June 6, 2006
|
Previous | Next |
One Laptop per Child
At  the World Economic Forum in January 2005, Nicholas Negroponte, digital-age visionary who cofounded the MIT Media Lab, unveiled an initiative called One Laptop per Child. This project, he pledged, would build and distribute cheap laptops to children throughout the developing world. Each machine, according to the project's site, would run on "innovative power (including wind-up)." Each would boast wireless broadband. And each would cost $100. Now, with a colorful prototype in operation, and governments across South America, Africa, and the Mid-East expressing interest, the project seems to be moving rapidly toward fulfilling Negroponte's dream. The site's FAQ answers such questions as "What about connectivity?" and its Wiki page takes on the myths that swirl around the project. "You're expecting this to be a magic bullet for poverty" is answered with a resounding "false," and the issue of why this hasn't been done before is countered simply: "All things have a beginning." (in Society and Culture > Philanthropy) |
|
 Email this Pick
»
 Save to del.icio.us
»
 Save to My Web
Digg This
|
|
|
|
|
