tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25597376.post114634124665735592..comments2023-11-02T12:08:40.425+02:00Comments on Contact Egypt: The $100 Laptop in Egypt - Development or Diversion?JB, PNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01735778183818529542noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25597376.post-9994234129124796162008-08-31T03:06:00.000+02:002008-08-31T03:06:00.000+02:00Thanks for the important perspective you've pr...Thanks for the important perspective you've presented here. It would certainly seem appropriate that they start with one school trial in a poor area as a testcase. (Better: add comparison to similar school given equivalent untied funding & teacher-training.) Note open-source != unprofessional; RedHat+others are heavily involved. You can also be assured it comes in Arabic. So consider that exploring and playing in the find-and-virtually-make-whatever-you-want-world of this device should open real motivation for kids to be literate, including giving girls more opportunity to learn at home. The possibilities could unleash real motivation for teachers too, who can collaborate on e-resources and programs that impact on the whole country, and perhaps the world. It was first their education research at MIT that motivated the technological pushes. I'd agree with everything MooseJamal said too. Consider what it can replace, and what experience nothing else can provide for the kids. As a virtual library (& news-service), play and communication space, and multimedia journal, decent longevity should make it worth even that price in Egypt. I don't think the mesh networking needs a lot of infrastructure. While not as important as clean water, it may well be more important to people than running water. You're clearly right in saying this initiative needs to attract its money from other places than an underprioritized education budget. Maybe I'm being a techno-utopian, but this could be an option with real "bang/buck". To address the problems of the present and the future evidently needs some innovative thinking and planning. Best wishes to all, ChrisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25597376.post-1150358422340079702006-06-15T11:00:00.000+03:002006-06-15T11:00:00.000+03:00Well put. I do agree with you for the most part. Y...Well put. I do agree with you for the most part. Yet the digital divide is very real. So real in fact that I think being computer-illiterate in as early as 5-10 years might be what being illiterate is today. That being the case and the problem being real, what would you propose as a better solution?moosejamalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15627909011781544810noreply@blogger.com