One Laptop Per Child to be extended to American students.

[alfredo]

Glad to see this happening. Maybe some day the DU community can pool money to buy and donate OLPC's to where they are needed.


http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,141298-c,notebooks/article.html

One Laptop Per Child Project Extends to American Students
OLPC America plans to combat digital divide by distributing low-cost laptops to needy students in the U.S.
Dan Nystedt, IDG News Service
Saturday, January 12, 2008 6:00 AM PST

The One Laptop Per Child Project (OLPC) plans to launch OLPC America in 2008 to distribute the low-cost laptop computers originally aimed at developing nations to needy students in the United States.

The group, which was formed in the U.S. by teachers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), came under criticism shortly after forming because its original mission did not include the U.S.

Originally, the aim of OLPC was to develop a $100 laptop for kids in poor nations to ensure they don't miss out on the benefits of computing, and to make sure developing countries don't fall further and further behind modern nations due to their inability to buy computers, a conundrum commonly referred to as the digital divide.

[fujiyama]

1. Good news

It is a shame, but many schools are in terrible, developing country conditions. Some are using books from over twenty years ago and barely have computers.

[alfredo]

2. But ask for one less bomber be made so our schools could have books.....

[intheflow]

13. Oh, alfredo!

You're living in La-La Land! Children need laptops so they can grow up and to operate those computerized bombers. They really don't need to know any more reading that THAT.




:sarcasm:, obviously.

[alfredo]

17. I'm an optimist. Maybe they will grow up to be a moderator at DU.

[kineneb]

3. about time- poor rural & inner city kids need computers, too

There are kids in my own area who lack decent housing/water/power and other basics. They could use an off-the-grid computer. Heck, they could use a warm coat.

[alfredo]

4. Getting the warm coat could be helped by ending the war and bringing

that money home.

[Deja Q]

5. According to Oprah, they'd rather have ipods.

Can these laptops play iTunes songs?

[SoCalDem]

15. They are very musically oriented.. or so the ad said n/t

[OhioChick]

6. About Damn Time. n/t

[applegrove]

7. Great.

[CorpGovActivist]

8. Thank You for Sharing This!

My partner works to repurpose tech from his workplace, for kids in need.

: )

- Dave

[MH1]

9. Great news!

I think it could have a real impact on improving education in low-income areas.

[AnnieBW]

10. I saw it last week at CES.

It's very cool. Especially kid-friendly. Smaller than a normal laptop, but just as functional. Uses a hand crank, foot pedal, or solar panel to charge.

[alfredo]

11. They look like something that might point the way for others.

Laptops don't need to cost $1,000.

[TXteacher]

12. There are schools that do this

I work at a low-income, urban school and we issue all students with a laptop and use them in class (secondary schools). My students turn in their work online.

[SoCalDem]

14. Mine arrived.. It;s so cute.. I don;t know who got the free one I paid for, but I'm sure they will

love it..:)

[alfredo]

16. Thanks for donating. It will be appreciated.

[pnorman]

18. I saw a website w/video clip a while back.

I believe it was in either India or Pakistan, but it was in a run-down area. Some community activists had established public access computers in several locations. They consisted of the monitor set just inside a storefront window, and a keyboard (presumably "weatherized") outside and accessible to all. It was sheer pleasure, watching the children lining up with NO squabbling, and "playing around" with it! In short order, the brighter kids had become quite proficient, and were teaching all the others. Soon the whole area must have become "computer-savvy" (at least the kids). Talk about planting a Mustard Seed!

I probably first saw that on DU. If anyone here knows that website, I'd be eternally grateful for it! (I'm not sure if I have enough data to Google for it, but I'll try later).

pnorman