One Laptop per Child ( OLPC ) is a nonprofit initiative that was established with the goal of changing education for children around the world; this goal must be achieved by creating and distributing educational tools for the developing world, and by creating software and content for such devices.
The ultimate goal is to transform education, by allowing children in low-income countries to have access to content, media and computer programming environments. By the time the program launches, the specific retail price for laptops far exceeds $ 1,000 (US), so it is not possible to achieve this goal without also bringing low cost machines into production. It becomes OLPC XO Laptop, cheap and low-power laptop computer. The project was initially funded by member organizations such as AMD, eBay, Google, Marvell Technology Group, News Corporation, Nortel. Chi Mei Corporation, Red Hat, and Quanta provide support in the form of goods.
The OLPC project has been the subject of widespread praise and criticism. It's hailed for pioneering low-cost, low-power laptops, and inspiring subsequent variants like the Eee PC and Chromebook; to ensure consensus at the ministerial level in many computer-literate countries is a major part of education; to create an interface that works without literacy in any language, and especially without literacy in English. It has been criticized by many for its US-focused focus that ignores larger problems, high total costs that may actually be very ineffective, low focus on maintenance and training and limited success so far.
Video One Laptop per Child
Histori
The OLPC program has its roots in the pedagogy of Seymour Papert, an approach known as constructionism, supported by providing computers for children at an early age to enable full digital literacy. Papert, along with Nicholas Negroponte, was at MIT Media Lab from the beginning. Papert compared the old practice of putting computers in computer labs to books chained to walls in the old library. Negroponte likens computers together to share pencils. However, this pattern seems inevitable, given the high computer prices (over $ 1,500 for a laptop or small desktop in 2004).
In 2005, Negroponte spoke at the World Economic Forum, in Davos. In this conversation he urged the industry to solve the problem, to allow the $ 100 laptop, which will enable construction learning, will revolutionize education, and will bring the world's knowledge to all children. He brings a mock-up and is portrayed as wandering the alleys and corridors of Davos to set up support. Despite the reported skepticism of Bill Gates and others, Negroponte leaves Davos with a committed interest from AMD, News Corp, and with strong indications of support from many other companies. From the beginning, it was clear that Negroponte thought that the key to reducing laptop costs was to reduce the cost of display. So when, upon returning from Davos, he met Mary Lou Jepsen, a pioneering exhibition that in early 2005 joined the faculty of MIT Media Lab, a rapidly changing discussion to showcase innovations to enable low-cost laptops. Convinced that the project is now possible, Negroponte led the company's first creation for this: Laptop Hundred Dollar Corp.
At the 2006 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the UN Development Program (UNDP) announced it would return a laptop. UNDP released a statement saying that they will work with OLPC to deliver "technologies and resources for targeted schools in underdeveloped countries".
In the first years of the project, the Association manages the development and logistics, and the Foundation manages fund-raising such as the Give One-One ("G1G1") campaign.
Intel was a member of the association for a brief period in 2007. It resigned its membership on January 3, 2008, citing disagreements with a request from OLPC founder, Nicholas Negroponte, to Intel to stop dumping their Classmate PCs.
In 2008, Negroponte showed some doubts about the exclusive use of open-source software for the project, and made suggestions that support steps to add Windows XP, which Microsoft is in the process of being ported to XO hardware. Microsoft Windows XP, however, is not seen by some as an ongoing operating system. Microsoft announced that it would sell Windows XP for $ 3 per XO. It will be offered as an option on XO-1 laptop and may be able to boot double with Linux. In response, Walter Bender, who is the former President of Software and Content for the OLPC project, left OLPC and founded Sugar Labs to continue the development of open source Sugar software that has been developed in OLPC. No significant implementation is selected to purchase Windows licenses.
Charles Kane became the new President and Chief Operating Officer of the OLPC Association on May 2, 2008. At the end of 2008, the NYC Education Department purchased several XO computers for use by New York schoolchildren.
The ads for OLPC started streaming on the Hulu video streaming website and others in 2008. One of those ads has John Lennon's ad for OLPC, with an unknown voice actor redubbing over Lennon's voice.
