The affordable (“the $100″) computer
by sky on Feb.16, 2006, under Learning and eLearning, OLPC [$100 computer], Our networked world
Y’all know by now about the “$100 computer” for nations where personal computers aren’t broadly affordable. Here’s a C|Net wrap on a number of other computers (most are proposals) designed to address this affordability gap.
The official source of information on the project is the MIT Media Lab. There is a good, and extensive, intro to “the $100 computer” at Wikipedia.
Ann McCormick at Computer Friends is blogging their efforts to navigate thru the sea of information and get software ready for kids worldwide.
There are several older efforts to get affordable computers built. These include the Simputer. And a favorite, since I met Lee Felsenstein in the 1970s, is the Jhai PC.
You know, another favorite thought of mine is that at some point Microsoft and other software companies might actually lower the cost of their software to the point where computer systems could be (closer to) affordable. What a great fantasy eh? Meanwhile the “$100 computer” is based on open source software. Entirely.
Leave a Reply
-
Welcome!
I hope you’ll enjoy this mix of topics stemming from my ongoing experiences in the world of online communication. Oh, and sometimes the inspiration comes from face-to-face communications too. Many were sparked by my work as Chief Technology Officer of The Dalai Lama Foundation from 2003 through 2010. See also the Foundation’s Study Circles site, where we keep an ongoing conversation going about ethics in the world. Current Features—
CyberSpark.net — Cyber-defense for free speech and human rights onlineMany Paths to Peace — Explore the many ways compassionate peacemakers are working to make this a better world. (Video interviews)
