Comments on: OLPC - a few of my favourite things http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/ ... taking over the world like we always do! Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:11:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Linus http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-164 Linus Sat, 18 Nov 2006 04:04:13 +0000 http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-164 This all wonderful in thought and desire. I would love nothing more than to give every child in the world access to 1st world everything, food, water, education, computers, internet etc etc etc. The reality is choices have to be made because the world isn't quite that equal today, and each item has a cost and value which a commuity must decide on. This all wonderful in thought and desire. I would love nothing more than to give every child in the world access to 1st world everything, food, water, education, computers, internet etc etc etc. The reality is choices have to be made because the world isn’t quite that equal today, and each item has a cost and value which a commuity must decide on.

]]> By: Plakboek http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-163 Plakboek Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:50:43 +0000 http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-163 Do we condemn the education system of a developing nation because it detracts from the labours of a child or drains the resources of the community? Do we deny them the printing press and copier because it is cheaper to transcribe notes from the board? At what point do we deliver good educational tools? Children need more than just pencils, teachers need more than just chalk. Our Cambodian sister school cannot afford to bring their school computers online. Whilst the cost is roughly equivalent to the annual salary of a teacher, there is still an interest in the local community and our Australian school to provide this funding. I recall in the late 1990's that the computers and Internet access provided to South American schools were extensively used after hours by teachers, doctors and community leaders. Access to good information, ideas and a network of friends who really care are a precious resource that can help build the social capital for any school community. Do we condemn the education system of a developing nation because it detracts from the labours of a child or drains the resources of the community? Do we deny them the printing press and copier because it is cheaper to transcribe notes from the board? At what point do we deliver good educational tools?

Children need more than just pencils, teachers need more than just chalk. Our Cambodian sister school cannot afford to bring their school computers online. Whilst the cost is roughly equivalent to the annual salary of a teacher, there is still an interest in the local community and our Australian school to provide this funding.

I recall in the late 1990’s that the computers and Internet access provided to South American schools were extensively used after hours by teachers, doctors and community leaders.

Access to good information, ideas and a network of friends who really care are a precious resource that can help build the social capital for any school community.

]]> By: Linus http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-162 Linus Fri, 17 Nov 2006 10:04:24 +0000 http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-162 It is fine if you are given both, typically funded by an outside source, and you do not have to choose one or the other It is fine if you are given both, typically funded by an outside source, and you do not have to choose one or the other

]]> By: Bryant http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-152 Bryant Thu, 16 Nov 2006 03:50:06 +0000 http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-152 At last year's (LCA06) Education Mini-conference in Dunedin, NZ, a fellow named Edward Holcroft spoke about his work with NetDay in South Africa. NetDay installs thin client labs in very rural, very poor schools. Some of these schools didn't have power (he installed solar power) and one didn't have water. These schools need to apply to NetDay for these labs and Edward has a back log of schools that have applied. I was lucky enough to go out to dinner with Edward after his presentation and over a couple of beers got up the courage to ask him the question of whether it makes sense to provide computers to schools that have no water. He took a deep breath and I could tell he had been asked this question many, many times. I thought his answer was quite eloquent and, though I will probably mangle it here, he answered as follows: "I find it somewhat frustrating when people present this as an either or situation - water or computing. Or often it is presented as necessarily a serial process - first water then computing. I am the computer guy. It is what I do and I do it well and I do with passion. I am here now. You go find the water guy and ask him why he is not here now. Because we know he could be. We can both be working here at the same time." At last year’s (LCA06) Education Mini-conference in Dunedin, NZ, a fellow named Edward Holcroft spoke about his work with NetDay in South Africa. NetDay installs thin client labs in very rural, very poor schools. Some of these schools didn’t have power (he installed solar power) and one didn’t have water. These schools need to apply to NetDay for these labs and Edward has a back log of schools that have applied.

I was lucky enough to go out to dinner with Edward after his presentation and over a couple of beers got up the courage to ask him the question of whether it makes sense to provide computers to schools that have no water. He took a deep breath and I could tell he had been asked this question many, many times. I thought his answer was quite eloquent and, though I will probably mangle it here, he answered as follows:

“I find it somewhat frustrating when people present this as an either or situation - water or computing. Or often it is presented as necessarily a serial process - first water then computing. I am the computer guy. It is what I do and I do it well and I do with passion. I am here now. You go find the water guy and ask him why he is not here now. Because we know he could be. We can both be working here at the same time.”