In 2008, OLPC lost significant funds. Their annual budgets were cut from $ 12 million to $ 5 million resulting in a restructuring on January 7, 2009. The development of Sugar's operating environment was completely transferred to the community, Latin American support organizations spun and staff reductions, including Jim Gettys, affected about 50% of paid employees. The remaining 32 staff members also saw a salary deduction. Despite downsizing, OLPC continues the development of the XO-1.5 laptop.
In 2010, OLPC moved its headquarters to Miami. The Miami Office currently oversees sales and support for XO-1.5 laptops and its successors, including XO Laptop version 4.0 and OLPC Laptops.
Funding from Marvell, completed in May 2010, revitalized the foundation and enabled the completion of the 1Q 2012 XO-1.75 based laptop and an early prototype of the XO-3 tablet. OLPC now receives orders for mass production of XO 4.0, and has delivered over 2.5 million XO Laptops to children worldwide.
Maps One Laptop per Child
Criticism
At the World Summit on the Information Society organized by the United Nations in Tunisia from 16-18 November 2005, several African representatives, notably Marthe Dansokho (a United Methodist Church missionary), voiced suspicions about the motives of the OLPC project and claimed that the project was using too "the US mindset ", indicating that the solution presented does not apply to specific" African issues ". Dansokho said the project showed a misplaced priority, stating that African women would not have enough time to research new plants to grow. He added that clean water and schools are more important. Mohammed Diop specifically criticized the project as an attempt to exploit the governments of poor countries by making them pay hundreds of millions of machines and further investment needs into the Internet infrastructure. Others have also criticized the use of laptops in very low-income countries, deeming them ineffective when compared to much simpler measures such as worms and other expenses for basic child health.
Lee Felsenstein, a computer engineer who played a central role in the development of personal computers, criticized the design and distribution of the centralized and top-down OLPCs.
Cost
The project was originally intended for a price of 100 US dollars. In May 2006, Negroponte told Red Hat's annual user meeting: "This is a floating price We are a non-profit organization We have a $ 100 target in 2008 but maybe it will be $ 135, maybe $ 140." A BBC news article in April 2010 showed prices still remain above $ 200.
In April 2011, the price remained above $ 209. In 2013, more than 10% of the world's population lives on less than US $ 2 per day. The last income segment should spend more than a quarter of its annual income to buy one laptop, while the global average of ICT spending is 3% of revenue. Empirical studies show that the boundary between ICTs as a good need and ICT as a luxury item is about "magic numbers" of US $ 10 per person per month, or US $ 120 per year.
John Wood, founder of Room to Read (NPO who built schools and libraries), emphasized the affordability and scalability of high-tech solutions. While supporting the One Laptop per Child initiative to provide education to children in developing countries at cheaper rates, it has shown that a $ 2,000 library can serve 400 children, costing just $ 5 per child to bring access to a wide variety of books- books in local languages ​​(such as Khmer or Nepali) and English; also, the $ 10,000 school can serve 400-500 children ($ 20 - $ 25 per child). According to Wood, this is a more appropriate solution for education in Vietnam's dense forests or Cambodian countryside.
The Scandinavian aid organization, FAIR, proposes to set up computer labs with used computers that are recycled as a cheaper initial investment. Negroponte opposes this proposition, stating the costly operational costs of conventional laptops. Computer Aid International doubts OLPC's sales strategy will succeed, citing its untested technological properties. CAI is updating computers and printers and selling them to developing countries for Ã, Â £ 42 per piece (compare with Ã, Â £ 50 a piece for OLPC laptops).
