Q- Tell us about LittleMore Innovation Labs? How unique is your offering?
Littlemore Innovation Labs is focusing on transforming the examinations process by enabling end-to-end digital examinations. Littlemore has built a writable tablet called DigiTaal and a cloud-based software known as PEXA. On the DigiTaal device, students can write descriptive examinations just like they would do on paper with a pen. DigiTaal is a purpose-built device that allows long examinations to be written using integrated tools such as calculators, finely calibrated geometric instruments, different kinds of ‘papers’ – plain, ruled and graph. On the other hand, PEXA (Paperless Examinations Advantage) is a secure ecosystem consisting of customized software and purpose-built hardware. This ecosystem includes a specially developed secure software system and services in the cloud, making it an end-to-end solution for students, faculty, and administrators.
Q- How is LittleMore Innovation Labs helping Universities to work in Green Technology?
There is a huge quantity of paper being consumed during every exam. Question papers which typically run to 4 pages per student and answer booklets which typically run to 30 pages per student. If one student writes 36 exams in one year you could calculate the number of paper which is being consumed by each student in the above +12 category. Now there are 30Million plus students in this category and this, if it can be moved to a paperless mode, would have a significant impact on the Green environment.
Q- How many universities have adopted this technology and how many exams have you conducted yet?
Currently, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Manipal University, IIIT-B, REVA University, VIT Vellore, NIMHANS and others are using the paperless examination technology and we have done 1.5Million exams till date without any loss of data.
Q- Any plans for funding? If yes then where LMI will use the funds?
Yes, we are in the process of raising Series B and we would want to deploy that for R&D, product development and expansion into new geographies in the Asia- Pacific region.
Q- What are the challenges you have faced till now and what are the problem areas when it comes to assessments in the education system?
Technology adoption has been slow in this segment with regard to the Examination system. Universities have gone for incremental changes and Universities are putting in money on systems and processes which are not as efficient. The chain in an Examination system is as strong as the weakest link. If paper is used then the system is fraught with various risks of various dimensions and hence also susceptible to leakages of questions and/or manipulation in the downstream of the examination process. The more human interfaces in the logistics and storage are minimized the more secure the system would be. In a Paperless solution such as ours, the entire chain is completely secure and we have had ZERO data loss.
Q- Any expansion plans?
We are in the process of expanding our services in India and other geographies in the Asia-Pacific region.
