Posts Tagged ‘OLPC’

OLPC's XO-3

From time to time I will post something that catches my attention, usually technology-related, that is helping to close the digital divide in less developed countries. Recently I read a post about the organization called One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) who have conceptualized a $75 tablet PC that is absolutely beautiful to look at. The XO-3, as it has been named, is a slim-line touchscreen computer that will supposedly be ready for distribution in 2012. It will eventually replace the XO-1 model that, so far, has been given out to more than 1.4 million children in 35 countries at a cost of $200 per machine. Both laptops can run Windows or Linux.

According to Wikipedia “The One Laptop Per Child Association, Inc. (OLPC) is a U.S. non-profit organization set up to oversee the creation of an affordable educational device for use in the developing world. Its mission is “To create educational opportunities for the world’s poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning.” Its current focus is on the development, construction and deployment of the XO-1 laptop.”

OLPC's original XO model

While I applaud and support the efforts of OLPC and, love the idea of a $75 laptop, tablet or other-wise, for now you can count me among the ranks of the skeptics who say that it is just not possible to produce a laptop for that price. But I sincerely hope that history will prove me wrong and that each child will have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits that come with early exposure to technology.