Anudith Denies Forcing Panel To Okay First Lot Of Computer Tablets: Thailand

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Anudith denies forcing panel to okay first lot of tablets

SAOWANEE NIMPANPAYUNGWONG,

WANNAPA KHAOPA

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Some tablets were found to have a problem with the drag-and-drop function during inspection of the first batch of 2,000 units, a source from the Education Ministry said yesterday.

Officials were dispatched to China to work with the manufacturer, Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development, and the problem has been solved, the source said.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap yesterday denied a news report that he had forced the quality-check committee to approve the quality of the first batch so that the Chinese company could produce another 400,000 tablets and hand them over to the government by July 10, as stated in the contact.

"We cannot force any government officials appointed to work as the committee's members to approve the tablets' quality. They must judge the quality and specifications based on the terms of reference. Who would dare to do it wrongly and accept jail punishment just to please politicians? I myself have never forced them to do so."

Previous news reports said the committee had not approved the first batch's quality for three reasons: the drag-and-drop function was a problem when using the science subject application; the adapters have two prongs, instead of an additional one for a ground connection; and the panel had not received a document guaranteeing the level of radiation emission.

Anudith said only the committee itself could say whether it had signed off on quality approval.

On the adapter issue, he said the terms of reference did not specify the number of prongs, only that the adapters be suitable to the Thai electrical system.

He has not received any reports about a problem with the drag-and-drop function or the radiation-emission guarantee, he added.

-- The Nation 2012-06-14

[sirchai]

This is very similar to the "Muppet show." Looks like they've got a fourth gender now.

Hope it's just a "summer hole" for news......

Edited June 13, 2012 by sirchai

[Ricardo]

"It wasn't me, it was the committee, why would I ever take an interest, in a major ICT-project ?

Isn't it nice to see a minister, of any party, showing loyalty and support for his people, and showing such an active interest in his area-of-responsibility, heartwarming really.

[harrry]

interesting about the adaptor having two prongs....double insulated appliences usuall so only have two prongs. Still good luck finding a correctly earthed three pin plug to plug into.

[kimamey]

interesting about the adaptor having two prongs....double insulated appliences usuall so only have two prongs. Still good luck finding a correctly earthed three pin plug to plug into.

I thought that myself. It might be an idea for Thailand to upgrade it's electrical system to modern day standards. I have no idea how practical that is but it would be money well spent protecting Thais and foreigners from their antiquated systems. I'm sure it could be started on major new builds where new supplies have to be provided.

One advantage of having a third pin even if it isn't connected is it makes the connection more stable as the plug doesn't just move around particularly where you have a plug that is also a heavy transformer. I remember on my first trip to Thailand my gf and I were in the hotel and I needed to charge my camera batteries so I plugged the thransforfer plug of my charger into the adaptor I'd brought with me and then into the plug which was about 6inches/15 cms above the shelf. I then had to find something to put under it to stop it falling out due to the weight. I recently bought a new surge protector and D-Link router. Every time I want to use it I have to wiggle the 2 pin plug to get a connection.

Also, in the UK at least, the live and neutral sockets have shields over them to stop children (and drunks and idiots) poking things in there. The earth pin is longer and opens the shields for the two other pins to enter.

[Soupdragon]

On the adapter issue, he said the terms of reference did not specify the number of prongs, only that the adapters be suitable to the Thai electrical system.

So in a lot of cases the adapter will grab electricity out of thin air, clever these Chinese.

[Ricardo]

On the adapter issue, he said the terms of reference did not specify the number of prongs, only that the adapters be suitable to the Thai electrical system.

So in a lot of cases the adapter will grab electricity out of thin air, clever these Chinese.

Now that's what I call 'power to the people' !

