one laptop for every child?

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what do you think about this UN program?:

http://www.vermontguardian.com/global/122005/Laptops.shtml

basically, the idea is to give laptops to children in developing areas to promote learning the classroom. the laptop, itself, is pretty cool. they cost $100, have wireless internet capability, and have hand cranks so they can work without electricity.

good idea? misguided idea? crap idea? discuss.

― origami snail (origami snail), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 18:58 (twenty years ago)

*also, to promote learning IN the classroom.

― origami snail (origami snail), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

It might possibly be a good idea. It would help to solve one of the great problems of poverty, which is lack of information. But, as countless studies have proved, people who are malnourished, ill, and poorly housed are not in much of a position to take advantage of educational opportunities.

When you are talking about people whose social institutions have been destroyed by colonialism and foreign capitalism, who are landless and powerless and saddled with kleptocrats who are stealing their resources to sell to the wealthy nations, the most helpful rule would be the Hippocratic one: first, do no no harm.

― Aimless (Aimless), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

If they make them commercially available (ie, to me) i say "great idea!"

― Slumpman (Slump Man), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:20 (twenty years ago)

This thread title has the Beach Boys all up in my head.

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:30 (twenty years ago)

Maybe this means laptop shows will stop being boring.

― Klaus Darko (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:31 (twenty years ago)

i'm of the idea that it will open up communication between individuals and groups from both segments of the world. and that seems to be a core problem.

as it is, the relationship seems overly paternal as the developed world assumes it knows what is best for the developing world. but if a less formal dialogue can be opened up, i can't help but think that these good natured, but half-baked ideas will turn into more practical solutions.

― origami snail (origami snail), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:34 (twenty years ago)

This seems misguided. Isn't there a shortage of funding for immunizations and cheap treatments for dieases like malaria? As Aimless said, what good is a laptop if you're hungry and sick?

― Super Cub (Debito), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:35 (twenty years ago)

yes! this is exactly what the children of the developing world need! pr0n and myspace!

― vahid (vahid), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:37 (twenty years ago)

There has already been a post about sending these to, like, Africa, in which a badly worded line let Perry's foot in the door and something made me laugh, but I don't remember it specifically enough to search.

― Laurel (Laurel), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:38 (twenty years ago)

frankly i think they should take computers + internet out of american schools.

― vahid (vahid), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:39 (twenty years ago)

And our experience in the U.S. pretty clearly shows that:
access to computers /= automatic good education

I've seen some pretty terrible schools in the U.S. with lots of computers sitting around.

― Super Cub (Debito), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:39 (twenty years ago)

oregon trail and mavis beacon made me the person i am today. bring back the tandy.

― u saved me (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:40 (twenty years ago)

college app of the future

SAT score / GPA / warcraft rank / # friends on myspace

― vahid (vahid), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

Now impoverished overseas children will be able to cite Wikipedia as a primary source, just like American kids do!

― andy --, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

five years pass...

RIP OLPC

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-to-launch-cheapest-ever-tablet-for-Rs-1700/Article1-753788.aspx

― anorange (abanana), Wednesday, 5 October 2011 14:57 (fourteen years ago)

The $35 price cited for Indian schoolchildren is also noted to be "subsidized", so presumably the tablet would not be exportable to other nations at that price. Still, pretty amazing story. I hope it works out as projected.

― Aimless, Wednesday, 5 October 2011 15:44 (fourteen years ago)

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