Nicholas Negroponte's concept of a low cost computer has been pooh poohed by many big corporations that it is a crippled machine, and a $100 machine was unrealistic. But he has proven them wrong.
The little green "XO," described by as "a flexible, ultra-low-cost, power-efficient, responsive, and durable machine," developed in collaboration with MIT Media Lab, is a reality. It's Linux-based, and has programming, a search engibe, chat program, word processing, rudimentary blogging capability, and connect to the Net via a mesh network.
Most interesting is the 'social sharing' concept built in to the applications. Children (or their teachers) could "reshape, reinvent, and reapply their software, hardware, and content." It's Wikinomics in action! No wonder its critics are scared.
Gifting an XO: I though this idea of getting it into the hands of more children was brilliant. Called the "Give one, get one" program, you could buy a $100 laptop for yourself and they will donate one to a child in a developing country. Hundred bucks for two laptops! No wonder its critics are agitated.
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