Prototype of $100 laptop for poor unveiled at UN summit

Agence France Presse ^ | November 16, 2005

[HAL9000]

TUNIS (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and a leading US IT expert Nicholas Negroponte unveiled the bright green and yellow working prototype of a 100 dollar laptop aimed at millions of schoolchildren in poor countries.

The robust wind-up laptop with low power consumption is meant to be the backbone of an educational project to distribute the Internet-connected computers at no cost to their future owners.

"It holds the promise of major advances in economic and social development, but perhaps most important is the true meaning of one laptop per child," Annan told reporters at the World Summit on the Information Society.

"Studies and experience have shown repeatedly that kids take to computers much more readily, not just in the comfort of warm, well-lit rich country living rooms, but also in the slums and remote rural areas of the developing world," he added.

Nicholas Negroponte, of the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Media Laboratory in the United States said he was aiming to launch the laptop in about two years.

He said he hoped small quantities, several thousands, would be produced this year and more than 100 million by the end of 2006 or 2007.

The non-profit "One Laptop per Child" project is aiming to eventually open up the way for supplementary parallel sales by a commercial partner in wealthy countries.

However distribution in the primary developing markets will be financed by donors or national governments and channeled through the same networks used to bring textbooks to schools, Negroponte said.

Initial launches are being lined up in six "big" countries -- one in the Middle East, two in Asia, one in Sub Saharan Africa and two in Latin America.

Negroponte only identified Brazil and Thailand as the "most enthusiastic" governments. Discussions were also held with China and Egypt.

Talks were underway with several potential industrial partners including one major computer maker.

Negroponte said the laptop would rely on economies of scale to keep the price down, as well as some innovative technology especially for the colour screen and web or network connections. Some of the components still have to be tested.

The compact laptop and its protective support can fold through different positions to turn it from a computer into an electronic book, a games machine and a television set.

"The idea is to have it play many roles so that the child takes it home, uses it for play, study. The whole theory is that learning is seamless, it's not something you just do at school," Negroponte said.

The inventors also want to rely on free distribution "open source" software.

Supporters of the project include the web search engine Google, computer chip maker AMD, and US-based media magnate Rupert Murdoch.

A slightly embarrassed Annan inadvertently broke the crank handle of the non-functioning model on display as he left.

[HAL9000]

A slightly embarrassed Annan inadvertently broke the crank handle of the non-functioning model on display as he left.

Sounds like a Bill Gates demo.

[msnimje]

Looks like one of those V-Tech things I bought my son when he was little.

[JennysCool]

The Instant Messaging needs work.

[martin_fierro]

[Anti-Bubba182]

I guess they will rely on some kind of wireless network. Is that available in those poorer countries?

[Lauretij2]

Actually, high speed wireless will probably be built far faster in the 3rd world than here in the USA or other rich areas.

Infrastructure costs are far less than setting up fiber or just plain copper.

[Triggerhippie]

"Here is your $100 laptop Sanjay/Abdul/Mufasa. Now you'll only have to wait until someone (obviously NOT affiliated with the UN!) can get electricity to your village..."

[garandgal]

Is that available in those poorer countries?

It will be once we pay for it; and I'm sure we will.

[Anti-Bubba182]

I here that, but if the UN is involved will it ever get done?

[MediaMole]

Looking at the laptop and the people announcing it, they should call it the i-Embezzle.

[lewislynn]

Actually, high speed wireless will probably be built far faster in the 3rd world than here in the USA or other rich areas.

Infrastructure costs are far less than setting up fiber or just plain copper.

They can build everything they don't have for far less than it costs here...so what's your point?

[HAL9000]

It will be a lot more powerful than the old Sinclairs.

It has 500 MB RAM, a 1 GHz processor, wireless Internet, a flipover color screen, a flywheel generator for power, and Kofi Annan's special edition of the Linux operating system called Kofux OS. It's the Ultimate Globalism Indoctrination Machine.

[martin_fierro]

[Lauretij2]

That thing will give new meaning to the term 'one handed typing'.

[JennysCool]

Har!

[martin_fierro]

A slightly embarrassed Annan inadvertently broke the crank handle of the non-functioning model on display as he left.

Kids are sure to be more gentle with it. < /sarc >

[lewislynn]

Now you'll only have to wait until someone (obviously NOT affiliated with the UN!) can get electricity to your village..."

The makers of the -for poor kids only- laptop know the UN would never get around to that so...

"The robust wind-up laptop with low power consumption is meant to be the backbone of an educational project to distribute the Internet-connected computers at no cost to their future owners.

[goldstategop]

LOL! The operating system will be Linux. Either Linspire or Xandros. They're both user friendly. And my guess is they will come preloaded on $100 laptops equipped with all the software most people will ever need right out of the box.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[all_mighty_dollar]

>>>get electricity to your village..<<<


A slightly embarrassed Annan inadvertently broke the crank handle of the non-functioning model on display as he left.

---

I think the reporter means the actual product will have a crank generator to supply the power much like my Baygen radio I have for emergencies....


actually might be handy for extended camping here in the US for emailing the UN boss progress reports from National Forests on the pot growing status maybe?

[martin_fierro]

The operating system will be Linux

Anything but UNux, please.