concepts like olpc are no doubt tempting,but like the education ministry says ,we are still struggling with trying to implement education in all areas of the country,where  the least we can do is see to it that our children  go to school.On going through the olpc idea in detail,I think ,a pilot project could be carried out.

it's just 5,000 rupees - but we still can't afford it even if its available - i mean the majority of indian school teachers - things do need to change

I had posted this blog on my personal blog as well. I received this comment there - thought it made sense to share it here with this community as well as, since it presents an interesting and valuable perspective to the OLPC story...

--->>(Comment posted by Wayan on Sat, 03-03-07, on the 'The $100 laptop' post)<<---

"I think there is more to the India story than shows at first glance, a rejection backstory not being mentioned.

But as to the pedagogy, I agree, there needs to be a strong teacher connection. Too bad Negroponte dismisses teachers and curriculum."

Worth sharing here Ethan Zuckerman's wonderful article on OLPC and the important issue of content that will be loaded on these machines.

The latest alternative, to OLPC, I thought, and very economical too. It might just change the meaning of internet cafes etc.

• Built ground up and completely server centric - Not stripped down PC
• Scalable Network Architecture - Just keep adding 'clients'
• Value for investment
  • Zero Maintenance
  • Extremely low power consumption
• Non thin client features now available
  • VoIP support
  • Local Printing
  • Complete multimedia (two way audio/video)
  • Remote Upgrade - easy to use as web mail
• Totally secure - IPSec enabled client-server communication
• Universal Interoperability (Linux / Windows / Solaris)

In order to see how Nova netPC helps you become more lean in your environment, please choose any of the case studies below that are similar to your story.

Yes I recently saw an NDTV or Times NOW report on TV on the widespread use of this 'thin' PC in Chennai where even people who are can afford a full-blown personal computer are opting for a subscription to this type of machine and service for a monthly fee of Rs. 350.

The OLPC, however, has several hardware and softeware innovations aimed at its use in developing countries (it can work without power for example) and the educational environment in particular (the operating system 'Sugar' and software is supposed to be very innovative and "child-centered" as described in this article on BusinessWeek -  "The face of the $100 laptop"

But since the NovaPC is a home-grown innovation and is already being used, it should be tried out by schools as well. 

Rs. 5000 is just too much for a family that hardly earns Rs 2000 per month and 4 mouths to feed in.

I agree with all those who think OLPC is a great idea. But I agree more with those who have the wonderful idea of looking at problems at more grassroot level.

IMHO, if we can give a child more *lively instruments* to work on rather than a laptop so that he can play with it without worrying about not breaking it, power supply, repair and maintenance etc... we would be on a much better track.

My question --- in a place where even 6hrs of power supply is yet a dream, how do you sell $100 laptop?

Gaurav
http://www.edujini-labs.com

o.k., a couple of points -

1) As I understand it, the families themselves will not necessarily have to buy the laptop. I think the host country (in our case, the Govt. of India) will buy it and provide it to the children - so the family income is perhaps not directly relevant here.

2) The power 'issue' is perhaps more valid - however, a quick look at the specs shows very clearly that because the laptop itself consumes very low power (the tech and how the laptop has been designed is pretty revolutionary in itself - worth a read) and one can power the batteries manually by

• Hand-cranking it
• Using a pedal
• Using a pull-cord

As to teacher-student connection, in an ideal world, that would be the best way forward. But what can one do when the teacher quality/motivation is lacking? Should the students be deprived of any learning because we cannot achieve the ideal situation of 'a positive student-teacher interaction'?

Children love learning - street children, children of multi-millionaires, they all learn in the same way: and the learn best when they are engaged in the learning process. I am willing to bet that most children would find the concept of using a laptop/computer to learn intriguing and challenging enough to get involved in the process - and this can be teacher independent. I recall an interesting anecdote where the chairman/founder of NIIT (i think) installed a touch-screen windows computer in a slum in Delhi and monitored the interaction of the slum-dwellers with the computer. The adults didn't venture too much (as I recall), but the children had figured out the GUI within 24-48 hours, and were using MS paint, etc.

