MIT Professor Touts $100 Laptops At Educational Technology Conference
Approximately 6,000 individuals attended the National Educational Computing Conference at the San Diego Convention Center yesterday. The conference highlighted an education initiative aiming to provide up to 150 million low-cost laptops to students in developing countries by 2008. Nicholas Negroponte, co-founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab and creator of the One Child Per Laptop project, addressed the audience of primarily district and state-level educators. He explained that the project, which started last year, intends to introduce affordable wireless-enabled computers, estimated to cost between $50 and $138, to disadvantaged nations worldwide. The initiative has received $30 million in initial funding and the support of international government and finance organizations, such as the United Nations and the Inter-American Development Bank, as well as companies like Google, eBay, Chi Mei Communication Systems, and Quanta Computer Inc.
Mr. Negroponte highlighted that previous attempts to bring inexpensive yet effective computers to developing countries failed because they targeted adults rather than children. He emphasized that leveraging children’s innate creativity could revitalize education in countries like Brazil, Thailand, Argentina, and Nigeria, where the first computers from the project will be deployed this autumn. He stated, "We’ve lost sight of the fundamental concept that technology is not about teaching, but about learning. To harness its benefits, we must empower children and encourage peer-to-peer learning."
During a technology project implemented in Cambodia, Mr. Negroponte observed that children in remote villages, previously unconnected to roads, quickly adopted the Internet. He shared, "The children’s first English word was ‘Google.’" The latest version of the $100 laptop, also known as the orange laptop due to its color, was previewed at the conference. It is similar in size and weight to a hardcover book and features a dual-mode display for optimal screen visibility indoors and under direct sunlight. The robust laptop also includes small antennas to connect to Wi-Fi, enabling web browsing within a range of 1,800 feet from another computer connected to Wi-Fi.
To reduce costs, the laptop will utilize open-source software and hardware. Open source technologies are more affordable due to their lack of copyright restrictions. Mr. Negroponte explained, "By eliminating unnecessary features and prioritizing speed and affordability, the computer will undergo significant changes." Craig Barret and Bill Gates, the heads of hardware and software giants Intel Corp. and Microsoft Inc., respectively, initially criticized the laptop initiative, dismissing it as a mere "gadget" rather than a true computer. In response, Mr. Negroponte received widespread applause when he stated, "When people like that don’t approve, it means we must be on the right track."
The laptop, capable of generating its own power, consumes less than 2 watts, compared to the 20 to 40 watts required by regular laptops. In earlier versions, a hand crank was prominently displayed on the side of the laptop to supply power. However, in the latest iteration, the hand crank has been relocated to the AC adaptor. This allows users to connect the laptop to a device for hand-cranking, providing 10 watts of power, or attach it to a bicycle to generate up to 50 watts. Mr. Negroponte humorously remarked, "You can crank it, pedal it, pull a string, or even tie a dog to it and have it run around to power the computer."
The $100 laptop project, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, welcomes feedback and suggestions from educators. Teachers and other interested individuals can contribute to the project’s wiki page at wiki.laptop.org. Those interested in testing the $100 laptop and obtaining a developer board should send an email to iste@laptop.org.
