One Laptop Per Child @ bit-tech

[Lincoln]

The Digital Divide is a gap between those with technology and those without. bit-tech investigates the problems facing countries that lack the resources the West has, and looks at some schemes that aim to solve those problems. Whilst the OLPC might be designed for emerging markets, could it have a use for geeks, too?

The humanitarian benefits of helping to educate millions of children and bridge the digital divide between the rich and poor nations of the world are pretty self evident even to the most hardened cynic. However there can be no denying that a whole lot of the technology being developed for use in the $100 PC systems looks pretty tempting to users of power hungry, delicate and network-shy conventional laptops.
Wil at bit-tech also looks at two other $100-and-under solutions besides the OLPC. He poignantly notes that Bill Gates has voted with his money to address health issues rather than the digital divide. Do you agree with this application of resources, or would Internet access be the ultimate, long-term solution?

Source: bit-tech.net (http://www.bit-tech.net/bits/2006/06/19/One_Laptop)

[drasnor]

It's better than those craptastic trainer computers they sell at toy stores. At least these actually function as computers.

I realize I haven't got a leg to stand on, but I feel that aid is about helping people help themselves. Education is the few things that once given can't be taken away so I'm all for anything towards that end.

-drasnor :fold:

[airbornflght]

It's better than those craptastic trainer computers they sell at toy stores. At least these actually function as computers.

I realize I haven't got a leg to stand on, but I feel that aid is about helping people help themselves. Education is the few things that once given can't be taken away so I'm all for anything towards that end.

-drasnor :fold:

I too think that, there are some kids in some of my classes at school that I help, and they are smart kids, and looking at them and there grades you wouldn't think so, its just that they don't get it at first, but given a little help and motivation, I find they do just as well as anyone else. People say that these laptops aren't feasible, but given a wireless network, these people could communicate, educate themselves, and not even in the normal sense, just these people educating themselves about the rest of the world and the politics around them.

[GHoosdum]

I feel that aid is about helping people help themselves. Education is the few things that once given can't be taken away so I'm all for anything towards that end.

I agree with you 100%, dras. :thumbsup:

As the old adage goes: Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll probably stick his hook in your arm.


My wife is in the PhD program for a math degree. Because of her position (fully funded by the department), she's required to work the tutor room for two hours a week. She always comes home with stories about the kids who go into the tutor room, just trying to have the tutor solve the homework problems for them, but the good tutors know it's better to teach them the method and have them solve the problems for themselves.

The OLPC project is aimed at people who are much more needy than these freshman math students, but the idea is similar.