As an mobile tech enthusiast and avid iPad user, you can forgive me for believing tablets have a great future in education. For anyone else, I have to remember that not everyone has embraced tablets like I have and that laptops in general are what students turn to write their papers, conduct research, or get online.
But the time will come, probably as early as this year, when educators and students will be at the crossroad where they’d have to choose their mobile weapon of choice: laptops, netbooks, or tablets?
Showing posts with label OLPC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OLPC. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Bill Gates Was Right About Cell Phones Being
I remember a couple of years ago, Bill Gates made a bold declaration that cell phones were be the computing tool of choice for hundreds if no billions of people around the world. Of course, that statement was made under duress as OLPC's XO seemed to have all the momentum in pushing into the hungry minds of millions of third world children in search of education and a better life.
Okay, this is Bill Gates after all so I'm guess he has a glimpse into the future most of us don't and he probably knows what he was talking about. That was in January of 2006. Well, perhaps that day is almost here.
Perhaps eventually, it'll be a variant of an Android-based phone. Microsoft could give away Windows Mobile to Africa's children with a cheap but powerful mobile device. Might even be an iPod Touch. Or OLPC might be developing a Sugar based handheld with touch controls as you're reading this.
For some in Uganda, that is happening to a degree now. The Grameen Foundation has partnered with Google and a local telecom to allow users access to information via SMS queries.
Why SMS? Most of the phones there are still simple cell phones with SMS capability. We're not talking about smartphones yet. But work is being done to create apps that allow information to be shared with the mobile users in Uganda and perhaps elsewhere.
An user simply texts a query. It gets sent to a database where then a likely answer is then sent back to the user with the information being sought. Also, a "Failed-Over Center" will collect queries that yield no relevant information to be analyzed in order to provide better services in the future.
Source: CNet News
It's not the same as the OLPC or even what Bill Gates had envisioned but I'm sure we'll get there in Africa and other third world nations soon. Progress will not be denied and Onxo will continue to keep an eye on what OLPC and other programs are doing to bring mobile tech to the poor and the opportunities they generate.
Okay, this is Bill Gates after all so I'm guess he has a glimpse into the future most of us don't and he probably knows what he was talking about. That was in January of 2006. Well, perhaps that day is almost here.
Perhaps eventually, it'll be a variant of an Android-based phone. Microsoft could give away Windows Mobile to Africa's children with a cheap but powerful mobile device. Might even be an iPod Touch. Or OLPC might be developing a Sugar based handheld with touch controls as you're reading this.
For some in Uganda, that is happening to a degree now. The Grameen Foundation has partnered with Google and a local telecom to allow users access to information via SMS queries.
Why SMS? Most of the phones there are still simple cell phones with SMS capability. We're not talking about smartphones yet. But work is being done to create apps that allow information to be shared with the mobile users in Uganda and perhaps elsewhere.
An user simply texts a query. It gets sent to a database where then a likely answer is then sent back to the user with the information being sought. Also, a "Failed-Over Center" will collect queries that yield no relevant information to be analyzed in order to provide better services in the future.
Source: CNet News
It's not the same as the OLPC or even what Bill Gates had envisioned but I'm sure we'll get there in Africa and other third world nations soon. Progress will not be denied and Onxo will continue to keep an eye on what OLPC and other programs are doing to bring mobile tech to the poor and the opportunities they generate.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Laptop For Students Picking Up Steam
http://www.liliputing.com/2008/09/venezula-orders-1-million-classmate-pcs.html Okay, last year's OLPC's Give One Get One program was a dud. I was a part of it and it took nearly three months for my XO to be shipped to me.
I'm still out on whether I'll be participating in this year's program but I have more confidence in this year's program will be an even greater success (it's a relative term when it comes to OLPC at this). Who so you ask?
First, Amazon is involved. They'll be running the thing. The cost should be $399 to make it attractive to donors. So, how does this work and what are you talking about donors? Well, the laptop costs approximately $200 but the cost is nearly double that because when you participate in the G1G1 program , you will get a laptop and donate another.
Your donated portion will be tax deductible. That laptop will go to a child in a third world nation like Mongolia or something.
Second, Windows XP will be the default OS in this year's XO. It's easier to use than XO and familiar to millions of users already.
The program will commence on Nov 17.
