OREANDA-NEWS. March 10, 2011. Sharp Corporation will participate in a proof-of-concept trial for electronic education (e-education) from March 8 to the end of March 2011 at the Indian Institute of Technology*1 Hyderabad to be conducted under the Project for International Expansion of Advanced ICT Business (Ubiquitous Alliance Project)*2 launched by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) of Japan. For this trial, Sharp will provide an e-education system based on Sharp’s one-of-a-kind products, including e-textbooks (textbook content in digital format) on GALAPAGOS media tablets as well as interactive whiteboard touchscreen LCD monitors.

India has enjoyed extremely rapid economic growth in recent years, and this has led to a rapidly increasing demand for higher education. A shortage of schools and teachers accompanying this demand has become a serious problem. To resolve these challenges, the development and adoption of electronic systems for education, as well as implementing remote e-education based on them, is urgently needed in India.

For some time now, Sharp has been working on a joint industry-government-academia project with the MIC and the Waseda University Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies to explore ways to support a shift to electronic education systems in India.

In the proof-of-concept trial, the content of textbooks to be used in courses as well as curriculum information will be downloaded to the e-textbook terminals via a wireless (Wi-Fi) connection to a dedicated remote e-education server. In addition, electronic whiteboards used during class instruction are displayed on the e-textbook terminals. Interactive classes can be conducted by using a microphone and speakers in combination with an electronic whiteboard connected to the remote e-education server even in classrooms where no teacher is present.

This system aims to enable students who are not able to take courses because of a lack of teachers to attend advanced classes.

Sharp will continue to take positive steps toward making e-education a reality using its unique, one-of-a-kind products such as the GALAPAGOS media tablet and its interactive touchscreen LCD monitors, and will help create an environment in which people all over the world can gain access to education on an equal basis.