Intel Chairman Craig Barrett has launched a new PC platform designed to promote digital literacy in China.

"We are delivering on the pledge we made last year to provide simple, affordable technology access to China's rural population," said Barrett, who also chairs the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development. "Today's launch proves how much can be achieved when private industry and government work hand in hand to realize a shared vision."

The collaboration aligns with Intel's commitment to support China's New Countryside Initiative, which strives to raise the living standards of China's farmers through PC adoption and other rural development measures. The work is part of the Intel World Ahead Program, Intel's global effort to provide people in developing countries with the benefits of better, faster access to information and communications technology.

The Haier Farmer PC is being marketed in China as the "JiaJiaLe" 800A, which means "Happy Family" in English. Jointly researched and developed by Intel, Chinese PC manufacturer Haier and MII, the PC is designed with innovative ease-of-use features to help villagers who lack computer skills. For example, a handwriting pad lets farmers input Chinese characters; and a one-click Internet browsing interface enables farmers to get to the online sites they visit most frequently using a single button rather than typing the URL into the Web browser's address bar. The PC also offers a text-to-voice technology that helps farmers with limited literacy understand the words written on a Web page by hearing them read aloud.

"Our alliance with Intel is already helping us toward our goal of increasing the use of technology to create economic growth in rural areas," said Gou Zhong Wen, deputy minister, Ministry of Information and Industry. "The 300 farmers participating in this rural PC project in the Henan province are already trading their crops online to reach additional customers."