One Laptop Per Child

Sorry to be a party-pooper, but this isn’t even close to the best use of $400 charitable dollars. Kids need vaccinations, clean drinking water and food. One Laptop Per Child is the computer age’s “Let Them Eat Cake”.

As Eric alluded to, there are definitely issues with the program, it’s history, their actual agenda, the “white guilt” component, etc. We don’t think we’re solving all the problems in the world with this donation (or that the program can even accomplish that task) – but we’re interested in the technology and the concept so we figured we’d buy one.

We’ve substantially exceeded that dollar amount in donations to other, less gimmicky causes which have direct measurable impacts on technology education for children, and we plan on continuing to do so. We’ll definitely write another post up when the unit arrives, and let everyone know how it works.

WSJ article about the program…

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119586754115002717.html?mod=home_we_banner_left

Joe,

I’m not an economist, but I play one at 12:30 in the morning. I think there’s an argument to be made that providing kids in developing countries with powerful tools like the personal computer will empower them to gain employment and solve their own problems regarding vaccinations, clean water, and food. Fighting poverty strikes me as something worth fighting on all those fronts, including technological education.

As for the One Laptop Per Child program, the WSJ article gives the sense that it is nascent, off to a rocky start, and may need a better leader than Nicholas Negroponte at the helm. His public statements whining about Intel and Microsoft aren’t attractive. Rather than complaining about huge, wealthy countries doing what they’re supposed to do (make money), Instead, I’d like to see him make more partnerships with other tech companies (somebody other than the Miami wireless carrier needs to step up and provide training and support for Linux machines which rightly frighten these countries). The product obviously isn’t attractive enough for these countries as it is currently packaged, so do something about it until all the marketing in the world by Intel and Microsoft won’t hide the fact that an open source $100 laptop is superior to what they can offer.

Joe, I know where you’re coming from, but education has to always have some priority. A crude analogy would be the process scheduler for a CPU—even lower priority tasks have to get some time, or they’ll be starved completely.

Education is, in the longterm, the answer to each and every other major ill plaguing Africa. From AIDS, to poor standards for industry, to easily subverted governments, an educated younger generation who cares for their homeland is the solution. We’ve also got to give them the food, water, and medicine to keep that generation alive while they’re being educated. But without education, everything else is just a stopgap.

This is a form of awareness for the technological world, and Awareness is the first step!

Yeah, even if Microsoft/Intel/Whoever make huge stacks of cash in this sector, if they’re scoring one for the kids, who’s going to complain? Companies competing for third-world support….some causes should be so lucky.

On the other hand, I have cynical thoughts about the recipients selling any amount of these on the black market for cash money to get the resources they might require (e.g. bare necessities), and only a continuance in relief would stop this from happening. Make sure nobody has to choose between Linux and survival. Will the attention brought about this program be enough?

Look out! These robots know English. DO NOT take up their offers for hot towels!