Give one, Get One (laptop)
Posted by Codejoy Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:44:00 GMT
I know there are some non-techy visitors I have at this blog, but sometimes I have to get on my soap box and preach the gospel of technology and kids. There is this initiative that has been in the works for a while called "One Laptop Per Child" (OLPC) which basically means that kids in poor and developing nations can get a laptop that is built for their environment to use and get on the internet with. The background of this initiative is located here. I bring this up now cause it is the season for giving, and this OLPC has a new initiative "Give one, get one", where you can essentially donate 399$ to the organization and receive one of their OLPC laptops and also by doing so, send one to a child in a developing nation, 200$ of that can be a tax write-off. Get this: the laptops can be "wound up" for power, one minute of cranking is 10 minutes of use. How about that? So if you can, please Give one, get one.
What a wonderful cause and one to definitely get on the soapbox...but $400? In these trying financial times, it's hard to think of ways to save up on such an amount, but just alerting others to the cause is wonderful.
You know, i think i remember reading a story somewhere about how these laptops are about as useful as tits on a nun when they actually deploy them, and that the owner of the company that makes them was indicted for some pretty sketchy business practices? not decrying the thought of brining technology to third world countries, but perhaps AIDS medication and books should be the first step before getting them a laptop that requires wireless internet and above all... electricity to be of any use. Just a thought
AND YES i am aware they have the hand cranks for electricity.. but that still doesnt take away from the idea that perhaps that $400 you donate could be used in a more efficient way.. thats all im saying