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) 


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