GreyMatter

Emergic Freedom

The “Emergic Blog“is what inspired me to start a blog of my own. The most interesting thing about it was that the people behind it, headed by Rajesh Jain, were actually trying to use available technology in radical ways to essentially improve the quality of life!

Now, I have been a strong proponent of Linux for a long time. Always believed that there was bound to be an alternative to paying big bucks for continual upgrades of hardware (as in Intel) that is meant to run the continually-upgraded versions of software (as in Microsoft) that basically doesn’t work very well (as in crashes, errors, security bugs, virus problems, etc. etc. etc.).

I have also been a big believer in Internet technologies, and have a lot of faith in its power to bring information…communication abilities…empowerment…to the common man. But the fact is that most modern technology is out of bounds for 90% of the world population, simply because it is too expensive.

Well, it looks like there is finally a way out … The basic premise is that of using low-end (but perfectly useable) computers, bundled with open-source (and hence, resource-friendly) software based on Linux, to enable cheap access to millions of people all over the world. That means, the dream of an internet-enabled PC in every hospital room, in every hotel room, in every school and college.. can soon become a reality !

I know the path ahead for Emergic is far more difficult than it seems. And I wish them all the best in their endeavour. If they succeed, we all will.

See The Emergic Website for more details… And, join the revolution !!!