Google launches Internet-enabled Bus in Tamil Nadu

Google India has launched Internet Bus, an internet-enabled bus that will reach out to people with limited knowledge and exposure to internet and give them a first-hand experience of what internet has to offer and how it may be beneficial to their lives. To begin with, the bus will cover 15 towns in Tamil Nadu over a period of one and a half months.

According to Google, the Internet Bus will have content in English and Tamil to give the users an understanding of how internet can be used for information, communication, entertainment and education. In addition to basic familiarization on using services like search, email, social networking and online maps the bus will showcase how internet can make everyday life simple.

The Internet Bus will also address the challenge around access and language for users in smaller cities by educating them on how they can access internet on their mobiles and use various Google tools to break the language barrier.

“With this initiative we want to take the power of the internet medium to people who will really benefit from it. We believe that if we can get people to experience the internet even briefly they will find the means to go back again,” said Prasad Ram, Head of R&D at Google India, has said.

“India needs more of such efforts. It is the collective responsibility of the government, the industry and academia to solve the challenges around access, costs and content. Once this is done, the possibilities of use are limitless,” Prasad Ram has added.