Sharla and Eunice,

The program you are referring to, Eunice, enables Americans to get an  
(OLPC) XO computer by buying two, one of which is donated to a  child  
in a developing country. Last year, when I did this, the cost was  
around $400 for the two computers. I think the XO is available to  
developing countries for $188 (not $100) now. The OLPC web site,  
http://laptop.org/ says this purchase program will be available  
November 17th (possibly for a short time -- as it was last year) from  
Amazon.com

In my opinion, while the OLPC XO computer could be useful in a family  
context, because it is designed specifically for children it may not  
be entirely suitable for adults. It's not simply an inexpensive  
computer. It's an amazing collaborative learning machine for children  
in poor countries, to enable them to join the world of 21st century  
technology even when they might not have electricity in their village.

My opinion: a brilliant idea, with some challenges to overcome in its  
execution, but not necessarily an ideal computer for adults in the  
U.S. That wasn't what it was designed for.

If you're curious -- go to their website to learn more.

David J. Rosen
DJRosen at theworld.com


On Oct 24, 2008, at 3:41 PM, Eunice Snay wrote:


> Sharla:  I believe that this link will give you more information:  

> http://laptop.org/ and here’s the wiki that give many other links  

> for additional information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 

> One_Laptop_per_Child. This link give you a visual of the $100  

> laptop: http://www.olpcnews.com/.  I also heard a while back that  

> if you buy one they will give one away your cost is more than $100:  

> http://bc.tech.coop/blog/071112.html Interesting marketing don’t  

> you think.

>

>

>

> This report talks about one on one computers for math and science:  

> http://www.ubiqcomputing.org/FinalReport.pdf

>

>

>

> Eunice Snay

>

> Central SABES Regional Technologist

>

> 508-854-4514

>

> esnay at qcc.mass.edu

>

> SABES: Training leaders in Adult Basic Education

>

> For more information on upcoming Central SABES offerings and/or to  

> register for our events please go to: http://calendar.sabes.org/ 

> central

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology- 

> bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Sharla Gross

> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 12:18 PM

> To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> Subject: [Technology 1783] Re: how screenless laptops might helpour  

> communities

>

>

>

> Where can I get some more information on this and one-to-one  

> computing statistics.  I teach at an alternative program, and we  

> are working on a grant to obtain laptops to help our students with  

> their writing.  Any info would be helpful.

> Sharla

>

> > Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:10:49 -0700

> > From: lalumineuse at yahoo.com

> > To: technology at nifl.gov

> > Subject: [Technology 1782] Re: how screenless laptops might help  

> our communities

> >

> > Hi Phil,

> >

> > I am a bit new to this. But when I worked for a London

> > charity, we had projects in India, Pakistan and

> > Afghanistan. One of our newest projects was teaming

> > with an organisation called Hole in the Wall which

> > placed computers in public places and taught kids how

> > to use them. Another was a project called One Laptop

> > Per Child, which I know has developed a very cheap

> > commputer that a number of rural and slum schools were

> > working with. I remember that OLPC was developed in

> > the US, but I don't have any of the documentation here

> > in NJ. Perhaps it's worth looking into?

> >

> > Regards

> > Ujwala Samant

> >

> >

> > --- Phil Shapiro <pshapiro at his.com> wrote:

> >

> > > hi nifl-tech community,

> > >

> > > i've been thinking a lot recently about ways of

> > > bringing affordable mobile

> > > technology into people's homes -- to expand learning

> > > opportunities at home.

> > > here's a proposal i sent google for their project 10

> > > to the 100 grant initiative.

> > >

> > > public voting for that initiative begins on

> > > january 27, 2009. let's

> > > inaugurate some good ideas then.

> > >

> > > http://www.project10tothe100.com/

> > >

> > > phil shapiro

> > >

> > >

> > > Low-income families could benefit from being able to

> > > buy laptops without an LCD

> > > screens. A laptop without an LCD can be a very

> > > useful portable solution when

> > > connected to CRT or desktop LCD monitors. Laptops

> > > without screens would also be

> > > a green solution, giving value to donated CRT

> > > monitors that would otherwise be

> > > heading for landfills. Portability means that this

> > > computer can be more easily

> > > maintained by volunteers, who don't always have the

> > > time to travel to people's

> > > homes. To spur the development of laptops without

> > > screens, a nonprofit

> > > organization named Designed by Consumers could

> > > collect pre-purchase payments for

> > > designated laptops, such as the Acer Aspire One.

> > > When 5,000 or 10,000 of such

> > > pre-payments are collected, Acer would have a real

> > > incentive to consider selling

> > > a version of the Acer Aspire One without a screen

> > > for about $160. This laptop

> > > would also have no batteries or speakers, further

> > > reducing weight and cost. A

> > > one-pound, virus free “laptop” could allow a

> > > low-income person to get tech

> > > support or tech training at a public library,

> > > church, or community technology

> > > center and could expand the number of computers in

> > > use at such shared community

> > > spaces. Students could more easily carry such light

> > > laptops in their heavy

> > > bookbags.

> > >

> > > The nonprofit organization named Designed by

> > > Consumers would pool funds from

> > > low-income people – and others who support them, to

> > > give low-income persons a

> > > stronger voice in technology product design

> > > decisions. The pooling of the funds

> > > would reward manufacturers who give greater thought

> > > to the needs of low-end

> > > consumers. Designed by Consumers would also accept

> > > anonymous donations from

> > > persons wanting to strengthen the public voice in

> > > design decisions. In some

> > > cases, Designed by Consumers would negotiate with

> > > manufacturers to remove (or

> > > include) features that would best benefit low-income

> > > consumers.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > --

> > > Phil Shapiro pshapiro at his.com

> > > http://www.his.com/pshapiro/briefbio.html

> > > http://philsrssfeed.blogspot.com

> > > http://www.his.com/pshapiro/stories.menu.html

> > >

> > > "Wisdom starts with wonder." - Socrates

> > > "Learning happens through gentleness."

> > >

> > >

> > > ----------------------------------------------------

> > > National Institute for Literacy

> > > Technology and Literacy mailing list

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> > > please go to

> > > http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/technology

> > > Email delivered to lalumineuse at yahoo.com

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

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> > Email delivered to sharla_gross at hotmail.com

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