“Pilot,” the three say, all at the same time, when asked what they want to do after completing their studies. Blood brothers and best of friends, these children even have a sacred spot where they hang out after school and on weekends to watch the skyline of the Pokhara Valley.[break]
“We’d like to fly in these wide open spaces,” says one, pointing to the sky.
“We’ll fly together,” adds another, clearly the mischievous of the three. The third one chooses only to smile and shifts his glance towards the horizon.
These children are already men though they could well just be considered adolescents. Talking to them, one can sense a kind of maturity that’s innate, their attitude to life somewhat different from other children they go to school with.
Meet Bishal Pariyar (11), Suman B.K (11) and Bibek Raut (9), the three who seem inseparable in as much as they want to be pilots.
“Flying is what fascinates us,” says B.K, who leads the pack.
And although they don’t know much about an airplane and have never been on one, these children will soon learn and know more about aviation than they have ever imagined, thanks to a “third generation (3G) Kayak”.
Prototypes of 3G Kayak, a personal computer (PC) alternative which offers high-speed broadband connectivity, are ready; and experts hope trials start early next year with this Rs. 10,000-device commercially available by the end of 2010 in Nepal.
“Early next year, we’ll start the trial and we hope we should be able to commercialize it in the second half,’’ Qualcomm Inc senior vice-president Kanwalinder Singh told journalists last Monday.
He was speaking a day before the function to inaugurate an initiative of the NGO, Room to Read, and mobile chip maker Qualcomm´s Wireless Reach project, which have set up a wireless computer lab in Shree Amarjyoti Gaunpharka Seconday School (450 students) of Pokhara with a 3G CDMA broadband Internet connectivity.
“Kayak (PC alternative) will be similar to a regular desk phone with a display, keyboard and mouse, and we feel that this low-cost computing device can do phenomenally well in rural areas and emerging markets,” Singh informed.
“Education content is the key driver of people in rural areas to adopt computing devices,” he added.
The technology is the latest in the offing, and guarantees a high-speed broadband connectivity on 3G spectrum, which basically means one can use the Kayak to make a phone call as well as getting content off a high-speed Internet connection.
The device will be piloted for use in rural areas in India, and although designed to cater to the connectivity divide in developing nations, Singh said that even in the US there was a growing interest.
The San Diego-based wireless technology provider is said to be in talks with regional telecom giants which are working on its 3G spectrum that will offer high-speed Internet access to content, such as video on mobile phones.
Inaugurating the wireless lab facility, chief guest Dipendra Bikram Thapa, Secretary at the Ministry of Education, stressed that ICT (information & communication technology) skills were crucial in fostering literacy and education in the 21st century.
Qualcomm Inc Chairman and CEO Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, who also was present at the function, said, "Access to online resources and educational materials can have a life-changing impact on students. Not only will they have connectivity that enables access to learning materials and communities for the first time, but they will also have the opportunity to gain specialized skills and training.
"Qualcomm is committed to enabling wireless technology to help improve socioeconomic conditions and enhance quality of life in local communities. I believe this project works to accomplish both of those goals, and we’re fortunate to be working with Room to Read and Nepal Telecom to address computer literacy in Nepal,” Jacobs told journalists.
Through the provisioning of affordable, high-quality and reliable Internet connectivity to government schools where landline access is limited or unavailable, the wireless lab project helps underserved students bridge the digital divide, and addresses the goal of universal access and opportunity in education.
“In addition to providing training for students to learn basic computer skills, each lab also plans to use technology to teach other subjects such as English, math and science and also provide extra tuition on computers, thereby sustaining the labs,” said Pushkar Shrestha, country director of Room to Read Nepal.
“We’re also working closely with the Ministry of Education to digitize the educational contents. It’s to be understood that we aren’t forming a parallel body but working in a mutual partnership to ensure educational opportunities to all children,” Shrestha clarified.
At Jaldhare Danda where the 3G CDMA broadband Internet connectivity is now in full swing, NTC provided logistic support in the establishment of a wireless computer lab. The lab includes 27 computers and serves as many as 50 students during a class period.
Talking to Republica, NTC Wireless Telephone (CDMA) director Bhagat Man Singh Pradhan said, “My personal opinion is NTC’s wireless services should reach wherever Room to Read is active, as excluded children get equal opportunities. They are the future of this nation.”
"We’re pleased to be a part of this important project," said Amar Nath Singh, managing director of Nepal Telecom.
"In this increasingly connected world, providing the opportunity for students to have dependable access to the Internet in their early school life initiates a completely new dimension in providing basic schooling needs to children. Teaching children how to take the best benefits from the available information and communications technology opens a new chapter in their fundamental learning process," he added.
"The entire Room to Read team is thrilled to have Qualcomm as a collaborator in this important pilot program. NTC has been equally generous to us," said John Wood, founder and executive chairman of Room to Read.
“Room to Read has opened up opportunities for children whose families face a cruel paradox – they are too poor to afford education, but until they have education, they will always be poor. Now, with the addition of technology and the Internet, these children will have access to a whole new world," Wood added.
As for Bikash, Suman and Bibek, wait till they hear about flight simulation.
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