On February 4 was presented, the iFreeTablet, as an alternative to the new Apple tablet. Is the result of more than 20 years of research of EATCO Group at the University of Cordoba in the field of usability, ergonomics and adaptive devices.
The Spanish company presents its product as a cheaper option to Apple’s product, based on free software. It surely is an alternative to what big companies as Google, MSI, Sony and Microsoft will release and competition is something we appreciate because is in our advantage, it means smaller prices and better products.
The iFreeTablet is one of the Orvita2 project star devices and one of the products resulting from the IPTVMunicipal Avanza project. Professor Carlos de Castro Lozano, director of the EATCO research group will make the presentation of this solution in the rectory of the University of Cordoba.
It is designed to be easy to use by anyone: advanced users, Web 2.0 enthusiasts or even those who have never used a personal computer. For this to become a reality, advanced functionality combined with a highly intuitive interface is used to achieve this goal.
The software is called SIESTA (Integrated e-Services and Technology Support) and is developed based on Debian Linux. SIESTA OS incorporates voice recognition and sound activation functions, along with gestures and its interface is designed so it could be easily employed by elderly or handicapped.
Usability is the main objective and for that they have been taken into consideration INSERSO research and also the Ministry of Education and Science, and also the various user interfaces developed by Apple or Google. The result is a menu system with categories symbolized by colored icon buttons and only 6 buttons are active at a time, so simplify its usage.
The iFreeTablet must be taken into account because unlike the Apple tablet which has a price estimated around 600 €, the iFreeTablet’s price is around 300-400€ and its software features can evolve with the help of the free software community developers as any based Linux system.
The iFreeTablet specifications are as follows:
- 10.2″ touch screen display with 1024×600 resolution
- Intel Atom N270 running at 1.6GHz
- a large 160GB HDD
- Wi-Fi and NIC, can also support 3G
- 3 USB ports
- VGA output
- Memory card reader
- Webcam
- SIeSTA OS (Debian Linux based)
- only 2.5hrs battery life.