Not to be outdone, Intel's Classmate received an one million units order from Hugo Chavez, you know, of Venezula. With all that petro money we send them, it's nice to see him spend a bit of that on the children, whatever your political feelings about him are (he doesn't like us Americans...in case you're wondering what I'm talking about).
Regardless of which camp you support, I'm glad to see XO and other educational laptops being picked up. Now, if some of that $700 billion bailout can include a bit of goodness for our students, I might just call my...nah...
Source on XO: Engadget
Source on Classmate: Liliputing
I'm still out on whether I'll be participating in this year's program but I have more confidence in this year's program will be an even greater success (it's a relative term when it comes to OLPC at this). Who so you ask?
First, Amazon is involved. They'll be running the thing. The cost should be $399 to make it attractive to donors. So, how does this work and what are you talking about donors? Well, the laptop costs approximately $200 but the cost is nearly double that because when you participate in the G1G1 program , you will get a laptop and donate another.
Second, Windows XP will be the default OS in this year's XO. It's easier to use than XO and familiar to millions of users already.
The program will commence on Nov 17.
Not to be outdone, Intel's Classmate received an one million units order from Hugo Chavez, you know, of Venezula. With all that petro money we send them, it's nice to see him spend a bit of that on the children, whatever your political feelings about him are (he doesn't like us Americans...in case you're wondering what I'm talking about).
Regardless of which camp you support, I'm glad to see XO and other educational laptops being picked up. Now, if some of that $700 billion bailout can include a bit of goodness for our students, I might just call my...nah...
Source on XO: Engadget
Source on Classmate: Liliputing
Friday, May 16, 2008
Bill Gates to OLPC: Meet Windows
The worst kept secret in open source laptop, One Laptop Per Child (OLPC), is finally official. It wasn't really a secret as working on getting XP to install in the XO received a lot of attention from OLPC enthusiasts. The XO laptop can now happily boot into Windows XP and happily endorsed by Nicholas Negroponte and OLPC program. CNet (newest member of the CBS family)
NY Times (A lot more details)
While it remains to be seen just how this will impact deployment of XO laptops and what flavor most nations/organizations will go with, Microsoft's participation is an endorsement of the effort to bring affordable technology to children in third world nations.
So far, deployment of the XO laptops in its current form has fallen short of expectation given the high profile attention granted OLPC when it was initally announced in 2005. Saddled with delays and rising costs, it was finally settled at less than $200, more than twice the lofty goal of $100 laptops. Nevertheless, the XO laptop is a great engineering achievement for a nonprofit organization and its stringent guidelines.
The success of the Give One Get One (G1G1) was also a testament of the viability of this concept. In late 2007, the G1G1 gave users in North America the opportunity to purchase an XO laptop at $400, included a tax-deductible contribution of $200 as donation of another laptop to a child. (However, G1G1 was marred with numerous delays and avoidable mistakes)
Details are still not clear what the drama is that finally led to this. Negroponte is not known to be Microsoft-friendly. It is possible that Negroponte realized the state of OLPC as not as promising as he had hoped and having Windows XP could change all that. Perhaps, it also explain the exodus of OLPC executives in the last six months.
OLPC News (headline "Windows XP on the XO Laptop - Microsoft Buys Out OLPC") was blunt in its criticism of this development while others took it more in stride, perhaps waiting for more details from OLPC. Microsoft has indicated XO laptop with Windows XP will start rolling out of factories in June.
Sugar Versus XP. Sugar, the Linux OS that is being replaced with Windows XP was part of an open source project with the participation of many developers who proudly strove to make it a success. In a sign of appeasement to original adopters and developers who would certainly feel slighted by this latest development, OLPC said future XO laptops will have the ability to dual boot into Windows XP or Sugar.
If history is any indication, Sugar will receive less support over time but a core group of devotees will make a stand and continue to support it even without official acknowledgment.
In the end, the face, or rather the interface, of the XO laptop will be changed forever - only time will tell if this new alliance between OLPC and Microsoft will have the effect that Negroponte hope for. For the sake of its intended target, if this does not work, it would be a considerable blow to bring affordable technology to children in third world nations.
Facts:
Sugar Versus XP. Sugar, the Linux OS that is being replaced with Windows XP was part of an open source project with the participation of many developers who proudly strove to make it a success. In a sign of appeasement to original adopters and developers who would certainly feel slighted by this latest development, OLPC said future XO laptops will have the ability to dual boot into Windows XP or Sugar.
