One Laptop Per Child

Steven Krasicky

Alex Tweed

Brandon Jones

Sarah Proctor

What is Digital Divide?

Access vs. Non-Access

What Digital Divide Affects

EDUCATION

Where the Digital Divide Exists

Cities and rural areas.

Between nations (globally).

The educated and the uneducated- MAIN FOCUS!

VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp9xjeon8c4

•Some evidence suggests this•Is the internet the same as other technologies from the past?•Is it a luxury instead of a necessity?

Closing of the Divide Computer use is increasing the fastest

among the poor and disadvantaged groups

The poor are seeing increases in Internet use

Someday these groups will catch up with the privileged

Technology in the Past

Example: Air Conditioner AC divide essentially the same AC also linked to increases in

productivity “Arguments for a G-8 Task force on

overcoming the air conditioner divide would rightly be dismissed as insane”

Technology in the Past Example: Air Conditioner AC divide essentially the same AC also linked to increases in

productivity “Arguments for a G-8 Task force on

overcoming the air conditioner divide would rightly be dismissed as insane”

Technology in the Past Example: Automobile Owning a car was just as crucial as email

is today Gaps in those who could afford a car and

those who couldn’t Cars became more affordable, the net will

become more accessible

Luxury, not Necessity

There are bigger problems to conquer

Not a necessity for survival in the modern world

AIDs, hunger, wars, more important Regarded as a “want” and not a

“need”

The One Laptop Per Child Project http://www.uplandproductions.com/films/tr

m/ts04/play_wmv.htm Overview

Giving children access to one connected computer

Founded by Nicholas Negroponte 2 billion children in the developing world are

inadequately educated – OLPC is their solutionXO laptop $100

One Laptop Per Child Developing

countries - $20/person is spent on pupils, compared to $7500 in the US

Change is necessary

One Laptop Per Child

Increasing aid by providing more of the same—building schools, hiring teachers, buying books and equipmentLittle progress would be made

Step in the right direction Skilled Instructors Peers teaching peers

Goals of OLPC

Why OLPC will lessen the digital divide?

Greater Access

Increased opportunity

OLPC Opposition

Focus should be on fighting illiteracy and alleviating poverty.

OLPC Opposition

HUGE RISK!!!

Financially & Educationally

OLPC Opposition

Alternatives

Provide more traditional forms of education ie. Schools and Libraries.

Room to Read foundation does this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbcNuaatFRA

XO Laptop

Is it as easy-to-use as advertised?

OLPC and Technical Aspects

Long Battery Life

Waterproof and scratch resistant

New technology to the U.S

OLPC and Technical Aspects

Software is based around learning XO built from free and open source

software The goal is for children to express

themselves and explore There is no ceiling imposed

OLPC Technical Problems XO Laptops are not reusable

1. Only work for 5 years.

2. Every child needs one.

OLPC Technical Problems

Lack of Support No local technical support for software

errors. Laptops are sealed like Macs, but the

nearest store is 3000 miles away.

DEBATE

Room to Read vs. OLPC

DEBATE

Right side of room for OLPC

Left side of room for Room to Read

For OLPC

Why do you feel this is a better program than Room to Read?

For Room to Read

Why do you feel this is a better program than One Laptop Per Child?

DEBATE

Now put yourself in the shoes of the government/country receiving one of

these programs.

Would you still prefer the program you chose?

DEBATE

In addition, do you feel that there is a better way to allocate funds besides these two programs?