Every Child Gets a Laptop

The exciting project, named One Laptop Per Child (OLPC), is underway to make and distribute laptops to children in developing countries by late 2006, early 2007.

Original visionary, Nicholas Negroponte, along with faculty members from the MIT Media Lab, created OLPC: A non-profit organization dedicated to the design, manufacture, and distribution of inexpensive laptops for the purpose of enabling every child in the world access to knowledge and modern forms of education. The founding corporate members are Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Brightstar, Google, News Corporation, Nortel, and Red Hat.

"Laptops are both a window and a tool: a window into the world and a tool with which to think. They are a wonderful way for all children to "learn learning" through independent interaction and exploration," states Negroponte on the Media Labs Website.

Laptop Features are nothing short of ingenious and nifty: A Linux based 'open source' operating system will enable free software and encourage self-taught program writing. (Linux substitutes for the costly licensing of Microsoft Windows or Apple's OSX). A novel dual-screen, able to switch from color mode to energy-saving black & white view while in bright sunlight (using electronic ink) will also keep costs low. It will have a bare bones 500 MHz processor and 128MB of DRAM, but 4 USB ports for peripheral devices. A 500 MB flash memory will enable a kid-sturdy model, as there will be no delicate moving magnetic discs found in conventional hard drives. It has batteries that are recharged by a retractable wind-up hand crank, invented by Trevor Baylis in 1994. One minute of winding will give 10/40 minutes use in color/bw modes. The power adapter cable doubles as a carrying strap. It can be folded and held as a tablet screen for viewing videos or eBooks. A built in wireless networking capability will enable both a peer-to peer Wireless Mesh Network as well as internet connectivity. Security features will be included to prevent resale. It is anticipated that the current $100 price tag will drop with time and further innovation.

The laptops will be sold to governments who will then distribute "one laptop per child" like textbooks that become the property of the child. Current negotiations are in process with China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, Nigeria, and Thailand. When 5-10 million machines have been ordered and paid for in advance, manufacturing will begin by Quanta Computer Inc. of Taiwan, chosen as winning bidder on Dec. 14, 2005. No commercial version is currently proposed, but the idea of a public sales model is being explored.

Negroponte anticipates an incredible 100 million laptops being manufactured.

Public interest has formed a pledge list of parties willing to pay $300 for their own laptop, donating the profits to support gift laptops to children.

For more information visit: laptop.media.mit.edu.