Intel to boost development of India's education sector with donation of 10,000 PCs

Microprocessor giant Intel has announced donating 10,000 fully functional personal computers (PCs) to the Indian states and teacher training institute by 2008 with the objective of developing IT–knowledge in the education sector.

The world's largest chip maker has also promised to train one million teachers on the application of technology to improve classroom learning. The company will also work to strengthen community–based healthcare using new technology.

"We have trained nearly 600,000 teachers in computer education in the last five to six years. Another 400,000 will be trained in the next couple of years, taking the total to one million. This is the way we try to give back something to the society," Intel CEO Dr. Craig Barrett told reporters in New Delhi, admitting that even Intel's efforts are too small to have a visible impact in a large populous country like India.

"I agree that donating 10,000 PCs is not a very big thing for a country like India with vast population. It is a small step signifying our effort to enhance lives through technology. I am sure our effort will encourage others to join the movement," he said.

Through its World Ahead Program, Intel plans to extend access to PCs with high–speed Internet connections to millions of citizens and train 1 million teachers in India on the effective use of technology in the classroom. As a result, Intel expects to help more than 30 million students across India by 2008, Dr. Barrett continued, adding that to further improve education and increase access to the world's vast resources of information, the 10,000 donated PCs will be equipped with Internet connectivity, education content supported by the government, and software applications provided by Microsoft.

"Intel is pleased to continue working with the government to better inform, educate and care for people across the country," he said.

The Intel chief also briefed the health ministry Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss about the 'Aarogya Jaal' project being implemented in Baramati and Pune in Maharashtra. The project envisages maintaining patient records, developing a simple patient identification system, finding out appropriate referral system and maintaining the administration.

Asked about the future of chip design, Dr. Barrett said that Moore's Law had dominated for the last 20 years and the trend would continue for the next 15 years. Framed by the Intel's founder Gordon Moore, the empirical law says that processing power would double in every 18 months as reduction in processor size would allow having more of them on a chip.

Asked about the opportunities for processor business in the country, he said the potential is quite high because with rapid spread of broadband, more people will be using PCs and mobile computing devices.