The Industrial Design and Development Centre of IIT, which is developing the programme, claims it can help businessmen to know about materials being developed in various parts of the world and quality standards prevailing in different countries. They can redesign their products accordingly to make them globally competitive.

According to BK Chakravarthy, principal investigator, industrial development programme, IIT, the internet is a huge storehouse of information on durable and cost-effective materials and Indian entrepreneurs can benefit tremendously by tapping it. "Sourcing information through the internet is like reaping the benefits of research done in various parts of the world without incurring costs."

For the last two years a group of designers under the guidance of Chakravarthy has been compilinginformation and designing new products from the Net. In the short period, the team has redesigned a wide range of products which are not only safer, more attractive and durable than the earlier versions but can also be manufactured at lower costs. "The key to success of any new product is that it should not only be made in new and contemporary material but should also cut on costs."

The team is working as part of a Rs 40-lakh project on designing in new materials, which has been approved by the ministry of human development. The ministry has contributed Rs 30 lakh while Apple International, which is the cooperating industry, has given Rs 10 lakh.

Among other things, the group has designed a heat convector using engineering plastic which not only provides warmth but is also safe, comfortable to use, appealing and has a longer life. The conceptualisation of the product had been triggered off by the incident of the death of a child due to electric shock from a heat convector.

According to Chakravarthy, ifone has a particular product in mind, it takes only two-three days to gather all relevant information like the latest material available, manufacturing methods, safety requirements etc. from the Net. "Even in today's world of cut-throat competition there are a large number of scientists and researchers who believe in sharing information and therefore put it on the internet for humanity to benefit from it."

The team has also redesigned the interiors of second class rail coach to increase capacity and make it cleaner and more comfortable. Changes have been made in the seat/berth design to make it accommodate more people. Windows have also been redesigned to make it easier to operate and detailed alterations have been made in user amenities to increase hygiene. "We are holding discussions with a rail coach factory in Kapurthala so that they can incorporate our design while manufacturing coaches."

Several industrial houses have also started approaching IDDC to seek their help in designing products. Toysdesigned by the team for OK Play will be available for sale at outlets in a couple of months. "OK Play will be launching, for the first time, a product which is entirely new and has been designed indigenously. We have been able to design a world-class product without any help because we could access the internet for all information that we required to manufacture the product," said Chakravarthy.

As a result of globalisation, high quality products have started flooding the market and Indian manufacturers can no longer be complacent, feels Chakravarthy. "It is imperative for Indian businessmen to familiarise themselves with the internet as it is the only source through which they can get up-to-date and cheap information."