OLPC has done an excellent job on the XO hardware and software, but has made it clear from the beginning that it will not work on the other requirements for the project to succeed. The principal issues are
* Internet access in remote villages * Electricity in remote villages * Connectivity in dense forest and mountainous terrain * Content in local languages * Education research * Economic research * Political coordination * Collaboration between schools * Funding Perú is a good example of the problem, where the legislature has appropriated the funds to buy XOs, but not to install power or Internet access in remote village schools. It may be that some kind of microfinance would be appropriate, if we can put together the business model that says how the loans can be paid back through increases in local economic activity. We would certainly need to think about hardware designs for local manufacturing, wherever possible, and other ways of saving costs and transferring technology. It is necessary that someone work on these issues, and that the work be coordinated in some practical manner. As far as I know, nothing prevents the volunteer community at OLPC from taking up all of these issues on the Wiki and the mailing lists, and creating an all-volunteer organization to invite others in as partners. Or Sugarlabs could take up these issues. We have initiated conversations with Engineers Without Borders, the Free Information community, and others, and we have a good idea where to look for the others. What do you think, Sirs? -- Edward Cherlin End Poverty at a Profit by teaching children business http://www.EarthTreasury.org/ "The best way to predict the future is to invent it."--Alan Kay _______________________________________________ Olpc-open mailing list [email protected] http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-open
