NSC will require that school student has a computer. While having a high end machine will be preferable, this is not realistic. With that said, the education system will be configured to support Kal-OS. The minimum specs will be as follows:
- Kal-OS
- AMD 2.5Ghz CPU and 16GB of memory
- 128GB of NVME storage and SDXC card reader
- Wifi-6+ and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
- 14″ 8:5 screen
- 4 USB-C ports
- Charging by USB-C
- 720p Webcam
- All day battery
First, there will be efforts to work with the makers of Kal-OS to provide a means to mass deploy their OS on national computers. This will include not only the students, but the schools’ faculty. Not only that, all government computers will use the same OS to streamline things, and allow for easy transition between the computer the students work with, and a computer that they may interact with when dealing with the government. By choosing a single OS, this will be a game changing event for the nation. No more buying bloated OSes that requires new, and higher end systems that don’t work well and stuffed with ads. Kal-OS will just work, and work well. This OS is also defined with STEM in mind which is very important for the Ministry of Education.
The system will run on an AMD 2.5Ghz or better processor. In addition, there will be 16GB of memory. These two things should keep the system in a reasonable price (especially when having millions built), and support the needs of the user. 16GB of memory also seems to be the minimum standard for AI which will also need to be a focus on the systems. The owner will be able to upgrade their memory as time goes on. The computer must support 2×64GB of memory.
While Kal-OS will likely function on 40GB of storage, 128GB of storage is chosen to allow for updates, and additional software. Not only will there be the OS, and applications, but also personal files such as their notes, and school work. And obviously, the computer will (and should) be used for their personal files. If this is the case, then 128GB can be eaten quickly as personal files, and school projects will demand a bit of storage. The idea however is to have the OS and programs installed on the 128GB storage drive, and personal files on the SD card or OS drive, and SD card. In example, one’s music library might be on the PC’s storage to make it easier to synch with the handheld, but documents, and other personal files might be best to go on the SD card. With this portable and upgradeable storage as a standard, every computer will require an SD card reader. The school store will sell SD cards for a little more than cost. The school is not in the business of making money, but serve the students.
Wifi-6, and Bluetooth 5 will be required for wireless connectivity. The school and any other government institution will always be at the newest wifi standards, but it is understandable that a home may not be. By setting a reasonable minimum will allow for a lower cost system for deployment. Bluetooth will be able to sync with the eBook reader, and wireless devices such as earphones, mice, and keyboards. This will assure that the new protocols are in place to allow for best use case while still keeping resource reasonable.
A 14″ 8:5 screen will be essential considering this is a notebook PC. The screen resolution will be at least 1080p resolution which will allow the basics to run on the screen. While not top of the line, consider that this is an educational student computer. They will be able to use their system to get work done, and they can watch Youtube, and browse social media (after school of course) on a 1080p screen. Also, the more realistic resolution will make it easier to have an all day battery.
4 USB-C ports will be required. One port will be used for charging, therefore – creating a standard. The additional USB-C ports can be used for thumb drives, or external drives for the computer. This might not be a likely instance since SDXC cards are the standard for storing and transferring files.
The webcam is especially important in remote learning, and instances when the student has to do a video call. While the average resolution is 1080p, 720p is the minimum for any system within the school network.
Rationale
The computer is essential for modern society. While I personally went through grade school without a computer, this is just not going to happen in a STEM focused education system. By providing every student with the same computer, the student will have an equal chance of succeeding in school. The parents aren’t responsible for providing the computer as this might not be an option for a low income household. And while the student might be able to receive a loaner PC, they will have to return it at the end of the school year. By giving them a computer, they will have something that would last 12 years of school, and meet the needs of the student. Since NSC requires that notebook’s memory and storage are upgradeable, this means the system can be increased and improved upon later in the school timeframe.