New $100 laptop could jump start education in developing world

seattleniceguy

The idea: Create a crank-powered laptop that children can use to learn and communicate even in remote areas, and give one laptop to every child.

A one-minute cranking session powers the laptop for 10 minutes. The laptops are outfitted with a Wi-fi radio transmitted that allows multiple machines to become a communications mesh that can share internet connections of any member who happens to have one. At $100, and with assistance from donors, real diffusion into poor and developing nations is made possible. This would enable children who are not able to attend school, for example, to learn on their own and teach each other.

Got to admit, it's getting better.

SNG

http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/16/technology/laptop_fortune/

Satanus

That would make a dandy book reader. I could rip out the crank and wire in power cords from a voltage adapter. It would be a lot lighter than a laptop, bigger than a palm. Great for reading in bed.

S

sass_my_frass

Mr Frass and I have started a project to supply solar-powered laptops to schools in Fiji, it's been an uphill struggle so far but it's going to happen. I like this guy, he's a dreamer who's getting it to work. I love this quote: "And Gates would like Negroponte to use Microsoft software rather than the free open-source alternatives that Negroponte currently favors. " ... of course he would; unfortunately it would triple the price of the machine for the additional memory required to run bulbous Microsoft applications and the cost of the software itself. Of course the problem will be that they will need an internet connection, usually in places they can barely find enough fuel to light a fire. Still it's a nice starting point.

onintwo

Hmmm....one laptop to every child, you say. And about how many children have we now? Over a billion, I'll bet. If sufficient donors could be found, and the order for one billion laptops placed to some manufacturer, could you get me in on the necessary insider trading information, just prior to that same order being placed? All on the up and up, of course.

Seriously, what a cool idea that would be. As you put it, a tremendous jumpstart!

------Onintwo

seattleniceguy

Wow, that's a really cool project, sass!

Regarding Windows on these laptops, I can see cases both for and against. First, presumably Gates would not be looking to make a profit here. Microsoft already donates many millions of dollars worth of software and computers to local schools in the Seattle area. I believe the idea would probably be to donate copies of Windows (probably stripped down for size reasons).

On the for side, it would enable people to easily write and deploy compelling applications for these kids. After all, a computer with no software is pretty useless. Technologies like the .NET Framework make it very easy to develop good applications fast. And the kids would grow up knowing a technology that would be immediately useful in their day-to-day life, should they choose to explore working in cities or developed nations. (Not a slam on Linux - it's just that desktops are obviously ruled by Windows.)

On the against side, Linux plus Java provide a very similar framework for application development, and that combination would definitely be free. Also, there would be some concerns over security update-ability of a system that is not reliably connected to the internet (although it would be a mistake to imagine that Linux and Java are immune to security issues).

Anyway, it's certainly a cool project. I'm excited to see what comes of it!

SNG

hamsterbait

Why bother??

I'm depressed today because I read how China is burning more greenhouse gasses that the entire world combined. The Lungs of the world (Amazon rainforest) is vanishing by millions of acres every day.

I give up.

The world can't be saved.

HB ( of the "Hopeless Buggers" class) Not that it does any good.

One day I (we) will be dead. But we'll all be dead together.

Elsewhere

Could you imagine having to crank your computer ever ten minutes???

LittleToe

That's one way of getting couch potatoes to exercise. Previously it was only done by flooding the Internet with porn

sass_my_frass

Elsewhere; you've probably had electricity all your life. You've also owned books. The kids who get these gadgets will be far worse off than the ones our little gig is for, and those kids had never seen a pocket calculator before. Cranking a handle to keep it working will be a very small price to pay.

ozziepost

Being very familiar with the developing world, I'd have to say it's not so easy!

Firstly there's the distribution problems that would arise. Remember foreign aid doesn't easily get to the intended aid-receivers so easily as we might imagine. Just think of the tsunami relief aid that was never received as an example.

Secondly there's the connection difficulties. SE Asia for example has awful connections and very expensive too.

Thirdly, as a provider of education support in the Third World, I'd have to say I'm sceptical. Too often we in the western world see solutions in our terms. We overlook the cultural environments we're working in.

Still, it's a nice thought and you've got to think well of anyone who at least tries to make a difference.

New $100 laptop could jump start education in developing world

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