solution to 1 laptop per child scheme

sunnysingh

sunnysingh

sunnysingh

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hi all

my class has been set a report to write up a answer on what is the long term solution to the 1 laptop per child scheme.

i looking for any ideas as what areas to look at as the subject is endless.

thanks in advanced
 
Assuming they can get access to the internet then the future would be in web based applications that renderer the client side system specs practically irrelevant.
 
the 1LPC scheme is a good idea, but the performance of the machine is a bit underwhelming, for western users, who require a bit more umpf for video playback etc. Sure its designed as an educational tool, particularly aimed at children, however for the cost of the 1LPC you can get a much more powerful netbook (abet only for yourself).

I guess one of the issues with a more powerful laptop would be the issue of supplying the power the 1LPC is such a low power consumer that it can be recharged by solar power or by handcrank. A more powerful machine may not have that capability which would undermine the project.

The real question is, why would I want one? As already stated, for the cost I can get a netbook for myself which will perform better and matches my needs more closely.
Is it for charities sake, well if so then why not give me the opportunity to pay with computer for schools vouchers or something and 1LPC can send as many laptops to African children as I can provide vouchers for, I don't need the 1LPC for myself.

In concept I am behind the project but in reality I cant afford to invest in a product that is so incompatible to my needs and desires, certainly in the current climate
 
Manlove is my forte said:
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Huh? You're not the target audience of the OLPC, so that's why you'd not be interested in buying one - it was not designed for Western societies. It's designed for countries where access to a PC was, until now, unheard of, where the internet hasn't taken off yet, where the electricity supply is far from guaranteed, etc...
 
Absolutely stupid idea imo. A laptop is not a necessity for anyone, let alone anyone living in a 3rd world country. Decent supplies of food, water and good medical care are however.
 
m_cozzy said:
Absolutely stupid idea imo. A laptop is not a necessity for anyone, let alone anyone living in a 3rd world country. Decent supplies of food, water and good medical care are however.
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Agreed. I think a "1 big mac per child" scheme would have been much better suited.

Seriously though, you're right. They need essentials first, before thinking about laptops and internets.
 
Surely ultimately technical innovation will allow this? The same way the proliferation of mobile phones has been astounding with price declines, the same will be true for laptops and computers in general?
 
One things that no one has mentioned is, what about the possibilities of jobs for people who have knowledge of computers? Also every student now a days has a laptop, sure its not a necessity but its useful, for the teachers and the students and there are plenty of projects that enhance education through computers, OLPC helps this project.

I know for instance OLPC struggled to sell to government because it didnt have windows and therefore kids weren't learning something they could use for jobs, I also know before Microsoft announced they would give licenses to OLPC that even IBM created an Open Source piece of software to make the user interface of the OLPC linux flavour more user friendly and easier for teachers to distribute information to their students.

I think its a great idea and hope they continue and think they have a new laptop in the making? not sure though.
 
GarethDW said:
Huh? You're not the target audience of the OLPC, so that's why you'd not be interested in buying one - it was not designed for Western societies. It's designed for countries where access to a PC was, until now, unheard of, where the internet hasn't taken off yet, where the electricity supply is far from guaranteed, etc...
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Its a buy one give one scheme, i.e. you buy one for yourself and one gets sent to the 3rd world.

My point is if I am buying something I want it to be useful to me, not a large paperweight (it may be possible to have both shipped to the 3rd world :dunno: ) If the manufacturer can make 2 products for the cost of me purchasing one I'm happy for them to use the profit towards a good cause, in fact it would be a selling point. But the product has to be something I want and something I can use. I want a netbook, but cant see me using a OLPC for very many activities.

I actually like the concept of the computer and it has a few features I'd like the rest of the netbooks to adopt, such as the rotateable screen and the ability to change the screen to monochrome for reading and a few other things. But ultimately I think they can deliver more in the product without compromising their goals. Also aren't they aiming for a $100 price point. I don't think they have managed that yet (although evolving the design will delay this objective)

If you read the amazon.com reviews you will find the reviews tend to be polar opposites either sharing my opinion, or very positive reviews (from Westerners) about how they have come to appreciate the device.
 
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Oh right... didn't realise it worked like that. That does seem a strange concept... maybe it's suited more to the weirdy-beardy types than me. Although Wikipedia seems to suggest it was a "limited time" offer that only ran until Dec 31 2007... I guess back then we weren't all using Netbooks like we are today as I think the Eee was only just launched at about that time.

Like you, I can't imagine myself using a OLPC even though I happily use my Aspire One - it's not that much bigger in physical size nor is it that much more expensive, but it's massively more advanced technically speaking.
 
Improvements? Two laptops per child :-)

I agree with Manlove is my forte on this one - there doesn't seem to be any charitable way to give without just buying a whole laptop outright each for yourself and a child in a third world country. Or at least, not when I looked.
 
Moreover, while the money is not being spent on the true essentials of life, the environmental cost of creating these laptops is not inconsiderable. There are many poor families who live near rubbish dumps trying to extract the metal in a very crude way from old computer components and many are suffering from extreeme heavy metal poisoning.

The impact of teaching a child in a mud hut how to use word may be a whizzy jolly idea but it will in fact only reinforce the lack of ammenities available to them and, more than likely, actually make matters worse.

It's a damned silly scheme I believe to be run by a few hippies and a lot of cynics.
 
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