[belg]

would some testers find a large amount of money instead of a tablet, to be sure the money can continue flowing ? i would really not be surprised, NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXT

[rubl]

Looking at the logo on the top of the tablet shown and a similar print of the box in the background I can only assume that we're still on the OTPC = One Tablet Per Child

14th of June, 105 done, only a few more to go

[Buchholz]

Looking at the logo on the top of the tablet shown and a similar print of the box in the background I can only assume that we're still on the OTPC = One Tablet Per Child

14th of June, 105 done, only a few more to go

The latest scandal involved with this scam aside, to be more factual, the logo on the tablet needs changing to

OTP12C

one tablet per 12 children

Edited June 14, 2012 by Buchholz

[OzMick]

Looking at the logo on the top of the tablet shown and a similar print of the box in the background I can only assume that we're still on the OTPC = One Tablet Per Child

14th of June, 105 done, only a few more to go

You will notice on the large box a warning sticker with a wineglass, universal symbol for "Fragile". The item is then removed from the box, removed from its styrofoam bed, and handed to a 6yo.

BTW Universal does not cover Sri Lanka apparently. Some years back I travelled with Air Lanka, placing an item covered with wineglass drawings in fragile baggage, only to witness it thrown about 3m from atop a baggage trolley onto cement, then other bags thrown onto it.

Edited June 15, 2012 by OzMick

[Narratio]

Enter the electrical engineer...

If it is truly double insulated then the lack of an earth "prong" is not a problem. But that is "IF", and an awful lot of devices are sold in Thailand with just live & neutral connectors so this isn't really a big problem.

(And then there's the problem of most homes & schools having been wired by carpenters / bricklayers / Laos illegals / flying monkey's. The guys with any skill sets & knowledge are oversees working to send money home. The electricians left in this country make me cry. And I mean huge sobbing tears.)

A radiation certificate? Given the units and thier flat screen tech this doesn't worry me at all. It's a paper pushing exercise.

No drag and drop? Ah hah! Now this was the real problem, "egg on public face" style. Either it's a huge software glitch or a problem with the screens pressure/electric field sensitivity. If mutiple units failed then its 50/50 for a base cause but I'd lean towards a bad batch of screens with no QA checking pre/post assembly at the factory.

Edited June 15, 2012 by Narratio

[Moruya]

Enter the electrical engineer...

If it is truly double insulated then the lack of an earth "prong" is not a problem. But that is "IF", and an awful lot of devices are sold in Thailand with just live & neutral connectors so this isn't really a big problem.

(And then there's the problem of most homes & schools having been wired by carpenters / bricklayers / Laos illegals / flying monkey's. The guys with any skill sets & knowledge are oversees working to send money home. The electricians left in this country make me cry. And I mean huge sobbing tears.)

A radiation certificate? Given the units and thier flat screen tech this doesn't worry me at all. It's a paper pushing exercise.

No drag and drop? Ah hah! Now this was the real problem, "egg on public face" style. Either it's a huge software glitch or a problem with the screens pressure/electric field sensitivity. If mutiple units failed then its 50/50 for a base cause but I'd lean towards a bad batch of screens with no QA checking pre/post assembly at the factory.

"No drag and drop?"

Ah! I must have misheard.

I was under the illusion that Khun Tiida was about to give birth.

[Buchholz]

No drag and drop? Ah hah! Now this was the real problem, "egg on public face" style. Either it's a huge software glitch or a problem with the screens pressure/electric field sensitivity. If mutiple units failed then its 50/50 for a base cause but I'd lean towards a bad batch of screens with no QA checking pre/post assembly at the factory.

The other paper describes the drag and drop issue as a software issue that affects 100,000 of the tablets manufactured so far.

They will require reloading and delays in receiving.

[lounger]

The adaptor issue would be a problem if the children are going to take the tablets home. Most homes in rural areas will not accept three pin plugs. I have seen many plugs with the third pin sawn off!!

The electrician who wired my new house didnt understand the third wire of the cable I had purchased so removed it. However It came in useful for running earthing wires from the washing machine etc out through holes in the wall.

[EyesWideOpen]

I can hardly wait for a TV member to get their hands one of these tablets through their child. Would be nice to know if they really work. So far all the info about them has come through the government. Not really a good source after the GT2000 bomb detector scandal.... :-) I actually hope they work and are a benefit to Thai children..

