Information shared by good friends but my kids say it is old news. Goes to show you how much I know (LOL) But on a serious note, this is something that would need to be a government undertaking to be put into all schools as a resource since a private venture on this would defeat the purpose by making it unaffordable to those who need it most.. Infact, I believe that is the idea the people who came up with the technology have in mind. Question is whether our government can really put the people's money where their mouths are instead of their ongoing quest of what they think are cleverly disguised ways of turning all assets in the country into private ventures for themselves and their cronies while placating the people with untruths. Jabou Joh Original message ................. Greetings All, Here is an idea that could actually change the landscape for education and information in even the most remote corner of the developing world: a crankup laptop with wireless internet (cell or satellite) that can be manufactured and released for under $100. I found out about this concept from Steve Anderson and his mother the other night. She was here for a sister-in-laws funeral and couldn't return to Denver because of the snow storm. When I taught secondary school in Congo, we always had text books even though reference materials were limited. Steve's mom had a different perspective on education in Africa today (she taught primary and secondary for nearly 30 years in north-west Congo). She says former students now teach having only the notes she gave them 30 years ago. Equal to the book shortage is the exodus of teachers away from rural areas. The laptop/internet idea would enable students to take the lead themselves in exploring knowledge. The issue in this will be how to maintain a focus on an education program without blocking critical areas of research. Another issue will be to provide the full array of meaningful content especially for young students who will benefit most if they can stay connected in their education to their home language and culture. Below are some links to the descriptions of this project. _http://laptop.media.mit.edu/_ (http://laptop.media.mit.edu/) _http://news.com.com/Low-cost+laptop+moves+closer+to+reality/2100-1044_3-58846 83.html_ (http://news.com.com/Low-cost+laptop+moves+closer+to+reality/2100-1044_3-5884683.html) _http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Laptop_per_Child_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Laptop_per_Child) _http://www.windley.com/archives/2006/02/alan_kay_the_10.shtml_ (http://www.windley.com/archives/2006/02/alan_kay_the_10.shtml) _http://www.laptopical.com/annan-unveils-cheap-laptop.html_ (http://www.laptopical.com/annan-unveils-cheap-laptop.html) _http://www.laptopical.com/cheap-laptops.html_ (http://www.laptopical.com/cheap-laptops.html) _http://rezwanul.blogspot.com/2006/12/100-dollar-laptop.html_ (http://rezwanul.blogspot.com/2006/12/100-dollar-laptop.html) _http://nanopolitan.blogspot.com/search/label/100%20dollar%20laptop_ (http://nanopolitan.blogspot.com/search/label/100%20dollar%20laptop) いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい