OLPC ($100 "laptop") FAQ

[Jeff Kinz]

On Tue, May 30, 2006 at 05:13:52PM -0400, Randy Edwards wrote:
>  > But, if you'll allow me to be selfish for a moment, one thing I like about
>  > the OLPC project is how much can be done with it in countries the the USA.
> 
>    I agree.  Myself, I think the project's real potential is in "first" 
> and "second" world countries.
> 
>    Frankly, as Ben stated, I think it's pretty naive to think that laptop 
> wouldn't be used primarily as a source of light in that Cambodian 
> household 

They are hoping it will be.
Thats one of the reasons its less likely to be sold for cash.... :)

-- or more likely just sold for cash.

This is certainly an issue, there is a lot of discussion on it in the
wikki.
> 
>    But somewhere like Mexico or some "second world" country that laptop could 
> achieve its intended purpose.
> 
>    And here in the US, the OLPC might -- hey, I said "might"! -- work to 
> establish an affordable, de facto EdTech standard and break schools out of 
> the marketing-driven/gee-whiz/gadget-minded mode that they've been in 
> forever.

No chance of that I'm afraid.  Public school IT is driven by the
need/desire/bureaucratic pressure to go for the most expensive choices
rather than the most effective..........

> 

-- 
Jeff Kinz, Emergent Research, Hudson, MA.
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