On Sep 20, 2007, at 23:06 , Eben Eliason wrote: >> Specifically, the first 6 icons from the left should be (in order): >> Chat, Browse, Write, Record, Paint, TamtamJam? >> >> After that: >> Turtle Art, eToys, Pippy, Calculator, Measure, TamTamEdit?, >> SynthLab?, Memorize, Blockparty, and Connect4. >> ----- >> >> It appears to me that this ordering puts higher emphasis on "simple >> and easy" things and less emphasis on things that require "creativity >> and hard fun" (excluding games). Is this observation correct? > > I'm not sure that analysis is quite fair. Browse and Chat are at the > top of the list because one of the foremost goals of OLPC is to > provide "connection," both to peers (for collaborative learning) and > to the internet (to provide access to information they otherwise don't > have). > > Write, Paint, Record, and TamTam address the primary (as opposed to > "simple") tools for creative expression in text, image, video, and > audio media respectively. The other tools are all fantastic, and > that's why they are still on the list for inclusion as base > activities.
From the mission statement: "Our goal: To provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves." So where is the exploration and experimentation part? >> If so, it may send a wrong message to the rest of world. Many >> potential cuostomer contries have cellphones and PCs already, and >> adults and youth are chatting and browsing and taking notes (and >> playing games) with them. Are we trying to compete in such >> "cellphone" culture domain? >> >> I'd say, cellphones and PCs they already have can take care of >> simple stuff, so our priority (or our message) should be more on the >> "hard fun" items. > > These laptops are often going to people and places where cellphones > and laptops don't exist for reasons of cost, power consumption, lack > of connectivity. We're addressing all of those issues, and at the > same time providing an array of activities which address all age > groups and interests. Just because some of them are "simple" doesn't > mean that they can't produce incredibly impressive and complex results > in the hands of a creative individual (or group of individuals). > Furthermore, the emphasis on connectedness and collaboration puts even > the most basic activities on the laptops far ahead of any mobile > applications and in some ways many desktop applications as well. So it's an "connectedness and collaboration" project now? The website still says it's an education project. - Bert - _______________________________________________ Devel mailing list Devel@lists.laptop.org http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/devel
