A MERICAN I NSTITUTES FOR R ESEARCH Thin Client Computer Labs in Cambodia Educational Support to Children in Underserved Populations (ESCUP)

AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH

Thin Client Computer Labs in Thin Client Computer Labs in CambodiaCambodia

Educational Support to Educational Support to Children in Underserved Children in Underserved

Populations (ESCUP)Populations (ESCUP)

AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH

Goals of ESCUPGoals of ESCUP

Address the needs of improved Address the needs of improved educational access and quality to educational access and quality to marginalized groups in Cambodia marginalized groups in Cambodia including ethnic minorities (Muslims including ethnic minorities (Muslims groups-such as Cham-and highland groups-such as Cham-and highland peoples), children with special needs, peoples), children with special needs, the very poor, girls, and children the very poor, girls, and children infected or affected by HIV/AIDSinfected or affected by HIV/AIDS

AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH

Thin Clients Bottom LineThin Clients Bottom Line

Set of computer workstations working Set of computer workstations working off a single serveroff a single server

Simulates a one to one computer Simulates a one to one computer experienceexperience

Potential benefits: cost savings from Potential benefits: cost savings from reduced equipment and energy needs, reduced equipment and energy needs, low maintenance requirementslow maintenance requirements

Potential hazards: centralized Potential hazards: centralized dependence on a single server, high dependence on a single server, high energy needs for serverenergy needs for server

AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH

Students at Kor Secondary school in thin client Students at Kor Secondary school in thin client computer lab established July 2008computer lab established July 2008

• 11 workstations networked to 1 CPU

• 2 Solar Panels provide sustainable power

• If successful, 12 TC labs to be established in 2009

AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH

Typical challenges to computer Typical challenges to computer labslabs

High costs for equipment, set-up, High costs for equipment, set-up, maintenance, securtiymaintenance, securtiy

High energy costsHigh energy costs TheftTheft VirusesViruses Upgrade needs and costsUpgrade needs and costs

AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH

Kor Secondary School PilotKor Secondary School Pilot

World Education is implementing World Education is implementing partnerpartner

Local partner (Kampuchean Action for Local partner (Kampuchean Action for Primary Education) helped renovate Primary Education) helped renovate classroom classroom • tile floor and ceiling tile floor and ceiling • dust proofingdust proofing

Community provided $1,000 cost shareCommunity provided $1,000 cost share Microsoft advised on suppliers, Microsoft advised on suppliers,

software, etcsoftware, etc

AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH

Unit cost for equipment in a thin Unit cost for equipment in a thin client lab and a traditional labclient lab and a traditional lab

Thin Client LabThin Client Lab Traditional LabTraditional LabStudent Workstation EquipmentStudent Workstation EquipmentThin Client unit or CPU Thin Client unit or CPU $145$145 $480$480Monitor and KeyboardMonitor and Keyboard $180$180 $120$120Surge Protector/BatterySurge Protector/Battery $5$5 $90$90Student Workstation TotalStudent Workstation Total $330$330 $690$690

Teacher Workstation EquipmentTeacher Workstation EquipmentThin Client unit or CPU Thin Client unit or CPU $720$720 $480$480Monitor and KeyboardMonitor and Keyboard $180$180 $120$120Surge Protector/BatterySurge Protector/Battery $90$90 $90$90PrinterPrinter $200$200 $200$200Teacher Workstation TotalTeacher Workstation Total $1,190$1,190 $890$890

Lab set-up with 11 student workstations and one teacher Lab set-up with 11 student workstations and one teacher workstationworkstation

$4,820$4,820 $8480$8480

AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH

Energy CostsEnergy Costs

Solar panels minimize recurring utility costsSolar panels minimize recurring utility costs• $5,000 (2 panels) for Thin Client$5,000 (2 panels) for Thin Client• $30,000 in solar panels needed for traditional $30,000 in solar panels needed for traditional

lablab LCD monitors higher up front cost but use LCD monitors higher up front cost but use

65% less energy (30 watts + 5 for thin 65% less energy (30 watts + 5 for thin client unit)client unit)• CPU’s consume 150 watts and CRT monitors CPU’s consume 150 watts and CRT monitors

another 100 wattsanother 100 watts UPS battery only required for teacher UPS battery only required for teacher

workstationworkstation

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AdvantagesAdvantages

Each station consumes 35 watts compared Each station consumes 35 watts compared to 250 watts for traditional PC to 250 watts for traditional PC

Equipment is 44% cheaper and 88% Equipment is 44% cheaper and 88% reduction in energy usereduction in energy use

Fewer moving parts per workstation = Fewer moving parts per workstation = reduced maintenance needs and costsreduced maintenance needs and costs

Less vulnerable to USB/CD based virusesLess vulnerable to USB/CD based viruses Upgrade costs of RAM, software etc apply to Upgrade costs of RAM, software etc apply to

only one computer, rather than severalonly one computer, rather than several Theft less likely (though monitors will be Theft less likely (though monitors will be

tempting)tempting)

AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Dependence on a single serverDependence on a single server Configuration and maintenance Configuration and maintenance

requires additional trainingrequires additional training Higher energy consumption of server Higher energy consumption of server

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