Photo: OLPC Foundation
On November 17th 2008, the non-profit organization, One Laptop per Child, launched its second campaign for the project Give One/ Get One, encouraging people to donate laptops to children living in the developing world.
This project, initiated by U.S. academics and professionals from the new information and communication technology industry, first planned to develop laptops for less than 100 US$. Despite a complicated start, particularly during the first stage of launching, people from about thirty countries (mainly in North America and Europe) can now buy a computer for 399 US$ on amazon.com. For this price, buyers receive the now famous XO laptop, and simultaneously donate a computer to a child living in one of the developing countries participating in the program. Consumers also have the option of donating a laptop directly for 199 US$.
In the wake of a global food crisis, where some countries face acute food shortages, the One Laptop Per Child project has attracted criticism. The following video answers these concerns and states the goals of this ambitious project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMeX2D4AOjM
One Laptop per Child’s main mission is to provide children in the poorest countries access to educational tools, that in turn foster human development.
The XO, which is run by the Linux operating system, has an internet connection and an eco-energetic power supply (running off of solar and human energy). It is also built to withstand specific environmental conditiions, including high heat and humidity, making it an excellent tool for human development in any area of the world.