Teacher training and ongoing support
The OLPC project has also been criticized for allegedly adopting a "one-shot" deployment approach with little or no technical support or teacher training, and to ignore the pilot programs and formal assessment of results that support rapid deployment. Some authors attribute this unconventional approach to the alleged focus of OLPC promoters on constructivist education and 'digital utopianism'. Mark Warschauer, a University of California Professor at Irvine and Morgan Ames, at the time of writing, a PhD candidate at Stanford University, has shown that the laptop itself does not fully meet the needs of students in poor countries. The "children's machine", as already mentioned, has been deployed to several countries, such as Uruguay, Peru, and the US, Alabama, but after a relatively short time, its use has dropped dramatically, sometimes due to hardware or damage , in some cases, as high as 27% to 59% in the first two years, and sometimes due to a lack of user knowledge on how to fully utilize the machine. However, other factors have recently been recognized; the lack of a direct link to the pedagogy required in the local context to be truly effective. Uruguay reports that only 21.5% of teachers use laptops in the classroom every day, and 25% report using them less than once a week. In Alabama, 80.3% of students said they never or rarely use computers for classroom assignments, and Peru, teachers reported that in the first few months, 68.9% used laptops three times per week, but after two months, 40% report such usage. Those with low socioeconomic levels tend not to be able to use laptops effectively for their own educational purposes, but with scaffolding and mentoring from teachers, machines can become more useful. According to one of the returning OLPC executives, Walter Bender, the approach needs to be more holistic, combining technology with prolonged community efforts, teacher training and local educational efforts and insights.
The organization is accused of just giving kids a laptop that is less able and "walk away". Some critics claim this "drive-by" implementation model is the project's official strategy. While the organization has a dedicated team of learners to support and work with teachers, Negroponte has said in response to this critique that "you really can" give the kids a laptop that is connected and gone, recording experiences with self-guided learning.
Technology
XO, formerly known as "Laptop $ 100" or "Kids Machine", is a cheap laptop computer designed to be distributed to children in developing countries around the world, to give them access to knowledge, and opportunities to "explore, experiment and express themselves "(constructivist learning). This laptop is manufactured by Taiwanese computer company Quanta Computer.
Rugged and low-power computers use flash memory instead of hard drives, run a Fedora-based operating system and use the SugarLabs Sugar user interface. Mobile ad hoc networks based on the 802.11s wireless mesh network protocol allow students to collaborate on activities and share Internet access from one connection. Wireless networks have a much greater reach than regular consumer laptops. XO-1 has also been designed for lower cost and longer lifetime than regular laptops.
In 2009, OLPC announced an XO update (dubbed XO-1.5 ) that utilized the latest component technology. XO-1.5 includes the new VIA C7-M processor and a new chipset that provides 3D graphics engine and HD video decoder. It has 1GB of RAM and 4GB of built-in storage, with options for 8 GB. XO-1.5 uses the same display, and a wireless network interface with half the power dissipation.
Early prototype versions of the hardware were available in June 2009, and are available for software development and testing available for free through the developer program.
The XO-1.75 model was developed using the ARM Marvell processor, targeting prices below $ 150 and dates in 2011.
The two-sheet design XO-2 design was canceled in favor of one XO-3 sheet.
The XO-3 concept resembles a tablet computer and is planned to have an inner XO 1.75. The price target is under $ 100 and the date is 2012.
In May 2010, OLPC worked with Marvell on the design of other unspecified future tablets. In October 2010, both OLPC and Marvell signed an OLPC $ 5.6 million grant agreement to finance the development of next generation XO-3 tablet computers. The tablet uses an ARM chip from Marvell.
At CES 2012, OLPC showcased the XO-3 model, featuring a touch screen and a SugarLabs "Sugar" modified form. In early December 2012, however, it was announced that the XO-3 will not see actual production, and the focus has shifted to XO-4.
XO-4 launched at International CES 2013 in Las Vegas XO Laptop version 4 is available in two models: XO 4 and XO 4 Touch, with the latter providing multi-touch input on the screen. XO Laptop version 4 uses ARM processors to deliver high performance with low power consumption, while maintaining the traditional XO Laptop industry design.
Software
Laptops include anti-theft systems that can, optionally, require that each laptop periodically make contact with the server to update the cryptographic lease token. If the cryptographic lease expires before the server is contacted, the laptop will be locked until a new token is given. The contact may be to a country-specific server over the network or to a school-level local server that has been loaded manually with a "lease" cryptographic token that allows the laptop to run for days or even months between contacts. Cryptographic password access tokens can be assigned to a USB flash drive for schools that are not connected to the network. Mass production laptops are also precipitated, prohibiting the installation of additional software or operating system replacement. Users interested in development should get the unlock keys separately (most developers' laptops for Western users have been unlocked). Claimed that locking prevents accidental firing and is part of an anti-theft system.
