DailyTech - Developing Nations Ready to Test OLPC XO Laptops

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IT Developing Nations Ready to Test OLPC XO Laptops
Michael Hoffman (Blog) - February 19, 2007 4:06 PM

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11 comment(s) - last by vortmax.. on Feb 21 at 12:27 PM

The first wave of the OLPC XO laptops are almost ready for children around the world

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology-founded One Laptop per Child project will help some of the poorest children in the world have access to laptops that will allow them to read electronic books, chat with classmates and learn from online resources. This week, OLPC plans on shipping as many as 2,500 laptops to eight nations -- including Brazil, Rwanda and Pakistan -- by the end of February. The users of the first shipment will effectively be guinea pigs for the likely millions of other people who will one day use the XO.

Mass production of the laptops is scheduled to start in July, with five million laptops being the target number for the project. The OLPC estimates that up to 10 million units should be available before the end of 2007.

The project has been met with a fair share of criticism from government officials and IT analysts. For example, some officials from Africa doubt whether or not the XO can be properly implemented to the educational needs of children outside of the United States. Other critics believe the nations or organizations purchasing the laptops could funnel the money in better ways towards food, schools and medicine.

Theft of the laptops for re-sale on the black market is a serious threat, and some laptops will be sold with an anti-theft kill-switch in certain countries. The kill-switch will allow the laptops to be remotely disabled in case of theft, and the OLPC claims the anti-theft daemon cannot be disabled, even by people that have root access.

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education is good..but

By lazyinjin on 2/20/2007 1:00:32 AM , Rating: 1

It is good that these resources are used to educate children, but these people don't have the basic infrastructure and necessities to live life like we do. They can't use this knowledge go to college like we can and be self-earning. Many still struggle to provide food for themselves and their family. I feel this money could be better spent towards bettering their lives rather than digitizing them.

RE: education is good..but

By Moishe on 2/20/2007 7:52:38 AM , Rating: 2

I can't believe someone voted the parent down.
The parent post is not only right on the money, but it's logical and compassionate.

Education is good, no doubt, but eating is better. Anyone who cannot agree with that is a fool at best. The XO project is a good idea, but it's not going to create some sweeping change that will effect millions and bring a third-world country into the modern era.

The poor people in the poorest countries are not stupid, they're not lazy, they're not mean. For the most part they're simply unfortunate to grow up in a country run by dictators and corrupt rulers. But heck, lets give the starving kid a laptop. Maybe he can gnaw on it and be fed. Or maybe he can sell it and buy a month's worth of food (and then claim it's been stolen).

What I find funny is that we think technology will help them more than health. There should be steps taken, in order, and technology/education is definitely NOT step 1. At the point that education does become the priority we have to realize that education doesn't require technology.

There are plenty of effective charities out there that make real lasting changes in people's lives. These charities have oversight and are extremely efficient and effective. Give your money to one of those and be proud that you have *definitely* changed real lives forever.

World Vision, Compassion Intl., Missionaries of Charity (Mom Teresa), etc, etc, etc

Parent

RE: education is good..but

By vortmax on 2/20/2007 12:53:44 PM , Rating: 2

I have to agree. After spending a couple of weeks on the Amazon river with the locals on my missions trip, it became very clear that many people still lack some basic necessities for life...clean water. 95% of the illnesses there are caused by contaminated water and their life expectancy is way low as a result of constant illness. If only the government would spend some of that money on water filters for those poor people...

It also appears that most of the kids there spent the majority of their day gathering food, water and other basic necessities of life. There's not much time for education when the 'basics' are not available.

Parent

RE: education is good..but

By SmokeRngs on 2/20/2007 12:54:40 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
What I find funny is that we think technology will help them more than health. There should be steps taken, in order, and technology/education is definitely NOT step 1. At the point that education does become the priority we have to realize that education doesn't require technology.

Do you realize that until they receive some real education it will be difficult to impossible to improve their situation? Education IS the first thing that must be done. Education leads to technological advancements which lead to a better way of living. People don't get healthier and then learn how to do it. They learn first and then they become healthier. Same with food. Increased food production doesn't happen and then people figure out how to do it. They figure out how to do it and then it happens.

quote:
There are plenty of effective charities out there that make real lasting changes in people's lives. These charities have oversight and are extremely efficient and effective. Give your money to one of those and be proud that you have *definitely* changed real lives forever.

So, you propose continued handouts that keep things at the status quo? Handouts do not bring about sustained quality of life; education does.

You seem to think the effect will come about before the cause. While there are ways to do this with handouts and aid, it's not self sustainable. The people need the education to produce the effects on their own.

I'm not trying to say these computers are the solution. I don't know what the effect of them will be. Then again, neither do you. It's a new idea and may make a difference. Immediate changes are unlikely but the far reaching effects could be major. It will take time to see the true outcome.

Parent

RE: education is good..but

By vortmax on 2/20/2007 2:04:44 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Do you realize that until they receive some real education it will be difficult to impossible to improve their situation? Education IS the first thing that must be done. Education leads to technological advancements which lead to a better way of living.

Haven't water filters been invented yet? How does education help when people are getting sick from the water they are drinking? They already know the water is getting them sick, but they don't have the resources to get any filters.

quote:
So, you propose continued handouts that keep things at the status quo? Handouts do not bring about sustained quality of life; education does.

These 'handouts' that you speak of are sustaining people's lives on a daily basis. Charities have been doing this for decades. Education is not going to help an individual living in a remote area of the rain forest that barely has the necessities of life. It's different in the US since an education can land you a job that's readily available. In other countries, however, these jobs don't even exist.

I believe the OP's point is that some of these governments should be more concerned about the lack of basic necessities of life for many of it's people.

Parent

RE: education is good..but

By raionz on 2/20/2007 4:05:03 PM , Rating: 2

One would assume that the multiple governments involved and MIT would already have thought of how someone who needs a water filter more than a textbook, would get a water filter. not this gadget.

This invention was intended to replace textbooks and let students network.

Which means it would probably be implemented in areas that already have schools or some sort of infrastructure. Not in an area where foraging for food is still the primary activity.

Please read up on this before further commenting

and no, it cannot download porn. or music.

Parent

RE: education is good..but

By vortmax on 2/21/2007 12:27:48 PM , Rating: 2

It's quite obvious that these governments aren't passing out notebooks to kids in areas that are foraging for food. My post was directed to the the following comments:

quote:
TextDo you realize that until they receive some real education it will be difficult to impossible to improve their situation? Education IS the first thing that must be done. Education leads to technological advancements which lead to a better way of living.

And as far as this comment in concerned:

quote:
Please read up on this before further commenting

Unfortunately, this isn't the issue and you're missing the point of the above comments. The point was:

quote:
...some of these governments should be more concerned about the lack of basic necessities of life for many of it's people.

Parent

LOL

By nomagic on 2/19/2007 6:30:41 PM , Rating: 4

There is no point arguing now. Just waiting for a few years, and we will all know if XO helps building education in 3rd world countries.

...

By Duwelon on 2/19/2007 11:24:42 PM , Rating: 2

Let the explosion of knowledge begin.

All i want is more games.

By sc3252 on 2/20/2007 12:24:07 PM , Rating: 2

Really all I want is more games in Linux, maybe there will be more simple games because of this, or more work put into wine. Whatever happens it will probably be good for Linux and bad for Microsoft/Apple(I hate apple, anything bad happening to them I am happy about)

lol

By mrdeez on 2/20/2007 3:20:58 AM , Rating: 1

LOL...there not going to do schoolwork with these..everyone knows the first thing they will do is download music and then porn...thats all a pc is good for these days.