The MIT Media Lab is launching a new research initiative to develop a $100 laptop—a technology that could revolutionize how we educate the world’s children. The idea was announced by Nicholas Negroponte, Lab chairman and co-founder, at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland in January 2005. (…)
The $100 Laptop will be a Linux-based, full-color, full-screen laptop, which initially is achieved either by rear projecting the image on a flat screen or by using electronic ink (developed at the MIT Media Lab). In addition, it will be rugged, use innovative power (including wind-up), be WiFi- and cell phone-enabled, and have USB ports galore. Its current specifications are: 500MHz, 1GB, 1 Megapixel. The cost of materials for each laptop is estimated to be approximately $90, which includes the display, as well as the processor and memory, and allows for $10 for contingency or profit.
Read more: MIT $100 Laptop
via toine.
Reminds me of Neal Stephenson’s book the Diamond Age, where street urchins all get their hands on “The Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer,” an interactive book that teaches them everything. It’s described as being a cross between the wikipedia and self-paced learning, and questions are answered by real human voices which come from distant call centres…an interesting approach to distance learning, anyway!