Indiana legislature considers adopting iPads
updated 04:25 pm EDT, Tue September 6, 2011
Switch could potentially prove expensive
The Indiana state legislature is considering whether or not to adopt iPads for use during sessions, writes the Associated Press. The matter is currently in front of a review committee. In all the legislature would need at least 150 tablets, split between 100 for representatives and 50 for senators.
The committee's chairman -- Republican senator Brandt Hershman of Lafeyette -- claims that the switch would have several advantages, such as making the legislative process more transparent and simplifying communication with the public. Hershman also argues that it might save time and money, since legislators are presently provided with paper copies of every bill before voting. To offset the expense of the iPads the senator suggests halting printing, as well as no longer providing legislators with notebook computers. The iPad is the tablet under consideration because of Apple's market dominance, Hershman remarks.
The first and only US legislature to rely on iPads so far is West Virginia's. Virginia and Vermont, though, are also reportedly in the process of evaluating the technology.
