Comments on: The Forgotten Mission of the OLPC http://www.geardiary.com/2008/05/18/the-forgotten-mission-of-the-olpc/ Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:47:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bjenk Ellefsenhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/05/18/the-forgotten-mission-of-the-olpc/#comment-36345 Bjenk Ellefsen Sun, 18 May 2008 23:05:22 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=7951#comment-36345 Well, it is my understanding that development is not just about making children "survive" and feeding them. Its a very complex process involving many fronts. The developing nations need help in putting in place sustainable structures for building an economy, education, etc. We have tried many things to tackle the education front but many have failed. Simple laptops projects are not working and ordinary schools either. What was great about the XO is that the device was meant to be the medium for a meaningful concerted effort into an international collaborative, shared and open learning ecosystem. Looks like it is just becoming a simple laptop thing with a proprietary OS to booth. Without that, the XO is very questionable indeed. I just got news that I would be getting my XO soon. Well, it is my understanding that development is not just about making children “survive” and feeding them. Its a very complex process involving many fronts. The developing nations need help in putting in place sustainable structures for building an economy, education, etc. We have tried many things to tackle the education front but many have failed. Simple laptops projects are not working and ordinary schools either.

What was great about the XO is that the device was meant to be the medium for a meaningful concerted effort into an international collaborative, shared and open learning ecosystem. Looks like it is just becoming a simple laptop thing with a proprietary OS to booth. Without that, the XO is very questionable indeed.

I just got news that I would be getting my XO soon.

]]> By: Joel McLaughlinhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/05/18/the-forgotten-mission-of-the-olpc/#comment-36341 Joel McLaughlin Sun, 18 May 2008 21:15:59 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=7951#comment-36341 Wayne: I couldn't agree more. Richard Stallman and Jon "Maddog" Hall were big fans of this, however, what I never got was WHY? Why on earth would a illiterate and hungry child want anything to do with something that wasn't food?? Got to learn to walk before you can run. Computers are not necessities....no matte rhow much we at gear diary love them! We don't NEED a computer to survive. Granted, I DO think that there IS a need for a cheap computer....just not one focused on those who can barely get by. Wayne: I couldn’t agree more. Richard Stallman and Jon “Maddog” Hall were big fans of this, however, what I never got was WHY? Why on earth would a illiterate and hungry child want anything to do with something that wasn’t food?? Got to learn to walk before you can run. Computers are not necessities….no matte rhow much we at gear diary love them! We don’t NEED a computer to survive.

Granted, I DO think that there IS a need for a cheap computer….just not one focused on those who can barely get by.

]]> By: Wayne Schulzhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/05/18/the-forgotten-mission-of-the-olpc/#comment-36337 Wayne Schulz Sun, 18 May 2008 19:35:56 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=7951#comment-36337 I still shake my head to think about making laptop ownership a priority for children in developing countries. It's not politically correct to say, but I find the whole concept, just plain weird and out of place. I still shake my head to think about making laptop ownership a priority for children in developing countries.

It’s not politically correct to say, but I find the whole concept, just plain weird and out of place.

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