FLOSS In Asia

About Free/Libre and Open Source Software...

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Simputer: fines... for the cops

This story from INDIA TODAY, titled "Street Smart: Fine collection doubles to Rs 72 lakh as Simputers make traffic management hassle-free for cops" is about how policemen in Bangalore, South India, are using the GNU/Linux-based Simputer to tighten their fine-collection system.

Sad but true: amidst all the Indian lack of official support, hardward challenges, and delay, the goal of the Simputer (of empowering the common citizen) is taking more time to become a reality (if it does). But meanwhile, the law of unintended consequences is getting into play. Google will tell you a lot about the Simputer's deployment in the military too.