In 2006, the OLPC project was strongly criticized for Red Hat's non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Marvell regarding wireless devices in OLPC, especially considering OLPC projects positioned as open source friendly initiatives. An open letter to the documentation was signed by Theo de Raadt (recipient of the 2004 Award for Free Software Progress), and the initiative for open documentation has been supported by Richard Stallman, President of the Free Software Foundation. De Raadt later clarified that he found a problem with OLPC that had proprietary firmware files that were not allowed to be redistributed independently (even binary) by third-party operating systems like OpenBSD, and did not receive documentation to write down the drivers needed for the operating system. De Raadt has pointed out that the OpenBSD project does not require firmware source code, and there is no low-level documentation to work on the firmware, it only requires binary distribution rights and documentation to interact with the binary firmware that runs outside the main CPU, a fairly simple request that is generally respected by many other wireless device vendors such as Ralink. Stallman fully agrees with de Raadt's request to open the documentation, because Stallman is known to have a stronger and more idealistic position in terms of component ownership, and requires that even firmware running outside the main CPU be provided in source code, something de Raadt does not need. De Raadt must then point out that a more idealistic and less realistic position has instead been misconstrued to a more practical approach to OpenBSD to make it seem unreasonable, and stands in the notes that the OpenBSD position is much more easily satisfied, yet remains unsolvable.
OLPC dedication to "Free and open source" is questioned by May 15, 2008, announcement that large-scale buyers will be offered the option to add additional fees, special versions of Windows XP OS developed by Microsoft with regular, free and open Linux-based operating system with SugarLabs "Sugar OS" GUI. Microsoft developed a modified version of Windows XP and announced in May 2008 that Windows XP would be available for an additional 10 dollars per laptop. James Utzschneider, from Microsoft, said that initially only one operating system could be selected. OLPC, however, says that OLPC's future work will allow XO-1 laptops to double boot either a free and open Linux/Sugar OS Linux or Microsoft Windows XP exclusive. Negroponte further said that "OLPC will sell Linux-only and dual-boot, and will not sell Windows-only [XO-1 laptops]". OLPC released the first test firm to activate the dual-boot XO-1 on July 3, 2008. This option did not prove popular. In 2011, some pilots have received several thousand dual-boot machines, and new ARM-based machines do not support Windows XP. There are no significant implementations that purchase Windows licenses. Negroponte states that disputes have "become a diversion" for the project, and that the ultimate goal is to enable children to learn, while constructivism and open source ethos are more a means of achieving that goal. Charles Kane agrees, stating that anything that diverts from the ultimate goal of distribution and widespread use is counterproductive.
Bugs
Organizations have been criticized for lack of problem-solving support. Teachers in Peru are told to deal with the problem in one of two ways. If the problem is a software problem, they will flash the computer, and if it is a hardware problem, they should report it. In the classroom environment, this black-boxing approach is criticized for causing teachers and students to feel disconnected, and confused by laptops, which results, in most cases, on laptops eventually not in use. Some defects in OLPC XO-1 hardware have emerged in the field, and laptop repairs are often ignored by students or their families (who are responsible for maintenance) due to the relatively high cost of some components (such as displays).
On the software side, Bitfrost security system has been known to disable it incorrectly, leaving the laptop unusable until it is not locked by a support technician with the right key. (This is a time consuming process, and the problem often affects a large number of laptops at the same time). The Sugar interface is hard to learn by the teachers, and the mesh network feature on OLPC XO-1 becomes buggy and mostly unused in the field.
The OLPC XO-1 device does not have connectivity to an external monitor or projector, and teachers are not provided with software for remote assessment. As a result, students can not present their work to the entire class, and teachers should also assess the work of students of each laptop. Teachers often find it difficult to use a keyboard and screen, designed using the students in mind.
