Inpexpensive Laptop Computers

Within the last year there have been significant changes in the ability to produce inexpensive, small, and powerful laptop computers. Leading this field was “One Laptop Per Child,” the project led by Nicholas Negroponte to provide networked computers to children in developing countries. To keep energy consumption down, the OLPC included a number of breakthrough technologies such that when it was made available under a “buy one for a child, get one for your own,” it generated a great deal of interest by technologists who see it as “sexy” and are eager to play with it. It turns out that, among other things, the OLPC also serves fairly well as an ebook reader that works in bright sunlight. In addition, the computer includes built-in WiFi networking. Since the advent of the OLPC, there are now commercial computers that use standard hardware and software (both open source and proprietary), such as from Asus. Regardless of the specific hardware platform, this class of computers not only provide significant ability to work with different software applications, but are also able to use and even create networks. Continued advances in this field will make ubiquitous computing more affordable to the developing world and will continue to enable even greater technological leapfrogging than in the past.

Sources

• Wall Street Journal's Andy Jordan talks to adults who can't wait to get their hands on the "unbelievably sexy" machines.

This page is part of the Environmental Scan, one of NELINET's Planning, Assessment & Accreditation Initiatives.