Topic $100 Laptops?

Ricardo

I saw a TV news story about laptops that cost just over $100 being distributed to children in underdeveloped countries.

So far I think that's the only place they're being released. They have smaller keys, they're rugged, the battery lasts about 12 hours and there's a crank to produce more power.

Have you heard about these

SageMother

I have heard of these, along with the wind up radios. It's good to see technology reaching out to the their world. Their quality of life can improve drastically without the need for massive infrastructure.

sbarber77

I hadn't heard of these but it sounds interesting. Can you imagine what it will do for Education in those parts of the world?!

Ricardo

I agree. By the way, since I saw the TV story I've found the link to the program: http://www.laptop.org/

Hopefully the program will really take off and help a lot of people.

sbarber77

I wonder if there are any schools that might take this on as a charitable venture. I know lots of schools in our area do fundraising in support of Telemiracle and The Ronald MacDonald House. This sounds like another worthy cause that could get students involved in helping others less fortunate.

Ricardo

That's a good idea, sbarber77.

And I guess theoretically, there could be some real time contact with the sponsoring schools from the children who received the computers.

That would be great.

Donkey

Some more information on the laptop

http://news.com.com/Low-cost+laptop+...3-5884683.html

These things look really neat and it will be a great help to people all over the world, go figure MIT came up with it....Very noble cause

sbarber77

Now, I have not actually informed myself here but.....I guess that depends on whether or not these computers were hooked up with internet access or if they are meant more for word processing and other applications.

ACCER

There are places in the US that I could use these laptops. Charity should begin at home.

sbarber77

Since there are already a lot of computer programs in place that do benefit kids in the US and Canada, it is nice to see someone working on targeting the rest of the world as well.

There are a lot of places that refurbish computers for students in the US and Canada and/or recycle computers so that they can build new ones for students in need.

I don't think we need to criticize those that want to expand into other parts of the world to give them a hand up as well.