Environmental impact
In 2005 and before the final design of XO-1 hardware, OLPC received criticism due to concerns over the environmental and health effects of hazardous materials found in most computers. OLPC asserts that it aims to use as much as possible environmentally friendly materials; that laptops and all OLPC-supplied accessories will be fully compliant with the EU Regulations on Harmful Age Restrictions (RoHS); and that laptops will use a smaller power sequence than the usual consumer netbooks that were available in 2007 thus minimizing the environmental load from power plants.
XO-1 shipped (starting in 2007) uses environmentally friendly materials, in accordance with RoHS EU and uses between 0.25 and 6.5 watts in operation. According to the Electronics Electronics Council's Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool, whose primary goal is assessing and measuring the impact of laptops on the environment, the XO is not only non-toxic and fully recyclable, but longer-lasting, less costly, and more energy-efficient. XO-1 is the first laptop to rank EPEAT Gold.
Anonymity
Another discussion questioned whether OLPC laptops should be designed to promote anonymity or to facilitate government tracking of stolen laptops. The article in June 2008 New Scientist criticized the P_THEFT Bitfrost security option, which allowed each laptop to be configured to send individual irreversible individual signatures to the central server at most every day to keep it working.
Distribution
Laptops are sold to the government, to be distributed through the ministries of education with the aim of distributing "one laptop per child". The laptop is given to students, similar to a school uniform and ultimately remains a child's. The operating system and software are localized to the languages ​​of the participating countries.
OLPC now also works directly with program sponsors from the public and private sectors to implement its education programs across schools and communities. As a nonprofit organization, OLPC does require funding sources for its programs so that laptops are provided to students at no cost to children or to their families.
Initial distribution
About 500 developer boards (Alfa-1) were distributed in mid-2006; 875 work prototypes (Beta 1) sent in late 2006; 2400 Beta-2 machines were distributed at the end of February 2007; full-scale production began on November 6, 2007. Approximately one million units were produced in 2008.
Give program 1 Get 1
OLPC originally stated that no consumer version of the XO laptop was planned. The project, however, then set up the laptopgiving.org website to receive live donations and run the "Give 1 Get 1" (G1G1) offer starting November 12, 2007. The offer was originally scheduled to run for only two weeks, but extended until December 31 2007 to meet demand. With a $ 399 donation (plus US $ 25 shipping fee) to the "Give 1 Get 1" OLPC program, donors receive their own XO-1 laptop and OLPC send others on their behalf to a child in a developing country. Delivery of "Get 1" laptops sent to donors is restricted to addresses in the United States, its territory, and Canada.
About 83,500 people participated in the program. Delivery of all G1G1 laptops was completed on April 19, 2008. Delays were blamed on order fulfillment and delivery issues both in OLPC and with outside contractors hired to manage aspects of the G1G1 program.
Between November 17 and December 31, 2008, the second G1G1 program runs through Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. This partnership was chosen specifically to solve the distribution problem of the 2007 G1G1 program. The price for consumers is the same as in 2007, which is $ 399.
The program aims to be available worldwide. Laptops can be sent in the US, in Canada and in more than 30 European countries, as well as in some Central and South American countries (Colombia, Haiti, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay), African countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Madagascar, Rwanda ) and Asian countries (Afghanistan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal). Nonetheless, the program only sells about 12,500 laptops and generates only $ 2.5 million, a decline of 93 percent from a year earlier.
OLPC no longer advertises directly to consumers, focusing on fundraising efforts. In 2011, they launched a new website designed by Pentagram and Upstatement.
Delivery of laptop
By 2015, OLPC reports 'more than 3 million laptops' have been shipped.
Regional response
Uruguay
In October 2007, Uruguay ordered 100,000 laptops, making Uruguay the first country to buy full orders of laptops. The first real implementation, non-pilot OLPC technology took place in Uruguay in December 2007. Since then, 200,000 laptops have been ordered to cover all public school children between 6 and 12 years old.
