The case against OLPC?

Asaf Maruf asafmaruf-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org
Tue Dec 11 13:51:14 UTC 2007


The third world countries are not 100 years behind. What they, however, lack
is infrastructure, proper audit controls at government level, and control
over rampant corruption.

OLPC is a great idea. But I really don't think it will have the positive
impact that the project envisions. First of all, a number of laptops will be
redirected to corrupt government officials for personal use. Secondly, the
poor infrastructure in some urban areas and practically none in the rural
areas will create a number of issues like recharging the units, security,
repair/damage, finding enough capable instructors etc.

Among third world countries, Pakistan in particular has a very strong feudal
influence which already provides an environment where schools find it
difficult to exist; even the pencil and paper type. OLPC will have a
difficult time establishing itself in feudally dominated areas of the
country.

In the urban areas, public schools are at the mercy of the government which
does not provide enough funds for a school infrastructure including desks,
chairs, stationery and staff salaries. At rough estimates, some public
schools are provided government funds at a measly 5 US dollars per year per
student!


In light of this, what could be successful and more useful is setting up
Linux thin client labs in government funded public schools. An NGO could
procure discarded/obsolete workstations as thin client terminals and servers
to establish labs. I think we need to start from here.

OLPC is a great idea but the third world is not ready yet.

Asaf Maruf

On Dec 11, 2007 7:40 AM, James Knott <james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org> wrote:

> Howard Gibson wrote:
> >
> >
> >    Providing each child with a computer not only means hundreds of
> millions if not billions of computers at one or two hundred bucks each.  It
> means providing electricity to all the schools and homes that have to
> recharge the batteries, and providing internet access at least to the
> schools.  That is a lot of infrastructure.
> >
>
> Those OLPC computers also come with manual chargers, with pull strings,
> so they're not dependent on external sources of electricity. There's
> also a solar panel available for charging.
>
> >    Are laptops even a good idea.  What is wrong with a desktop in a
> classroom, where it can be shared.  The computers are cheaper, better
> protected, harder to lose or drop on the ground, and easier to connect to
> the internet.
> >
>
> Now you will need power. One point about the OLPC computer, is that it
> can be used to take audio & video messages home from the teacher to
> illiterate parents. Also, as has been demonstrated here and elsewhere,
> having a large number of students share one or a few computers simply
> doesn't work.
>
> >    According to my Economist Factboot from 2006, Kenya has a GDP per
> head of $450, and in Bangladesh, it is $350.  A $100 computer is not that
> cheap.
> >
> >
>
>
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-- 
"I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much
more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be
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