Monday, November 26, 2007

One Laptop Per Child

OLPC

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) has launched from Nov 12-Dec 31 (it has just been extended).

"From now through December 31, 2007, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. This is the first time the revolutionary XO laptop has been made available to the general public. For a donation of $399, one XO laptop will be sent to empower a child in a developing nation and one will be sent to the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. $200 of your donation is tax-deductible (your $399 donation minus the fair market value of the XO laptop you will be receiving)." Plus, for all U.S. donors who participate in the Give One Get One program, T-Mobile is offering one year of complimentary HotSpot access. OLPC XO laptop

My wife and I just bought one and gave one. Of all the community service and charity checks, I have to admit that no other action gave me the warm and fuzzies more than the thought of the power this laptop gift will bring to a child. Even thought the program is early we wanted to show our support and help keep it alive. With the laptop I will receive I plan on letting my students use and pilot best practices.

"OLPC is a non-profit organization providing a means to an end—an end that sees children in even the most remote regions of the globe being given the opportunity to tap into their own potential, to be exposed to a whole world of ideas, and to contribute to a more productive and saner world community."

Nicholas Negroponte from MIT, the founder of the OLPC, has made it clear that "this is an education project, not just a laptop." The goal is to help developing countries cross the digital divide. The machine developed was originally called the "$100 Laptop" but now is called the "XO" and it will run on a linux based open-source software which means the children and teachers "will have the freedom to reshape, reinvent, and reapply their software, hardware, and content."



"The OLPC Foundation's mission is to stimulate local grassroots initiatives designed to enhance and sustain over time the effectiveness of laptops as learning tools for children living in lesser-developed countries... By giving children their very own connected XO laptop, we are giving them a window to the outside world, access to vast amounts of information, a way to connect with each other, and a springboard into their future. And we’re also helping these countries develop an essential resource—educated, empowered children."



For more details:

Watch this video demo of the OLPC


Watch this video demo of the OLPC user interface

For more information or to buy/donate:

Give One Get One

OLPC Wiki

OLPC News Blog

OLPC.tv

Call 1-877-70-LAPTOP