The Hundred (and Fifty) Dollar Laptop is Here!

[miss_yt]

You may have heard about this project to create $100 laptops for children in developing countries. Well, they finally finished the design - it's actually closer to $150, but considering that the cheapest standard laptop available now is $500, this is nonetheless far more affordable for the people who need it - or for charities who want to distribute it to them.

The laptop uses far less power than a conventional machine, it's designed to connect to the internet through any available means (mobile phone net, satellite uplink, "ad hoc" through other such laptops, or through conventional means), and it runs a Linux-based OS!

Please do read the article, it's written by one of my father's good friends.

Comments

[tempus-aeterna.livejournal.com]

There are a ton of problems with actually shipping and using the computers by children in developing countries. It sounds neat, but the realistic details of the installing, training, and using are going to be huge.

[miss-yt.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't know how they're going to figure out how to distribute them - or keep them from being stolen and sold for parts, or defend them against viruses. Yes, viruses. They're not worthwhile targets for people who want bank account info or a node for their botnet, but you can bet some asshole is going to try and ruin the party. Although the computers are running Linux, so that might not be so much of a problem.

As for the other issues, the developers of the laptop have taken great care to address them. The computers come with all of their software preinstalled, and since they're simple machines meant only for word processing and Internet access, there isn't a lot to put on there or mess up. The OS is also designed to be easy for kids to use and figure out. With perhaps a day's training the kids can learn how to work the computer and how to recharge it with a special foot pedal or something. And keep in mind, these will be kids who are very interested in learning how their shiny new computer works.

[tempus-aeterna.livejournal.com]

I've read a few articles concerning the social issues in these contries surrounding providing computers and these worry me. I don't have the time to address them here though.

In addition the hand cranks are a big problem as they are too difficult for children and many adults to actually crank, and apparently are not well attached as it came off during a demonstration where Kofi Annon was trying to crank it.

Also there is the issue of fixing any problems with the machines. Since no one there knows how to fix them it will be difficult to solve any problems, more machines will just have to be sent back or simply thrown out. If you look at how many problems people have with their hardware today that becomes apparent.

There is also the issue with the meshing that is required for all the computers to get on one internet connection. If one of the machines goes down, they all go down if they are meshed together. In addition the connection is incredably slow if you have a classroom full working on it, and will most likely not be very useful in that respect.

Also I'm not sure about what steps they are taking to look at the language issues surrounding sending computers to developing nations. That has not been addressed in most of what I have read.

Also the countries are required to prove some of the money for the laptops. While they are cheep, the number that the countries are required to order at one time is very high (in the millions if I remember correctly). Even if the countries only have to pay 10% ordering a million computers would make it still a very expensive prospect for many developing nations. And if the computers break and the students now want more, the country will need to spend more money to provide them.

It's very neat in concept but the practical application of distribution is still very much not finalized.