... out what you're trying to achieve. Improving education seems like a good idea, but what happens to people's expectations if society can't follow through and deliver on them?" says Grimshaw.
The danger is that if people feel let down, the situation can breed "the potential for conflict, unease and unhappiness", which is not only counterproductive but also dangerous as it can disturb community power balances.
Cool technological developments
John Naughton, professor of public understanding of technology at the Open University and director of the Ndiyo Project puts such concerns another way.
"It seems to me to be a continuation of a philosophy that has bedevilled educational technology from day one. This is the mindset that thinks each new cool technological development must, somehow, have an educational use. You could caricature it as the 'technology is the solution, now what's the problem?' mindset," he says.
The main problem in his opinion, however, is that there is little evidence to suggest that computers actually improve learning. "We've invested billions of dollars in the West putting computers into schools on the assumption that it must do some good. But we really don't know if investing in a new computer system brings more educational benefits than hiring a new teacher. It's really faith-based investing," he says.
To back up his point, Naughton cites a former colleague and distinguished educational researcher, who now heads up a leading British research university. He used to say that 'the only piece of educational technology known for sure to work is the school bus'. "And I tend to approach initiatives like OLPC with that in mind," Naughton says.
Faith-based investing
His approach instead would be to ask: "What are the real educational problems that bother people in the developing world, and how — if at all — would OLPC help to solve those problems? If there's a real prospect that OLPC could indeed ameliorate or solve tangible problems, then proceed. Otherwise try and find technological solutions to the problems that really bother people on the ground".
Ndiyo itself is a non-profit organisation, which is developing a low-cost server running open source software that supports ultra-thin client machines and is intended for use as an out-of-the-box four-screen Internet café among other things.
The aim with this particular implementation of the technology is to enable people in the developing world to earn a living by providing community members who cannot afford a computer and Internet connection with online access.
But Practical Action's Grimshaw raises a final point about the need to develop a model for long-term sustainability. "You might say a $100 PC is cheap, it's simple, it's rugged and it will last for maybe five to 10 years. But what happens then? You'll need a new injection of capital or to build sustainability into the project from the outset and that's always been a major issue in the past."
Talkback
Sounds to me like this is a great idea for providing laptops to cash strapped education services more in the developed countries and for infrastructure providers in the rest of the world...
I'm sure these would be great cost rudcers for a lot of NGO's that already have a need for laptops, rather than just throughing them at schools in africa to be yet another peice of technology they have little use for as they lack more basic facilities, such as buildings and teachers.
Not that I imagine IT manufactures really want to see a loss of market that they already have... rather than the potenial growing of the market they don't have... lots of african children seeking to upgrade later in life.
Good idea, shame it won't be used where it can do good now rather than maybe possibily later.
Wouldn't it be nice if through the reduction in NGO costs they could help assit with the more basic aspects of getting these children an education so that they could use these devices in the future.
"The aim of the $100 laptop initiative is to provide each child in the developing world with a laptop that can also act as an e-book, a tablet PC and a TV in a bid to help bridge the digital divide."
I'm glad to see people are concerning themselves with the problems of the developing world, however, considering that £15 is enough to provide one person with enough clean water for drinking, hygeine and sanatation in the developing world, I think that there are better things to spend $100 on!
Agreed, the developing world needs food and other basic things, you cannot eat a laptop, these people are on a different planet, $100 a person can do a lot more essential things than provide tv and the internet
The OLPC project is not attempting to solve all of the problems in developing nations. They are trying to provide kids with "a window to the outside world and tool with which to think" so that they can help themselves.
This is free, but it's not a hand out -- it's a hand UP.
Also, don't assume that every kid in developing nations is starving -- it's flatly not true. Of course there are a huge number who do need adequate food, water, and sanitary accomodations -- but if you are truly concerned then you'll get involved with one of the many organizations already dedicated to alleviating these needs. They can always use the help.
Also, this laptop will do quite a bit more than provide internet access. It will allow kids to create and share, it can be used as a tool to help them learn to read and write, it will be a means of communication first locally and eventually globally... the possibilities are limitless, especially as more kids get involved, play with the code, and teach their fellows.
This is not a tool for a vague future, it's the tool of tomorrow. Putting off its implementation would postpone dealing with educational needs just as it has been done for years now.
For now, if you think it's a good idea then lend a hand in its creation and implementation, help it become a reality.