[gand]

I can hardly wait for a TV member to get their hands one of these tablets through their child. Would be nice to know if they really work. So far all the info about them has come through the government. Not really a good source after the GT2000 bomb detector scandal.... :-) I actually hope they work and are a benefit to Thai children..

That could be a long long long time from now.

[Buchholz]

Anudith Denies Forcing Panel To Okay First Lot Of Computer Tablets: Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Some tablets were found to have a problem with the drag-and-drop function during inspection of the first batch of 2,000 units, a source from the Education Ministry said yesterday.

Seems there's been a new problem developing with the OTP10C tablets....

They can't seem to open the boxes depicted above...

Students' tablets still in boxes

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: -- Most first graders in Nakhon Ratchasima have not used their PC tablets for studying even though the devices were delivered to their schools a month ago, according to a survey by a reporter.

More than 3,600 tablets are now available at schools in Muang district under the Nakhon Ratchasima Primary Educational Service Area Office 1's supervision.

The schools decided to leave the tablets in their boxes because of many reasons. Their teachers have not been trained on how to use them to teach in class. The Internet connections for the tablets are not ready. A meeting of the schools and school committees and parents to forge understanding among the stakeholders has not taken place. And the schools are ready to close for semester break.

[rubl]

The schools decided to leave the tablets in their boxes because of many reasons. Their teachers have not been trained on how to use them to teach in class. The Internet connections for the tablets are not ready. A meeting of the schools and school committees and parents to forge understanding among the stakeholders has not taken place. And the schools are ready to close for semester break.

Ah, but things are in progress, 'election promise' fulfilled, 'mission accomplished', next

[whybother]

The schools decided to leave the tablets in their boxes because of many reasons. Their teachers have not been trained on how to use them to teach in class. The Internet connections for the tablets are not ready. A meeting of the schools and school committees and parents to forge understanding among the stakeholders has not taken place. And the schools are ready to close for semester break.

Ah, but things are in progress, 'election promise' fulfilled, 'mission accomplished', next

Have then all been delivered yet?

[rubl]

The schools decided to leave the tablets in their boxes because of many reasons. Their teachers have not been trained on how to use them to teach in class. The Internet connections for the tablets are not ready. A meeting of the schools and school committees and parents to forge understanding among the stakeholders has not taken place. And the schools are ready to close for semester break.

Ah, but things are in progress, 'election promise' fulfilled, 'mission accomplished', next

Have then all been delivered yet?

Last I counted (August, 2012) we had about 200,000 received from the supplier, but needing check, repackaging, delivery to schools.

Totally unimportant as one of our dear departed member once remarked (regarding 300Baht/day), the government started the policy, that's what counts

[Buchholz]

The schools decided to leave the tablets in their boxes because of many reasons. Their teachers have not been trained on how to use them to teach in class. The Internet connections for the tablets are not ready. A meeting of the schools and school committees and parents to forge understanding among the stakeholders has not taken place. And the schools are ready to close for semester break.

Ah, but things are in progress, 'election promise' fulfilled, 'mission accomplished', next

Have then all been delivered yet?

Last I counted (August, 2012) we had about 200,000 received from the supplier, but needing check, repackaging, delivery to schools.

Totally unimportant as one of our dear departed member once remarked (regarding 300Baht/day), the government started the policy, that's what counts

perhaps as part of that repackaging, they could address the inaccuracy that the pledged 11 million children will not be receiving a tablet.... only about 1 in 10 will.

[rubl]

First semester almost finished. By the time the second semester (i.e. end of school year) is finished at least 'most' of the P1 kids may have a tabletPC as fast as the project is progressing. well at least this buy more time to put tyhe infrastructure right, teach the teachers, etc., etc.

We do what we can, next year will be better, promise

[saltandpepper]

A great achievement indeed

Now, let's see how the flood prevention/protection plan has been achieved. Hopefully not in the same way!