OLPC PSA

[mamajoan]

I know I've mentioned the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program here before. This is an initiative that is working to provide laptop computers to every school-age child in the developing world. They have created a very cool machine, called the XO Laptop, which is designed with kids in mind and designed to work in third-world conditions. (I have seen an in-person demo of this computer and it is REALLY neat. I think I posted here about it at the time. They have really thought of everything both from a child's perspective and from an environment perspective.)

Right now they are having a "Give One, Get One" program where for $400 you can donate one laptop to a needy child and receive a second one for yourself and your child. See: http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/index.php for details.

If you're in the Boston area, you might be interested to know that there will be an info session next Monday at 6pm at the BB&N school in Cambridge. People from the OLPC team will be there to demo the laptop and answer questions about the program. They'll also have info about a matching program whereby a local fund will match your donation.

For any more info or to RSVP you can contact Miles Grimshaw: miles_grimshaw(at)bbns(dot)org. He happens to be the son of the CEO of the company I work for. Apparently he interned at the OLPC project this summer and is spearheading the local push.

Anyway, check it out because this is some seriously cool shit. :)

Comments

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

Can you ask him if there are any Jersey demos? I put my order in, and I'm planning to donate the second laptop to a charity in my old hometown in WV, where there are kids growing up in some pretty bad conditions. But I'd still like to see how it works before it arrives!

[daharyn.livejournal.com]

I work with someone in NYC who worked on this project this past summer and might be able to do something informally.

Another opinion

[sarahshevett.livejournal.com]

Some other thoughts on this project
http://www.slate.com/id/2174599/