[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
On Sun, Dec 30, 2007 at 08:57:32AM -0800, SJS wrote:
And it's definitely not about offering products or services.
Yes.
Google Search and Google Gmail are services. So are you saying
OLPC'ers *definitely* can't search the web and do webmail?
chris
I said no such thing. You're confusing capability with intentions. The
OLPC is meant, as a design goal, to be a tool to encourage curiosity,
collaborative learning, and creativity. In that context, its intended
primary use is not to be a conduit to existing products and services,
but to learn to create and share those types of things and more with the
user and her immediate friends and classmates.
Given the target market (certainly not Tracy or me, even though we,
along with now thousands of other Civilized Westerners, each have one),
it was anticipated that there would likely be no Internet available, and
thus no Gmail, or Google Search. Quite possibly no classroom or even
power. Thus no Ethernet port. And a power supply that can run off a car
battery if needed.
Certainly it was anticipated that an existing network might be available
- even the Internet - and thus users might eventually feel a desire to
venture there as well. So that capability is naturally available. Google
Search can be a learning tool if used properly. Gmail is a good
alternative mail service. But neither are part of the OLPC's primary
curriculum. Nor are they necessary for it to fulfill its purpose.
The focus is not so much on gathering information about the world, as it
is gathering information about one's own capabilities. And those of
one's local community. Remember, the OLPC is aimed at children of about
four years old and up. They really don't need Google Search and if they
do need Gmail, they already have Chat: they have themselves and each
other. That's the place to start.
All the installed OLPC apps are designed to share their output with any
other OLPC within the mesh. Each child can share what they've done with
all others in their group, and they can see what others have done as
well. It's designed so that children can learn from exploring, and from
each other, as they normally do already. Learning to learn.
You really can't grok how different the OLPC and Sugar are unless you
actually try to use one, or better yet, watch a child use one. From a
geek's point of view, they are fairly counter-intuitive.
--
Best Regards,
~DJA.
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