The One Laptop Per Child concept is one of inspired thinking. This is a project that, if done correctly, can truly develop the “developing world”. That, however, is the question: how does one make technology spread and stick in the developing world.
The idea was to produce a laptop computer that is cheap to build, robust, and can be powered by hand. That part has been done, and its called the XO. They cost about $150 at the moment and run on a sort of Linux OS. Now the test is to send them out into the field.
In “the field”, the developing world there are a few technological success stories. The entire Pacific Ocean is powered by the Yamaha Enduro 40HP outboard engine and Yamaha fiberglass longboat. It’s land-based counterpart is the Toyota HiLux, which is everywhere.
These have been successful because they are very tough, very dependable and easy to repair. Every harbour town in the Pacific has a shop where a grease covered man who really smells, knows the A to Z about the Enduro.
This will be the Achilles heal of the XO. Can the technology handle the life it has to lead. It has been designed with that in mind, but few would be keen to invest in this idea until this product is seen to be invincible.
A recent trend in the developing world has seen mobile phone proliferating. This technology has taken off in many places where traditional landlines were not available.
The reason for this comes down to money. In the remote Austral Islands of French Polynesia for example, landlines were expensive to install and absurd: most people could communicate by gossip or by simply shouting. Mobile phones turn this system around. One Antenna can serve as infrastructure for entire islands. The mobile carriers charge silly amounts of money as the islanders buy these phones for status.
Herein lies an opportunity. The spread of mobile phones has been shockingly quick. Why not use this delivery system for these laptops? Surely most sane mobile phone carriers would see this as an opportunity for good PR and to work with a government to create a new market, one that is young and about to grow. Wireless internet hotspots could spread like mobile phone antennas.
This idea is a really good one. It will help with education. It will help with poverty. It will create hope.
The marriage of the two technologies: makes sense. But isn’t the problem in the developing world, jobs, useful, decent paying jobs? I haven’t the vision to see how the internet and the computer is going to significantly assist in that. But, hey, information they say is power so who am I to doubt. Be great if it worled.
By: tony on 10 January, 2007
at 6:10 pm
Isn’t the problem of the developing world the IMF, debt burden, unfair trade policies, the colonization of peoples, and forced ‘development’?
By: Polly Jones on 24 April, 2007
at 3:10 pm
Would like looking substance making it. So, wet black ass father pushed down.
By: wet on 5 November, 2008
at 2:05 am