Do we need to Open up the Out-of-box a bit more

Do we need to Open up the Out-of-box a bit more

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 27th Aug. 2014

The new government is opening up to out-of-box ideas, we are told. Vichaar Petika or idea boxes have been placed within the corridors of power for the purpose. While these initiatives are laudable but one should ponder if we need to open up to the out-of-box idea a bit more. Should we not take this to our schools? Years of unmindful drudgery has led to schools becoming training grounds for Rasputin s' rather than being temples of learning that one may want them to be.

A simple way would be to encourage state book publishers to bring out their 'Kindle' version which can be accessed through 'Pads'. Such 'Pads' should be support book availability for all classes and be cost effective in manner that these devices can be available for about 2-2.5K INR. Any revision in books should be supported via internet linkages and should be doable by a layman. The schools can buy these devices with annual license of another 10% of the price of devices. These can then be rented/ leased out to students for an annual fee of INR 500-800 which is favourable in comparison to overall cost of books for any single class. This will bring down cost of books to students as well as take away the pain of carrying school bags (hopefully this will also bring down some load in overfull buses and similar transportation vehicle to reduce some accidents). Falling cost of electronic devices as well as rising paper prices will ensure favorable economics. Some mechanism can be devised to capitalize upon the 'carbon credits' for such scheme. And finally it ushers in a new era of “opening up” and takes it to school, i.e. to the right extent to which the idea needs to penetrate.

It will also force other private publishers to compete with their own 'Kindle' versions. So competition will be on basis of overall offering and quality of intellectual material. These might be additionally supplemented with paid downloads or upgrades to their “kindle”, in case of specialized books. Falling cost of Memory chips, battery and display with ports to connect to internet directly or through blue tooth and enabling surfing support to enable payment transactions and download of fresh e-books/upgrades and a rugged design will ensure cheap devices which brings down overall costs to students with support for AV display as well in higher end versions. This supports revenue for the services delivered while takes away wastage i.e. pay for creativity and its distribution while eliminate cost of paper and its movement through a complex supply chain. The pads should support subscription of e-newspaper or may be games/comics for a charge to make such devices more useful in the eyes of users/people and their memory should support such downloads. The 'instant recharge powersticks' should support recharging such devices when required and the schools will have to invest is maintaining a bank of such sticks as well as their charging centers. The systems can also be exported to other nations with circumstances similar to ours. And the idea of out-of-box thinking gets a huge leg-up & becomes institutionalized.

 

[Swaswati Borpuzari]

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, the concept of "out-of-the-box" thinking has become more crucial than ever. While many organizations and individuals have long embraced the idea of innovation and creativity, there is a growing consensus that we need to open up the out-of-box a bit more. This means fostering an environment where unconventional ideas are not just tolerated but actively encouraged. By doing so, we can break free from the constraints of traditional approaches and explore new possibilities that could lead to groundbreaking solutions and advancements. Embracing a more open mindset also involves fostering collaboration across different disciplines and industries, recognizing that the most innovative ideas often emerge at the intersections of diverse fields. Additionally, it requires a willingness to take risks and learn from failures, understanding that every misstep is a step closer to a breakthrough. In a world where change is the only constant, the ability to think beyond the conventional is not just a luxury—it is a necessity for staying relevant and competitive.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

Do we need to Open up the Out-of-box a bit more

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 27th Aug. 2014

The new government is opening up to out-of-box ideas, we are told. Vichaar Petika or idea boxes have been placed within the corridors of power for the purpose. While these initiatives are laudable but one should ponder if we need to open up to the out-of-box idea a bit more. Should we not take this to our schools? Years of unmindful drudgery has led to schools becoming training grounds for Rasputin s' rather than being temples of learning that one may want them to be.

A simple way would be to encourage state book publishers to bring out their 'Kindle' version which can be accessed through 'Pads'. Such 'Pads' should be support book availability for all classes and be cost effective in manner that these devices can be available for about 2-2.5K INR. Any revision in books should be supported via internet linkages and should be doable by a layman. The schools can buy these devices with annual license of another 10% of the price of devices. These can then be rented/ leased out to students for an annual fee of INR 500-800 which is favourable in comparison to overall cost of books for any single class. This will bring down cost of books to students as well as take away the pain of carrying school bags (hopefully this will also bring down some load in overfull buses and similar transportation vehicle to reduce some accidents). Falling cost of electronic devices as well as rising paper prices will ensure favorable economics. Some mechanism can be devised to capitalize upon the 'carbon credits' for such scheme. And finally it ushers in a new era of “opening up” and takes it to school, i.e. to the right extent to which the idea needs to penetrate.

It will also force other private publishers to compete with their own 'Kindle' versions. So competition will be on basis of overall offering and quality of intellectual material. These might be additionally supplemented with paid downloads or upgrades to their “kindle”, in case of specialized books. Falling cost of Memory chips, battery and display with ports to connect to internet directly or through blue tooth and enabling surfing support to enable payment transactions and download of fresh e-books/upgrades and a rugged design will ensure cheap devices which brings down overall costs to students with support for AV display as well in higher end versions. This supports revenue for the services delivered while takes away wastage i.e. pay for creativity and its distribution while eliminate cost of paper and its movement through a complex supply chain. The pads should support subscription of e-newspaper or may be games/comics for a charge to make such devices more useful in the eyes of users/people and their memory should support such downloads. The 'instant recharge powersticks' should support recharging such devices when required and the schools will have to invest is maintaining a bank of such sticks as well as their charging centers. The systems can also be exported to other nations with circumstances similar to ours. And the idea of out-of-box thinking gets a huge leg-up & becomes institutionalized.

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