]]> By: Wolfy http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-143 Wolfy Mon, 13 Nov 2006 00:37:42 +0000 http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-143 I agree with Linus. And it is hard for people in the 1st world to grasp, without seeing first hand what it means not ot have clean water or to truly go hungry... History already shows countries without clean water and reasonable norishment wil suffer on an accademic level. For them it is a daily struggle just to survive. Daily battles with simple deseases the 1st world generally never sees. Simply providing infrastructure to provide clean water dramatically improves the conditions these people live in. I agree that these laptops would be great in countries with basic infrastructure to support a population with food and basic communications, but when your fighting to survive, you want your government to provide infrastructure for at least basic standards of living and basic education (so that you can learn to read in the first place). And a book to teach you to read is far far cheaper than a basic laptop. I agree with Linus. And it is hard for people in the 1st world to grasp, without seeing first hand what it means not ot have clean water or to truly go hungry…
History already shows countries without clean water and reasonable norishment wil suffer on an accademic level. For them it is a daily struggle just to survive. Daily battles with simple deseases the 1st world generally never sees.
Simply providing infrastructure to provide clean water dramatically improves the conditions these people live in.
I agree that these laptops would be great in countries with basic infrastructure to support a population with food and basic communications, but when your fighting to survive, you want your government to provide infrastructure for at least basic standards of living and basic education (so that you can learn to read in the first place). And a book to teach you to read is far far cheaper than a basic laptop.

]]> By: Pascal Klein http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-142 Pascal Klein Sat, 11 Nov 2006 12:10:01 +0000 http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-142 There are millions of people living in conditions that I think all of us in the 1st countries would not consider a state of living. These people lack stable food access, clean water and a place to sleep. I don't think the OLPC project is particularly designed to supply these people with laptops, rather, people with a stable source of food, clean water and a shelter and already some form of education. I haven't been to India or any of the other places you guys have described above, other than China where I really think there are some prime localities that really could benefit from this great free/libre/open source project. As an advocate of this software and things that can be created with it (free culture/creative commons), I think that the OLPC project will dramatically help the people who's first concern isn't food but education and positive movement for their societies. Cheers, Pascal PS. Sorry Pia, forgot to close the sup tag. =S There are millions of people living in conditions that I think all of us in the 1st countries would not consider a state of living. These people lack stable food access, clean water and a place to sleep. I don’t think the OLPC project is particularly designed to supply these people with laptops, rather, people with a stable source of food, clean water and a shelter and already some form of education.

I haven’t been to India or any of the other places you guys have described above, other than China where I really think there are some prime localities that really could benefit from this great free/libre/open source project. As an advocate of this software and things that can be created with it (free culture/creative commons), I think that the OLPC project will dramatically help the people who’s first concern isn’t food but education and positive movement for their societies.

Cheers,
Pascal

PS. Sorry Pia, forgot to close the sup tag. =S

]]> By: Mick http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-138 Mick Wed, 08 Nov 2006 12:12:28 +0000 http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-138 The first deployment is going out in India - there's a mailing list you can sign up to for more info. Still trials to come no doubt :-) The first deployment is going out in India - there’s a mailing list you can sign up to for more info. Still trials to come no doubt :-)

]]> By: Linus http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-137 Linus Wed, 08 Nov 2006 09:48:12 +0000 http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-137 Cool, finally a potential annswer, where has it been implemented to read about trials and tribulations? Cool, finally a potential annswer, where has it been implemented to read about trials and tribulations?

]]> By: Mick http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-135 Mick Tue, 07 Nov 2006 10:55:22 +0000 http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-135 >> How are they going to share online when many of the real 3rd world countries do not have basic phone and telephony capabilities. Many of these places require satelite infrastructure to provide basic network connectivity as the copper cable on posts or in the ground does not exist. Check out http://www.green-wifi.org/ for people working on a solution to this problem. >> How are they going to share online when many of the real 3rd world countries do not have basic phone and telephony capabilities. Many of these places require satelite infrastructure to provide basic network connectivity as the copper cable on posts or in the ground does not exist.

Check out http://www.green-wifi.org/ for people working on a solution to this problem.

]]> By: Linus http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-132 Linus Mon, 06 Nov 2006 09:18:09 +0000 http://pipka.org/blog/2006/11/04/olpc-a-few-of-my-favourite-things/#comment-132 I am not neagtive at all. I am a realist who doesn't have rose tinted glasses about the world. Once again you foster a 1st world education system on a 3rd world country, 5 years of schooling for some is a daydream, 10 years an absolute dream. I firmly believe in education for all, but I also temper that with an understanding of the reality of the world. you keep saying get online....infrastructure to get online isn't just some magic that happens, it requires money, planning, time and effort. Having spent 5 years working in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh this is the biggest hurdle, not the giveaway laptops. You need something to connect too enabling this device a provide value to its user, and these countries on the whole just do not have the present capability to get online for its population. The exception is using a GSM/Analog phone network to enable connectivity as this is more prevalent than anything else. If you can't get online yes you can type and format a spreadsheet, but that is it I am not neagtive at all. I am a realist who doesn’t have rose tinted glasses about the world. Once again you foster a 1st world education system on a 3rd world country, 5 years of schooling for some is a daydream, 10 years an absolute dream. I firmly believe in education for all, but I also temper that with an understanding of the reality of the world.

you keep saying get online….infrastructure to get online isn’t just some magic that happens, it requires money, planning, time and effort. Having spent 5 years working in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh this is the biggest hurdle, not the giveaway laptops. You need something to connect too enabling this device a provide value to its user, and these countries on the whole just do not have the present capability to get online for its population. The exception is using a GSM/Analog phone network to enable connectivity as this is more prevalent than anything else. If you can’t get online yes you can type and format a spreadsheet, but that is it

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