Licensed by the US company Scientific Learning Corporation to market the software in South Indian, Perform@ found the schools falling short of the required infrastructure viz sufficient computers. The Fast ForWord suite of products is designed for individual use and requires a computer for each student.

"We are in the process of studying the market. Based on the market response we may decide on providing the computers to schools on rent/lease. We may even manage the training centre at the school," says director Global Business Sudave Ramachanderan. The Singapore company initial had the idea of selling just the software to the schools but had to rework its strategy based on the situation at the ground level.

"The software is consists of different modules. The choice of module depends on the child's cognitive capacity and hence there is a necessity for a dedicated computer for each child."

The company is also open to franchisee model but to start with Perform@ is banking on the schools. "The cost per student per product is around Rs1,000. Based on the volume this may go down. It is for the school to decide on the manner of recovering the cost."

So how does Fast ForWord help in taking a child forward? Answers Ramachanderan, "The software helps in activating the brain receptors through its audio visual programme. This is based on the neuroscience principles that helps in strengthening the cognitive skills."

Adds Prehalath V Cleetus, chief executive officer, "A child starts learning when it is still in the mother's womb through sounds. In the case of grown up children through the intervention of audio visual combination their cognitive skills could be improved several times." According to him the software modules helps to utilise well the brain's potential.

The company is targetting the 4th to 8th standard school students. "Activating the brain cells is like learning to ride a bicycle. You will never lose your balance when you ride a cycle even after a gap of several years," says Ramachanderan.