The point is, give kids something as engaging as a computer/laptop to play around and then develop content which can be 'slipped-in' while the children are 'playing' with the machine - this is difficult, but very possible. And will result in life-long learning.

A lot of interesting technologies are at work with the OLPC. It can access the internet - it might be possible to 'push' curriculum to each laptop and update it - one can even perform online evaluation. (As an interesting aside, it is even possible to disable the laptop remotely if it is stolen - or if it does not sign in/login to the internet beyond a certain period. The OLPC has been discussed extensively on slashdot (/.) - trawl through the archives for some very interesting discussions if you are interested)

Note that I am not saying we should go for the OLPC right now - given the sheer number of children we have to reach out to, it is perhaps prudent to wait before committing such massive resources - nonetheless, I believe we must keep watching the progress of the OLPC and should be open to introducing it down the line if it is shown to be effective.

Technology and access to information is a great economic leveler - and if the OLPC can facilitate that process by empowering children , we must go for it.

(Just my 2 paisa :) )

Further to the discussion of bringing in technology in education, here is another initiative by HCL and Intel together. Read from the link:

http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20070713corp.htm?iid=search

http://www.techshout.com/hardware/2007/23/intel-and-hcl-to-launch-classmate-pcs-in-indian-schools-this-august/

Here's an interesting new development in this OLPC epic saga - '$100 laptop' to sell to public.

Apparently, governments are not making good on their verbal agreements to purchase the minimum number of machines (looks like that figure is down to 250,000 from the original 1 million), so the OLPC folks have come up with a G1G1 scheme - ""give one, get one" scheme that will allow US residents to purchase two laptops for $399. One laptop will be sent to the buyer whilst a child in the developing world will receive the second machine."

There has been a considerable amount of interest in the US to somehow "participate" in this programme...and why not? Regular laptops still cost close to a $1000, after all, so even $400 is a steal, right?

It'll be funny if the developed world starts to benefit from this low-cost machine that was originally designed strictly for the poor nations!

People are looking to solve the power problem

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/25/olpc-experiments-with-cow-powered-generator-for-laptops/

I do think, like all inventions, things need time to improve, become cheaper, fail or morph into something else which is useful.

With reference to my earlier comment on the "Give 1 Get 1" offer in the US - it has now been launched. See http://www.laptopgiving.org/

For those that still maintain a healthy curiosity about the $100 laptop a.k.a. the XO machine, here's some information from Patricia Diaz, a student of the Technology, Innovation & Education (TIE) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (my alma mater) -

==============================================================

I'm a current part-time TIE student and took a class on the XO laptop last semester at the Media Lab. As part of the class we got one of the early prototypes to test it and design software for it. I definitely think it would work in any school in or out of the United States. Even though it's been designed with developing countries in mind (e.g. can be used in places w/o electricity), the learning approach behind it applies to most if not all kids. In fact, it builds on the work of the MIT Media Lab Epistemology and Learning group that was led by Seymour Papert and worked primarily with local schools. The 1:1 model was tested in Maine, if not with XOs w/the same ideas about education and learning with computers. 

Just the potential of holding a library w/all textbooks and notebooks that btw can be read in the best screen for reading I've seen for any computer, makes it a good asset for any student. I'm amazed at how well it works in or outdoors. The mesh network and the collaborative nature of the  activities designed for the XO are other unique features of this laptop. I particularly like the fact that kids can share and work together w/o being connected to the internet.

The "$100" or rather "4000-rupee" (give or take) laptop has made it to India - Goa to be more specific. Here is an article by Frederick Noronha about Goa's take on technology in schools, the event where the XO machine was demo-ed, and finally, some reactions to this much-talked-about machine.

Microsoft has joined the OLPC project (or is OLPC selling itself out to Microsoft). Sad!

Read on the BBC site - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7402365.stm

Apparently (potential) customers of the OLPC are demanding that Windows be loaded on the the XO machines. Some people are wondering if this a "desperate measure" to secure more orders!