal of selling 50,000 units, but only sold about 4,000 units by 2005, and has been called a failure by news sources.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Design_and_hardware">Design and hardware</h2></div>

<p>The device was designed by the Simputer Trust, a non-profit organization formed in November 1999 by seven <a href="India" title="India">Indian</a> scientists and engineers led by Dr. <a href="Swami_Manohar" title="Swami Manohar">Swami Manohar</a>. The word "Simputer" is an <a href="Acronym" title="Acronym">acronym</a> for "simple, inexpensive and <a href="Multilingualism" title="Multilingualism">multilingual</a> people's computer", and is a <a href="Trademark" title="Trademark">trademark</a> of the Simputer Trust. The device includes text-to-speech <a href="Software" title="Software">software</a> and runs the <a href="Linux" title="Linux">Linux</a> <a href="Operating_system" title="Operating system">operating system</a>. Similar in appearance to the <a href="PalmPilot" title="PalmPilot">PalmPilot</a> class of <a href="Mobile_device" title="Mobile device">handheld computers</a>, the touch sensitive screen is operated on with a <a href="Stylus_(computing)" title="Stylus (computing)">stylus</a>; simple <a href="Handwriting_recognition" title="Handwriting recognition">handwriting recognition</a> software is provided by the program Tapatap.

</p><p>The Simputer Trust licensed two manufacturers to build the devices, Encore Software, which has also built the Mobilis for Corporate/Educational purposes and the SATHI for Defence purposes, and PicoPeta Simputers, which released a consumer product named the Amida Simputer.

</p><p>The device features include <a href="Touchscreen" title="Touchscreen">touchscreen</a>, <a href="Smart_card" title="Smart card">smart card</a>, Serial port, and <a href="USB" title="USB">USB</a> connections, and an <a href="Infrared_Data_Association" class="mw-redirect" title="Infrared Data Association">Infrared Data Association</a> (IrDA) port. It was released in both greyscale and color versions.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Software">Software</h2></div>

<p>The Simputer uses the <a href="Linux" title="Linux">Linux</a> <a href="Kernel_(operating_system)" title="Kernel (operating system)">kernel</a> (2.4.18 Kernel as of July 2005), and the Alchemy Window Manager (only the Amida Simputer). <a href="Software" title="Software">Software</a> packages include: Scheduling, <a href="Calendar" title="Calendar">Calendar</a>, Voice Recording and Playback, simple <a href="Spreadsheet" title="Spreadsheet">spreadsheet</a> application, <a href="Internet" title="Internet">Internet</a> and network connectivity, <a href="Web_browsing" class="mw-redirect" title="Web browsing">Web browsing</a> and email, an <a href="Digital_library" title="Digital library">e-Library</a>, games, and support for <a href="Java_Platform%2C_Micro_Edition" title="Java Platform, Micro Edition">Java ME</a>, <a href="DotGNU" title="DotGNU">DotGNU</a> (a <a href="Free_software" title="Free software">free software</a> implementation of .NET), and <a href="Adobe_Flash" title="Adobe Flash">Flash</a>.

</p><p>In addition, both licensees developed custom applications for microbanking, traffic police, and medical applications.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Deployments">Deployments</h2></div>

<p>In 2004, Simputers were used by the government of <a href="Karnataka" title="Karnataka">Karnataka</a> to automate the process of land records procurement. Simputers were also used in a project in <a href="Chhattisgarh" title="Chhattisgarh">Chhattisgarh</a> for the purpose of <a href="E-learning" class="mw-redirect" title="E-learning">e-education</a>. In 2005, they were used in a variety of applications, such as <a href="Automobile" class="mw-redirect" title="Automobile">automobile</a> <a href="Engine" title="Engine">engine</a> diagnostics (Mahindra & Mahindra in <a href="Mumbai" title="Mumbai">Mumbai</a>), tracking of iron-ore movement from <a href="Mining" title="Mining">mine</a> pithead to shipping point (<a href="Dempo" title="Dempo">Dempo</a>, <a href="Goa" title="Goa">Goa</a>), <a href="Microcredit" title="Microcredit">Microcredit</a> (Sanghamitra, <a href="Mysore" title="Mysore">Mysore</a>), Electronic Money Transfer between <a href="United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">UK</a> and <a href="Ghana" title="Ghana">Ghana</a> (XK8 Systems, UK), and others. In recent times, the Simputer has seen deployment by the police force to track traffic offenders and issue traffic tickets.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Commercial_production">Commercial production</h2></div>

<p>Pilot production of the Simputer started in September 2002. In 2004, the Amida Simputer became commercially available for <span style="white-space: nowrap">₹</span>12450 and up (approximately US$240). The prices for Amida Simputer vary depending on the screen type (monochrome or colour).

</p><p>By 2006, both licensees had stopped actively marketing their Simputer devices. PicoPeta was acquired by Geodesic Information Systems (a developer of communication and collaboration systems) in 2005.

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<ul><li><a href="Akash_(tablet)" class="mw-redirect" title="Akash (tablet)">Akash/Sakshat tablet</a></li>

<li><a href="Bharat_Operating_System_Solutions" title="Bharat Operating System Solutions">BOSS Linux</a> developed by C-DAC</li>

<li><a href="Digital_divide" title="Digital divide">Digital divide</a></li>

<li><a href="Longmeng" class="mw-redirect" title="Longmeng">Longmeng</a> or <i>Dragon Dream</i> is a Chinese low-cost computer being designed to cost €100</li>

<li><a href="VIA_pc-1_Initiative" title="VIA pc-1 Initiative">VIA pc-1 Initiative</a></li>

<li><a href="ZX81" title="ZX81">ZX81</a> the first million selling low cost (£69/$99.95) Computer.</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

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</style><cite id="CITEREFLatif" class="citation news cs1 cs1-prop-unfit">Latif, Lawrence. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100912172730/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/feature/1726891/indias-usd35-laptop-scheme-help">"India's $35 laptop scheme needs help"</a>. the Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 12, 2010<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2011-03-30</span></span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/15/0050205&from=rss">"What Happened to Simputer? - Slashdot"</a>.</cite></span>

</li>

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<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1442000.stm">"Indian handheld to tackle digital divide"</a>. (July 18, 2001).</li>

<li>Srinivasan, S. (Apr. 3, 2005). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=637645">"Handheld Computer Yet to Reach the Masses"</a>. <i><a href="Associated_Press" title="Associated Press">Associated Press</a></i>.</li>

<li>Swami Manohar (Nov. 2005) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://simpact-india.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_simpact-india_archive.html">High Return Computing</a></li>

<li>BBC News, 10 September 2001 <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1535992.stm">Computer deal for India's poor</a></li>

<li>Outlook India, September 22, 2002: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20021004030518/http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=85140">Pilot production of Simputer begins</a></li>

<li>BBC News, 1 August 2005 - <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4725639.stm">Woe for traffic offenders in Sim city</a></li></ul>

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<div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Simputer" class="extiw external" title="commons:Category:Simputer">Simputer</a></span>.</div></div>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>

<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.simputer.org/">Official website</a></li>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.picopeta.com/">PicoPeta Simputers</a></li>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20000425104016/http://www.ncoretech.com/">Encore</a></li></ul></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-07-15" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Simputer&oldid=1300593917">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

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