DEFINITION - The One Laptop Per Child project (OLPC) is an initiative aimed at providing inexpensive laptop computers to children in the developing world as a means of bridging the digital divide. OLPC was founded by Nicholas Negroponte, also founder of MIT Media Lab. The initiative was announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2005. The project group released XO, a beta version of the laptop, in February 2007. Initially, one million of the devices were rolled out to several countries.
From the OLPC mission statement:
"OLPC is not, at heart, a technology program, nor is the XO a product in any conventional sense of the word. OLPC is a non-profit organization providing a means to an end—an end that sees children in even the most remote regions of the globe being given the opportunity to tap into their own potential, to be exposed to a whole world of ideas, and to contribute to a more productive and saner world community."
This is an extremely interesting, much needed initiative. Can you please write in greater detail about the different activities and the approaches being taken? This reminds me of the Hole-in-the-Wall initiative taken 10 years back by Dr. Sugata Mitra.
ReplyDeleteApart from OLPC, what are some of the other measures/ways being thought of to ensure that children in the remotest parts get a fair chance?
Look forward to more information about this project:
Sahana Chattopadhyay
Senior Consultant, Instructional Design
Zensar Technologies Ltd.
Kharadi, Pune