President TabarÃÆ'Â © VÃÆ'¡zquez from Uruguay presented his last laptop at school in Montevideo on October 13, 2009. For the past two years, 362,000 students and 18,000 teachers have been involved, and have cost $ 260 (£ 159) per child, maintenance, equipment repair, teacher training and internet connection. The annual fee for maintaining the program, including information portals for students and teachers, will be US $ 21 (£ 13) per child.
The country was reported to be the first in the world where every elementary school child received a free laptop on October 13, 2009 as part of the Plan Ceibal (Education Connect).
Unfortunately, although about 35% of all OLPC computers go to Uruguay, a 2013 study by the Institute of Economics (University of the Republic of Uruguay) of the Ceibal plan concluded that the use of laptops did not improve literacy and that laptop use was mostly recreational, with only 4.1% laptops are used "all" or "most" days in 2012. The main conclusion is that the results show no impact of the OLPC program on the value of tests in reading and math.
United States
Initially, OLPC announced the United States would not be part of the first year effort. In 2008, Nicholas Negroponte said "OLPC America already has a director and a chairman and is likely to be based in Washington, D.C.," but such an organization is not formed. In 2010, Birmingham, Alabama is the largest placement in the US. Some people say the changing economic landscape is forcing OLPC to adapt their distribution strategies. Negroponte cites patriotism, "building a critical mass", and provides a means for children around the world to communicate.
Artsakh
On January 26, 2012, prime minister Ara Harutyunyan and businessman Eduardo Eurnekian signed a memorandum of understanding that launched the OLPC program in Artsakh. The program is directed to elementary schools throughout Artsakh. Eurnekian hopes to reduce the gap by providing war-categorized territories to engage in a more solid education. The Netherlands Union, General Benvenolent, based in New York, helps to assume responsibility by providing support in the field. The Government of Artsakh is very enthusiastic and working with OLPC to bring this program to fruition.
Nigeria
Lagos Analysis Corp., also called Lancor, a Lagos, Nigeria-based company in the US, sued OLPC at the end of 2007 for $ 20 million, claiming that the computer keyboard design was stolen from a patented Lancor device. OLPC responded by claiming that they did not sell multi-lingual keyboards in designs claimed by Lancor, and that Lancor had misinterpreted and concealed material facts before the court. In January 2008, the Nigerian Federal Court rejected OLPC's move to reject the LANCOR lawsuit and renewed its orders against OLPC distributing its XO Laptop in Nigeria. OLPC appealed the Court's decision, Appeal is pending in the Federal Court of Appeal of Nigeria. In March 2008, OLPC filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts to stop LANCOR from demanding it in the United States. In October 2008, MIT News magazine erroneously reported that the Middlesex High Court granted the OLPC movement to dismiss all LANCOR claims against OLPC, Nicholas Negroponte, and Quanta. On October 22, 2010 OLPC voluntarily moved the Massachusetts Court to cancel its own lawsuit against LANCOR.
In 2007, the XO laptop in Nigeria reportedly contained pornographic material belonging to children participating in the OLPC Program. In response, OLPC Nigeria announced that it would begin equipping engines with filters.
India
India's Ministry of Human Resources Development, in June 2006, rejected the initiative, saying "it is impossible to justify spending on this scale on a debatable scheme when public funds continue to be in inadequate supply to the established needs listed in different policies document ". Then they stated plans to make a laptop for $ 10 each for schoolchildren. Two designs submitted to the Ministry of Engineering students last year from the Vellore Institute of Technology and a researcher from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in May 2007 reportedly describe laptops that can be produced for "$ 47 per laptop" even for small volumes. The ministry announced in July 2008 that the cost of their $ 10 laptop would in fact be $ 100 when the laptop became available. In 2010, Sakshat Tablet worth $ 35 was unveiled in India, released the following year as "Aakash". In 2011, each Aakash sold for about $ 44 by Indian company, DataWind. DataWind plans to launch similar projects in Brazil, Egypt, Panama, Thailand and Turkey. OLPC then expressed support for the initiative.
In 2009, a number of countries announced plans to order OLPC. However, in 2010, only the state of Manipur has deployed 1000 laptops.
See also
References
Further reading
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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