A Cambridge-Canadian tech alliance has produced game-changing computer technology that enables schools and businesses to deploy more than twice as many computers for the same cost.

The technology enables up to 11 users to use different applications at the same time from one host computer – each with their own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. 

At $59 per seat it is reckoned to be the lowest cost computing solution available with the features and performance of a full desktop computer. It does this using standard low cost USB devices available from HP, Wyse, MCT, Cambridge-based DisplayLink, and others.

It also comes in a bundle install DVD version specially made for schools that includes the operating system, hundreds of educational applications, and classroom computer management software, at no extra cost.

Userful Corporation in Calgary, Canada – global leader in Linux desktop virtualisation – has linked up with segment leaders such as DisplayLink in Cambridge to produce the ‘hydra’ technology.

The Userful MultiSeat™ 4.0, software turns one Linux computer into 11 high performance independent computer stations enabling a range of organisations to swiftly deploy large numbers of computer stations for a very low cost, whether in the classroom, office, call centre, oilfield, hospital, library, military base, hotel, internet cafe, or anywhere else multiple computers in close proximity are needed.

It reduces hardware costs by up to 80 per cent as well as slashing required infrastructure (power plugs, cabling, etc.) by a factor of 10 compared to a traditional PC-per-seat solution.

Energy costs are cut by up to 90 per cent – so users will recover the cost of their computers through electricity bill savings over a few years.

The new solution is very much a global play and is finding a ready home in India where schools need to deploy large numbers of full featured computers for minimal cost, using negligible infrastructure.

Dennis Crespo, DisplayLink executive VP, marketing & business development, said: “Userful and DisplayLink have worked closely together to build support for DisplayLink USB virtual graphics-enabled devices with the market leading solution.

“The performance and ease of use of the Userful MultiSeat software running on DisplayLink technology-enabled devices is outstanding. As the leader in USB virtual graphics, DisplayLink is excited to be a part of the super easy way to set-up and run computer sharing.”