[Year 12 SofDev] Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] $100 laptop story...

[Bill Kerr]

why you should buy an OLPC XO laptop
http://bc.tech.coop/blog/071112.html

good and brief summary of the hardware, software and reasons for buying one
(they went on sale in the USA and Canada yesterday)

-- 
Bill Kerr
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/



On Nov 12, 2007 8:29 AM, Donna Benjamin <donna at vitta.org.au> wrote:

> On Mon, 2007-11-12 at 00:27 +1100, Margaret Lawson wrote:
> > If you missed it, here it is:
> > http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/69/one_laptop_per_child
>
> It's really exciting. I've been following the progress of the project
> for a while now.  One of my favourite features is the "view source"
> button.
>
>
> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Human_Interface_Guidelines/The_Laptop_Experience/View_Source
>
> This is great. That's exactly how I first learnt to create web pages,
> look at the code, change it, tweak it, customise it. Branch out and
> experiment...
>
> They aim to make all the workings of the computer that transparent.
>
> Of course the project has it's detractors - and very real problems - but
> I believe it could bring about fundamental change. I believe it's
> revolutionary.
>
> Rethinking education ey? Books and Teachers... sure, but what about
> resourcing kids to create their own knowledge, share their own ideas and
> creativity, and give them access to the world's knowledge...
>
> The OLPC has 'activities' rather than programs and encourages kids to
> play with sounds and images as well as reading and writing words.
>
> Books are expensive too.  Some African education sectors tried to get
> permission to print textbooks locally - because it was cheaper - but
> western publishers said no, that violates our copyright.  In the
> knowledge economy we've grown to recognise that knowledge gets dated -
> giving people access to networking, with minimal infrastructure means
> they can access knowledge, old and new, as well as make their own
> contribution to the global knowledge bank.
>
> Hands up who still goes to the library to look up encyclopedia
> britannica?
>
> Voicemail is more popular than texting in areas where literacy is low.
> Visual and audio communication is just as important as reading and
> writing. Modern technologies facilitate the ability to communicate, and
> share knowledge, without necessarily having to learn to read and write
> first.
>
> If everyone has a video camera in their pocket, and a connection to
> global networks to publish their work... doesn't that change the
> paradigm?
>
> The OLPC has a built in camera...  More power to them.  I've read a lot
> of the arguments against the project - and there are some valid
> concerns, but this project fills me with hope and optimism. It could
> change the world. It gives me goose bumps. If it works, it will be the
> moon landing of our time.
>
> --
> Donna Benjamin
> Conference Co-ordinator
> 2007 VITTA Conference and Expo
> Rethinking Education: You say you want a revolution?
> 19-21 November, The Grandstand, Flemington Racecourse
> http://www.vitta.org.au/2007
>
> Victorian IT Teachers Association Inc
> T: +61 3 9495 6836
> M: +61 418 310 414
> F: +61 3 9495 6834
> E: donna at vitta.org.au
> W: http://www.vitta.org.au
> Suite 202, 134-136 Cambridge St
> Collingwood  VIC  3066, Australia
>
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