If history is any indication, Sugar will receive less support over time but a core group of devotees will make a stand and continue to support it even without official acknowledgment.
In the end, the face, or rather the interface, of the XO laptop will be changed forever - only time will tell if this new alliance between OLPC and Microsoft will have the effect that Negroponte hope for. For the sake of its intended target, if this does not work, it would be a considerable blow to bring affordable technology to children in third world nations.
Facts:
- Microsoft will receive $3 for each copy of Windows XP deployed in an XO laptop.
- Production of XO's installed with XP will begin in June.
- There will be additional cost added to the final cost of the XO due to hardware changes to run Windows XP.
- Some information from laptop.org on working with Micrsoft. Porting was done entirely by Microsoft.
- Original promise battery life for the XO was 24 hours.
- Hardware specifications
- Current news on the state of the OLPC project
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
G1G1 '07 Lessons for 2008
G1G1 2008
Let's be honest. The success of last year's program, G1G1 2007 was unprecedented despite receiving very little coverage in the mainstream media. After all, how many products out there can compete with the iPod, Wii,Xbox 360, and PS3?
So, what do we want to see this year? How can the whole program be improved to avoid the pitfalls of last year?
Hits and Misses
I don't want to get into the negatives too much. Rather I want to sumerize the misses and hope that the lessons of those have been learnt and OLPC will embark on an improved G1G1 2008.
The program was announced in October of 2007 and on day one, November 16th, ordering started as XO-philes poured into the site (personally, I didn't participate until December 17th). The program was to end on December 31, 2007. Initially, the enuthiasm of a Christmas Day XO opening enticed many to beat the rush. Everything was set to make sure the XO would be in the hands of thousands of children (of all ages) by Christmas Eve.
Millions of dollars were donated. Expectation after so many years of e-commerce experience may have allowed users such as myself to expect a timely ordering process. Unfortunately, the entire experience was far from perfect.
Missteps soon took hold. Delays in the manufacturing surfaced and demand was greater than anyone at G1G1 expected. A plethora of complaints were posted on various sites ranging from simple neglect, lost orders, changing personnels, and incorrect shipping dates and addesses.
To top it off, in January, a G1G1 spokesperson pleaded for more patience as they reportedly found additional unfilled orders. Keep in mind, most if not all of the funds for the donations have been collected. Paypal accounts and credit cards were charged. Mine was charged on December 31th, probably to make the 2007 donation deadline for tax reporting purposes.
Eventually, mine arrived in February, about two months after the order date. There were donors who were provided March shipping dates.
No one seem to have a clear picture of what was going on behind the scene. If anyone claims otherwise, I would take it with a grain of salt. I don't even think the G1G1 volunteers themselves know. However, I do commend their effort and time in making G1G1 possible.
Now, what does the G1G1 have to do to make sure 2008 will not be like 2007? I have a few suggestions.
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. Most of the donors are enthusiastic about the laptop. We can be very understanding. We were giving very little information until January, and most donors relied on media speculations and rumors that ran rampant in the rumors.
OLPC has had a successful G1G1 despite having all of the problems I described. Instead of giving us specific dates, be more conservative with the number of units that can be shipped and more liberal with the leadtimes.
One thing you have to say about Apple, whether you're a fan or not, is that they don't ship anything until they're Steve Jobs ready. We are fans of gadgets, education, or whatever the reasons donors are excited about OLPC and the XO laptop, we will wait. Do more testing before making any kind of announcements.
Build up a little inventory for 2008. Now, you're certain there is a lot of demands for it. It might be smart to introduce the XO to more donor nations.
Also, how about G1G1 Summer 2008 instead of late fall? The program can shoot for the back-to-school rush. Then, there won't be a preceived deadline like Christmas Eve was.
Sell accessories. I'm in the market for another battery. Maybe another AC adapter. Buy one battery, donate another?
Also, how about $300 instead of $400? G1G1 was a terrific idea. Hats off to whoeveer thought of it. Now, it'll be another year before G1G1 2008 happens again. Most financial experts don't think the economy will improve until 2009. Times are tough. I think even donating half a laptop is a deal. Plus, it could bring in a whole lot more donors. $100 is a big deal.
I've got other ideas for G1G1 2008. Now, I am sure there are other great ideas out there on how OLPC can expand and make the XO an even greater success.
