Over 2,00,000 computers in schools across the State will soon be powered by the latest version of the Linux-based Free Operating System that offers a variety of applications for educational and general purposes.
The Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) has rolled out the new version named “ IT@School GNU/ Linux 18.04”. Based on the Ubuntu OS LTS edition, the system features several free applications customised as per the State school curriculum.
Office packages, language input tools, database applications, DTP-graphics-image editing software, sound recording-video editing-3 D animation packages, Geographical Information System, Database servers, desktop versions of mobile apps are the other features.
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“Had these applications been of proprietary nature, a licence fee of ₹1.50 lakh would have incurred for each computer,” says K. Anvar Sadath, Vice Chairman and Executive Director, KITE. “The total savings is estimated to be of the order of ₹3000 crore. Apart from the financial savings, the biggest advantage of the Free OS is its ability to be modified and shared.”
The Operating System can be freely downloaded from www. kite.kerala.gov.in under the tab Services ->Download link. KITE would also arrange Install Fests for the public through its Little KITEs IT Clubs network, a press note issued here said.