Low cost computer-cum-access device to be named Aakash

New Delhi: The low cost computer-cum-access device, which will be launched here on October 5, is expected to be named as ‘Aakash’ and given to 500 students at a function here. According to sources in HRD Ministry, several names were suggested but there was consensus on ‘Aakash’. It will perform “all the functions that any other computer can perform,” HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had said last week. One of his dream projects, he described it as an “enormously empowering tool”. [caption id=“attachment_98434” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Kapil Sibal in this file photo. Reuters.”] [/caption] Much of the talk is centred around the price tag, promised to be made available at USD 35. The prototype of the low cost computing device which Sibal had unveiled in July last year is likely to be a 5/7/9 inch touchscreen gadget. It is expected to be packed with internet browsers, PDF reader, video conferencing facilities, open office, sci-lab, media player, remote device management capability, multimedia input-output interface option, and multiple content viewer. PTI