Let's be honest. The success of last year's program, G1G1 2007 was unprecedented despite receiving very little coverage in the mainstream media. After all, how many products out there can compete with the iPod, Wii,Xbox 360, and PS3?
So, what do we want to see this year? How can the whole program be improved to avoid the pitfalls of last year?
Hits and Misses
I don't want to get into the negatives too much. Rather I want to sumerize the misses and hope that the lessons of those have been learnt and OLPC will embark on an improved G1G1 2008.
The program was announced in October of 2007 and on day one, November 16th, ordering started as XO-philes poured into the site (personally, I didn't participate until December 17th). The program was to end on December 31, 2007. Initially, the enuthiasm of a Christmas Day XO opening enticed many to beat the rush. Everything was set to make sure the XO would be in the hands of thousands of children (of all ages) by Christmas Eve.
Millions of dollars were donated. Expectation after so many years of e-commerce experience may have allowed users such as myself to expect a timely ordering process. Unfortunately, the entire experience was far from perfect.
Missteps soon took hold. Delays in the manufacturing surfaced and demand was greater than anyone at G1G1 expected. A plethora of complaints were posted on various sites ranging from simple neglect, lost orders, changing personnels, and incorrect shipping dates and addesses.
To top it off, in January, a G1G1 spokesperson pleaded for more patience as they reportedly found additional unfilled orders. Keep in mind, most if not all of the funds for the donations have been collected. Paypal accounts and credit cards were charged. Mine was charged on December 31th, probably to make the 2007 donation deadline for tax reporting purposes.
Eventually, mine arrived in February, about two months after the order date. There were donors who were provided March shipping dates.
No one seem to have a clear picture of what was going on behind the scene. If anyone claims otherwise, I would take it with a grain of salt. I don't even think the G1G1 volunteers themselves know. However, I do commend their effort and time in making G1G1 possible.
Now, what does the G1G1 have to do to make sure 2008 will not be like 2007? I have a few suggestions.
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. Most of the donors are enthusiastic about the laptop. We can be very understanding. We were giving very little information until January, and most donors relied on media speculations and rumors that ran rampant in the rumors.
OLPC has had a successful G1G1 despite having all of the problems I described. Instead of giving us specific dates, be more conservative with the number of units that can be shipped and more liberal with the leadtimes.
One thing you have to say about Apple, whether you're a fan or not, is that they don't ship anything until they're Steve Jobs ready. We are fans of gadgets, education, or whatever the reasons donors are excited about OLPC and the XO laptop, we will wait. Do more testing before making any kind of announcements.
Build up a little inventory for 2008. Now, you're certain there is a lot of demands for it. It might be smart to introduce the XO to more donor nations.
Also, how about G1G1 Summer 2008 instead of late fall? The program can shoot for the back-to-school rush. Then, there won't be a preceived deadline like Christmas Eve was.
Sell accessories. I'm in the market for another battery. Maybe another AC adapter. Buy one battery, donate another?
Also, how about $300 instead of $400? G1G1 was a terrific idea. Hats off to whoeveer thought of it. Now, it'll be another year before G1G1 2008 happens again. Most financial experts don't think the economy will improve until 2009. Times are tough. I think even donating half a laptop is a deal. Plus, it could bring in a whole lot more donors. $100 is a big deal.
I've got other ideas for G1G1 2008. Now, I am sure there are other great ideas out there on how OLPC can expand and make the XO an even greater success.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Paul on XO
Looking to really see how good these super light and subcompact laptops from then likes of EEE PC and the XO from One Laptop Per Child.
I don't have the EEE PC but I ordered an XO from last year's G1G1 promotion. After exerting some hands on pressure on OLPC, I finally received it three weeks ago.
Can these little guys compete with their bigger cousins, the true and tried laptops?
One usability test I want to employ is how I can rapidly move information around. E-mails, documents, contacts, and appointments.
Furthermore, it may even change how I will be working since the XOis limited the slow processor and limited memory and storage on the XO.
I don't have the EEE PC but I ordered an XO from last year's G1G1 promotion. After exerting some hands on pressure on OLPC, I finally received it three weeks ago.
Can these little guys compete with their bigger cousins, the true and tried laptops?
One usability test I want to employ is how I can rapidly move information around. E-mails, documents, contacts, and appointments.
Furthermore, it may even change how I will be working since the XOis limited the slow processor and limited memory and storage on the XO.
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