All over the world, young children’s access to educational stuff and technology is thin. Even if Internet is available, it is either expensive or slow or both. Similarly, electricity, computers and tablets are costly, and above all, there is a challenge of engaging students and providing them quality resources in their native language.
Village Science’s flagship research program is designed to offer free and superior-quality educational resources tailored to meet the specific requirements of the people residing in the nations like Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. The content does not require internet access and is government-approved.
VS-Pi program has been designed to address the major challenges of cost, efficiency and utility.
It’s inexpensive: Fully assembled estimated cost of about US$65 per unit.
It’s efficient: Device requires little electricity to function as well as can run on solar power, a battery, and a water wheel in a stream.
It’s useful: VS-Pi is available “pre-loaded” and culturally-relevant content in local language content. Content related to education, health, agricultural, finance are all tailored to keep each community’s requirement.
How Does the Program Work?
VS-Pi program started with a low-cost, small and low-power computer known as Raspberry Pi. To start it, VS-Pi (Village Science + Raspberry Pi) is loaded in the mini-computer with video, textbooks, and many other learning materials in the native language and after preliminary installation no internet is required.
Educators can either select to showcase the content to the student using monitor or broadcast local Wifi hotspot that enables the learners to wirelessly download the resource to any device without using Internet. VS-Pi is an affordable, portable and efficient device.
VS Pi Hardware
Cost Effective: All needed hardware estimated cost is around $65 total. This low price point makes VS Pi hardware cost effective and can be deployed in developing nations.
Powerefficient: It is power efficient as the total system current sits around 500mA.
Open source: Raspberry Pi runs on a Linux OS, one can utilise free and useful code already present.
A huge portion of Village Science’s is working to nurture relationships with developing nations. The motive of the program is to offer a framework that offers free educational content to everyone who needs it.
