MIT's Nicholas Negroponte has a plan to produce a cheap computer for every kid in the third world. The computer is to cost less than 100 dollars and is said to automatically network with other computers of the same type creating a giant network in poor countries all over the world.
It's all very cool but also a very techno-centric thought. Are computers really what is needed most in the third world? What about low tech things like text books that are up to date, funds to educate more teachers and so forth.
At the very least the plan to give every kid a computer must be backed by a giant investment in general computer education.
And then there's the problem of toxic tech waste.
Everyone doesn't need their very own computer to spread tech literacy. Have free or low cost computer schools and cyber cafes....
Meg
Posted by: Meg | December 12, 2005 at 01:07 AM
I believe the ownership factor is key here. Teach yourself UNIX on a terminal that you, and only you, own.
Control of one's own technical resources is a powerful thing.
If some school teacher or café owner decides what software packages are to be installed, I think the folks of the Third World would be less inclined to teach themselves the Good Stuff.
Posted by: Olle Jonsson | December 14, 2005 at 09:55 AM
Oh, I think it would be an excellent idea for those who want to take it a step farther to have an affordable computer to, say, learn UNIX applications on. No objection there.
But mass distribution worries me because of the toxic trash problem. Already a lot of our old tech trash is winding up in poor countries. I heard someone say on the radio recently that when we throw things away, we don't usually think about where "away" is.
Meg
Posted by: Meg | December 15, 2005 at 03:57 AM