Intel has unveiled a tablet reference design, featuring Intel Atom chip and Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS — targeting the rapidly growing education tablet segment.
The Intel Education tablet features student-friendly designs that empower students to create content. Features include front- and rear-facing cameras, stylus, integrated speakers and microphones bring interactive, multimedia content into learning.
Intel strategy is to capture the chip market in tablet segment. IDC says while personal computers are facing weak demand and reduced budgets in the U.S. education sector, tablets are experiencing exceptionally strong interest among education stakeholders, from school managers, teachers, and governments, to parents and students.
Shipments of client devices (notebooks, desktops and tablets) to the U.S. education sector grew 15.3 percent year over year in 2012 with volume nearing 8.5 million units.
IDC estimates the value of these shipments at $5 billion. Much of this growth can be attributed to tablet shipments, which grew 103 percent year over year in 2012. Strong demand for these devices increased the share of tablets in the education client device market from 19.4 percent in 2011 to more than 35 percent in 2012, and that momentum will continue as the 2013 back-to-school season approaches.
In March 2013, News Corp’s education division, Amplify, introduced the first tablet computer built specifically for the classroom, in a bid to capture a slice of the billions of dollars spent in U.S. public schools.
Intel says the new tablet will have Intel Education Software, including applications like e-Reader, science exploration and data analysis and painting tools. It also has management software that provides teachers and administrators with tools to protect students and manage technology.
“Intel remains committed to helping teachers and students achieve better results through the development of complete solutions that span the hardware, software and digital content required for a 21st century learning experience,” said John Galvin, vice president of Intel’s Sales and Marketing Group and general manager of Intel Education.
The Intel Education tablet with a 10-inch screen has a dual-core Intel Atom Processor Z2460, an Android 4.0 operating system, more than 6.5 hours of battery life, and weighs 1.5 lbs.
Intel also offers an Intel Education tablet with a 7-inch screen, single-core Intel Atom Processor Z2420, an Android 4.1 operating system, nearly 8 hours of battery life and weighs .78 lbs.
Both tablets are equipped with McAfee Mobile Security.
Intel says its education solutions have helped more than 10 million teachers improve education for hundreds of millions of students in 100 countries.
