Re: [GKD] The $100 Computer
Dear GKD Members, There was a very good segment on the BBC radio programme "Go Digital" this week on the $100 computer with an interview with Mr. Negroponte as well as input from several commentators. The BBC makes the programme available on its site for a week (in this case, I believe until this Sunday, 13 February) as a webcast. I would highly recommend that anyone who is interested in the topic go to listen to it. The web site address is: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/> and the link to the "Go Digital" webcast is in the lower right hand corner of the screen. The segment starts by saying that it is going to do bits on the "Samaritan" e-mail service and an auction of documents related to computing history - but the 10 minute section on the $100 computer follows immediately after. Some of the more interesting comments made on the BBC show were related to the difficulties of effectively using these computers on such a large scale in the developing world (Negroponte is talking about using them to replace textbooks in schools) and the issues related to reliable power sources (for charging batteries) and affordable, working Internet access (for downloading school material) - not to mention questions related to reading and computer literacy/user training. Best regards, Virginia Cram-Martos ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
[GKD] Solar-Power Generating Fabric
Going through my holiday e-mail backlogs, ran across this interesting
tidbit which is of potential interest to those working in areas where
access to the power grid is a problem. I suspect there is a price issue
here, but as this company ramps up production, prices are bound to
eventually go down.
Best regards,
Virginia
>From NewsScan Daily, 9 July 2004 ("Above The Fold")
PITCH YOUR TENT AND POWER UP
Iowa Thin Film Technologies has come up with a lightweight, durable
fabric that incorporates a tissue-paper thin layer of specialized solar
film, enabling it to double as a solar power generator. The fabric,
which is suitable for making Army tents, can be used to run lighting or
ventilation systems, field communications, GPS systems or laptop
computers.
Iowa Thin Film completed three tent prototypes for the Army last month
and says the orders are already pouring in. But beyond the military
applications, experts say the introduction of such lightweight, portable
fabric to developing countries could have a far-reaching impact.
"Application of these (solar) technologies in the long term is clearly
more cost-effective than bringing power lines dozens and dozens of
kilometers," says American Energy Society spokesman Brad Collins.
(AP/USA Today 9 Jul 2004)
**
Copyright 2004. NewsScan Daily (R) is a publication of NewsScan Inc.
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[GKD] Re: Computer Shipping and Transport Costs
Dear Mr. Nash, What about some sort of clearing centre idea, whereby the clearing centre could pass to you small PC requests for Kenya from other organizations so that then you could send a "close to full" container of around 250 PCs to Kenya. You would, in turn, pass your small requests for Nepal and Zambia to the clearing centre which would identify other organizations who are putting together a container's worth of requests for each of those countries and who would take over the responsibility to delivering the required PCs to those two projects. Implementation issues connected with the above: - Insuring that all organizations "deliver" and within a reasonable time (i.e. that no requests get lost by going to an organization that for one reason or another does not fulfill its commitment to send a container or does so three years later...). - Insuring that the PCs are properly allocated when they arrive at their destination which means identifying a trusted party at that end. The above is more or less what commercial freight consolidators do, but over shorter time frames and for a profit (i.e. they pass on only some of the freight/cost savings to customers and keep the rest as their profit). This model may also be useful as the basis for ideas on how to sustainably fund such a clearing centre.... Virginia Cram-Martos = This message was sent to you by: Este mensaje fue enviado por: Ce message a été envoyé par: = Virginia S. Cram-Martos Chief Trade and Investment Promotion Section Trade Division United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Palais des Nations, Office 444 CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***GKD is an initiative of the Global Knowledge Partnership*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.globalknowledge.org>
