For the past few years, I’ve been reading news articles about the “$100 laptop” and have been waiting to see what will come of it. If you’ve never heard of this, in a nutshell, the goal is to mass produce a laptop that costs $100 so that having a laptop might be an achievable goal for everyone. You can hear Nicolas Negroponte discuss the project here.
I’ve had the opportunity to get a “$100 laptop” and it is an amazing piece of technology. One of the most interesting aspects is mesh networking. I’m not a techie so this is in layman’s terms, but each laptop has the ability to wirelessly seek out other similar laptops. This allows any XO laptop (the name given to the “$100 laptop’) to network with other XO laptops without special equipment and without an Internet connection. Also, because many of the potential users live off the grid, the XO laptop does necessarily require users to plug it into an outlet for charging. My XO came with a traditional cord, but they also offer solar blankets, hand cranks, and bicycle-like pedal to generate a battery charge.
With all of the technology we have available to us, the XO laptop might seem like little more than a toy, but imagine how it might impact your life if you lacked resources. Imagine a grade-school child living in the desert of a third-world country. The child may not have electricity and certainly may not have a telephone. That child could start up an XO laptop and, using mesh networking,, seek out a classmate miles away. Then, without benefit of the modern infrastructure we all take for granted, those two children could discuss a classroom assignment by video conference. And, as their XOs create a mesh network, if an XO happens to be within range of a wireless Internet connection, they'd all have access to the web and all of the information it provides. It boggles my mind.
In the not too distant past, it would have boggled my mind that students could earn degrees online, or even take an individual class online. We live in amazing times in which we not only have access to incredible technology but in which we expect technology to continue to amaze us more and more each year. So, I’m curious, what kind of technologies are you using to learn and to work? Clearly, the Internet plays a major role, but what sort of gadgets and technologies make your life, your work, and your learning possible? Give us a review (and give me a reason to buy more gadgets:)
Have a good week.
This week's links:
Digital Divide
XO Computer and One Laptop Per Child
4 comments:
It was interesting to listen to Nicolas Negroponte discuss his education project.
I have a cell phone which I only use for calls and text messaging. I don't have a computer at home. The cost for internet connection in a rural area is not affordable for me at this time.
Lisa, today's Springfield paper has a story about Xanadoo beginning wireless Internet service here next week. It sounds like a small company coming out of TX into new markets. The connection rates look comparable to DSL rather than cable, but this is still faster than dial-up. The rates are in the $15 to $35 per month rate which is also in league with DSL. The Xanadoo website has an option to see if the service is available in your area.
Thanks for the information Andy! I will look at the website.
I was blessed with having access to a computer since early childhood. It has really given me an advantage in both educational and vocational situations. However, it evolves so fast that it seems like learning new software and operations is neverending.
I ditched the bulky desktop PCs and went with a laptop. It is much more efficient as far as space and connectivity when using a wireless network. It's also portable, which comes in handy.
I have not had land line phone services in a few years now. I only have a cell. phone, which I hardly use. I am a little behind on the IPod movement but I did just purchase my first IPod shuffle. Amazing that we've gone from the Walkman to this tiny, little gadget.
Thanks for the interesting info!
Alison S.
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