[geeks] $100 One Laptop Per Child - grist for the mill

[Geoffrey S. Mendelson]

On Sat, Nov 18, 2006 at 11:01:38PM -0500, Robert Brooke Gravitt wrote:
> The amount of money spent on computer/laptop programs in this country  
> is staggering. The benefits are arguable. The shortage of textbooks  
> and decrease in scores in subjects like math and science (which might  
> seem to be the ones most likely to benefit) is real.
> 
> I can see this as a very noble and well-intentioned idea, but my  
> guess is that it's a bit premature for laptops. In many of the  
> African countries, computer literacy is not the issue. There are  
> educated folks who are struggling obtaining the basic personal needs  
> & societal breakdown, due to war or famine. The computers aren't  
> going to help there.

I don't see them has having anything to do with computer literacy,
I see them as a way of providing access to large amounts of data, 
eductional programs such as reading and simple math, etc.

A $100 or even a $5 laptop is not going to solve the worlds problems.

BUT if you can use it to improve the education of a billion people in
China, India and Africa, that's quite a difference.

Geoff.
-- 
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