Laptops donated to developing countries

by Martina Harvanova

You can still hear an opinion that computers are deemed as a toy for privileged families, in fact for their kids. Although most of the families own a personal computer, the majority of the world's population can't have an opportunity to afford such a thing. I am just talking about developing countries where the frequency of possessing a computer in a common household covers really low levels. However, at present there occurs a market intension to saturate such a need also in less industrialized countries.The name of the latest novelty designed for schools in developing countries is Classmate PC, a product created under the title of One Laptop per One Child Project. Originally, the project and its products were intended to develop laptops for kids in poor nations to ensure "they don't miss out the benefits of computing." The item should have cost $100, but as the market segment of the project has spread in the United States, the prices got diverse. The decision to expand on the U.S. market came as an idea of one angry American who questioned why the program doesn't extend to needy kids in the U. S., because there are also too many kids that deserve the learning experience that is not allowed for them. And the OLPC heard him out. It makes me wondering how humans manage to envy the others. Although I absolutely agree that also in the U. S. there are kinds whose parents aren't able to obtain them the newest technologies, the difference between U. S. and developing countries such as India, where the project seems to raise successfully. Nevertheless the overall stark difference in children's access to technology is substantial. The United States spends an average of $10,000 per child on primary education, while developing nations spend far less. Bangladesh, for example, spends an average of $20 per child. That is how the project widened to the idea that individuals in the U. S. and Canada are allowed to purchase two laptops for $400, while one of them should be donated to a kid in a developing country and the other can be given to anyone the buyer chooses. The main idea of the project remained almost the same, but the conditions and the fringe intensions differ. Hopefully, the company will keep at least the idea and won't surrender to those who can't stand the help to others, for them the unfair and biased help.

related story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/12/AR2008011201179.html?wpisrc=rss_technology/personaltech

by Martina Harvanova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.

These news are brought to you by CantellTV, its technology partner SigEx Telecom and its founder Chris Cantell. CantellTV is the fastest growing provider of digital broadcasting coupled with enhanced communications, allowing people to easily control, view, upload and share digital content through proprietary interface. CantellTV has relationships with a growing network of international clients delivering millions of videos per day with more than 50,000 new videos uploaded and 200 hours of new TV shows broadcasted daily to a wide range of viewers, from 5 to 7 year olds of LiveCartoons; to 16 to 24 year old active social users of MyJumps; to fortune 50 corporate clients utilizing enhanced broadcasting services. CantellTV is committed to delivering infinite choices to your world of entertainment at the tip of your fingers. Chris Cantell retains consulting arrangements with several pre-IPO companies.


Posted by: Maria Vidlickova