Thursday, September 24, 2009
One (underpowered) Laptop Per Child.
Bringing technology to places around the world where it just does not exist sounds like a great idea. There are many people who either are not aware it actually exists, or just can not afford the luxury of things like Internet, hard drives, and touch pads. Nicholas Negroponte, the founding director of M.I.T's media lab wants to help alleviate this problem. He has introduced a laptop computer which only costs $100. The hope is that the computer cost will be so low that governments in developing nations will buy them in bulk and turn them over to children who live in remote and poor areas of the world.
It is Negropontes hope that this revolutionizes the way children learn around the world. This program is under some criticism however. There are those that state the laptop is se
verely underpowered and has more in common with a toy, rather than a computer. Bill Gates states "Geez, get a decent computer where you can actually read the text and you're not sitting there cranking the thing while you're trying to type."
The computer includes such amenities as word processing, WI-FI access, and a Linux operating system. (perhaps why Gates is not in favor)
I believe that while, yes, the computer may be underpowered, and rely on a crank to generate power for itself, it is in fact only $100, expected to drop to less than $50 by 2010. This computer in my opinion is a great tool for inspiring the minds of children around the world who do not as of current, have access to such technology. Out of 100 children who receive this computer, if 1 is inspired to learn more, go to college, and become part of the new, growing digital world, i believe that this program is worth saving.
For more information on the one laptop/one child program. Click here.
It is Negropontes hope that this revolutionizes the way children learn around the world. This program is under some criticism however. There are those that state the laptop is se
verely underpowered and has more in common with a toy, rather than a computer. Bill Gates states "Geez, get a decent computer where you can actually read the text and you're not sitting there cranking the thing while you're trying to type."The computer includes such amenities as word processing, WI-FI access, and a Linux operating system. (perhaps why Gates is not in favor)
I believe that while, yes, the computer may be underpowered, and rely on a crank to generate power for itself, it is in fact only $100, expected to drop to less than $50 by 2010. This computer in my opinion is a great tool for inspiring the minds of children around the world who do not as of current, have access to such technology. Out of 100 children who receive this computer, if 1 is inspired to learn more, go to college, and become part of the new, growing digital world, i believe that this program is worth saving.
For more information on the one laptop/one child program. Click here.
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A good post. Microsoft and OLPC have since come to terms. They also dropped the crank option. There is still a lot of criticism and praise. Clearly the laptop is not a magic bullet that will end poverty and abolish ignorance around the globe. It may not be the first priority, but I still think it is a worthy project even if clean water, electricity, etc, should come first.
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