Tim Almond

This week, the software that powers the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project was released. It’s quite different to what most computer users would be used to, eschewing folders in favour of a history of work.

Nicholas Negroponte, the leader of the project said the following in an interview with Associated Press:-

"In fact, one of the saddest but most common conditions in elementary school computer labs (when they exist in the developing world), is the children are being trained to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I consider that criminal, because children should be making things, communicating, exploring, sharing, not running office automation tools." 

But those office automation tools are about making things, communicating and sharing. As far as exploring, Windows/Linux can do that with a browser. The problem for the developing world is more about the connections than the software people are using.

I’m also not sure that the money wouldn’t be better spent elsewhere. Less than half the population of Pakistan is literate, yet they want to spend laptops on school children. Surely spending money on teachers and books would be a lot more effective.

—–

Tags: Politics, Technology //