EPIC Foundation, a nonprofit has unveiled an AI-enabled, indigenously manufactured Education Tablet designed by VVDN Technologies in collaboration with MediaTek India and CoRover.ai. Aimed at playing an active enabler of digital learning, the education tablet is first of its kind to come integrated with the BharatGPT virtual assistant and will highlight AI/ML based inter-lingual translation for Indian Languages (Voice-2-Voice, Text-2-Text etc) to support language diversity of India and inclusion of differently abled fellow citizens.
The product will address two critical aspects of education and social empowerment: 1. Drive demand for “Indian” ‘Repairable’, ‘Sustainable’ Electronics products and brands in HighImpact/High-Volume categories. 2. Remove financial and logistical obstacles that prevent schools from obtaining repairable, highimpact devices and increase life of the product.
An MOU with VVDN Technologies and UTL authorises UTL to manufacture PC tablets under licence from EPIC and VVDN; the intent is to manufacture upto two to three lakh tablets targeted for supply to state governments.
Dr. Ajai Chowdhry, Chairman EPIC Foundation said “Aligned with our overarching goal of elevating Indian Electronics to real Atmanirbharta, we want to build products in such a way that the components are easily replaceable and upgradable. Repair expenses surpassing the cost of purchasing a new device, the production of substandard goods and obsolescence strategies are not only pressing concerns of today but also exacerbate the escalating problem of electronic waste. Our repairable product will enable many jobs all over India for repair engineers.”
“The tablet stands as a true testament of Prime Minister’s commitment to “Mission LiFE” initiative,” said S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY. Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs added, “This innovative device empowers consumers to make eco-conscious choices. Let’s embrace a future where products are built to last, not for planned obsolescence.”
Elated at the launch of the tablet, S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, said “It is a matter of great pride that we are launching an India-designed, India-inspired education tablet which will be of great use to a vast majority of students. It will inspire the youth to take up the mantra of design and making things in India, for India and for the world.” Clearly, increasing value addition in the electronics sector is key and thereby the need for increasing the share of electronic component production in India. These are MeitY’s next goals, riding on the success of the large-scale electronics PLI which is the most successful PLI programme that the Government of India has run in recent times”, Krishnan added.
