One laptop per child and those pesky mobiles again
By Lee Davis • May 23rd, 2008 • Category: Teaching and learningThe next generation of the one laptop per child (OLPC) initiative (XO-2) was announced recently amid continuing controversy over its purpose and vision. Some images, though, of what it will look like below.
I think the move towards e-book functionality is interesting and I look forward to its interim (XO-1.5) release in 2009.
Apparently, Negroponte said at the launch, “Some people have asked me why not just give kids cell phones? And in fact there will be 1.2 billion cell phones manufactured this year, and cell phones are of huge consequence in the developing world - but the cell phone is not a learning device. The next generation laptop should be a book.”
“… the cell phone is not a learning device[!]” Come on, Nick. I admire what you’re trying to do here, but please don’t ignore the significant role mobile phones can play in teaching and learning. So, if you’re reading this, 
you might want to have a look at this post (and the ensuing comments) from Ewan McIntosh.
Someone from the OLPC stable who does seem to have a good understanding of education is Walter Bender, the man behind the Sugar user interface on all OLPC machines. He’s got some interesting things to say regarding how software for the OLPC is designed around constructionist theories of interactive learning and believes strongly in the need to open up development in this area to the open-source community. I encourage you to have a look at an interview Xconomy did with him here.
