One Laptop Per Child
Wilfrid Laurier University
Terry Sturtevant
Wilfrid Laurier University
March 3, 2010
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Overview
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Overview
vision
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Overview
vision
hardware
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Overview
vision
hardware
software
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Overview
vision
hardware
software
vision meets reality
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Overview
vision
hardware
software
vision meets reality
future
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Vision
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Education around the world
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Education around the world
50% of kids don’t have electricity at home OR school
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Education around the world
50% of kids don’t have electricity at home OR school
Kids don’t drop out because they have to work;
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Education around the world
50% of kids don’t have electricity at home OR school
Kids don’t drop out because they have to work;
they drop out because they’re bored
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In one country,
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In one country,
25% of teachers are illiterate
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In one country,
25% of teachers are illiterate
another 25% are only 1 grade ahead of students
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In one country,
25% of teachers are illiterate
another 25% are only 1 grade ahead of students
50% of kids don’t go to school
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In one country,
25% of teachers are illiterate
another 25% are only 1 grade ahead of students
50% of kids don’t go to school
75% of girls don’t go to school
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Would a computer for each child change that?
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Vision
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Vision
Nicholas Negroponte of the MIT Media lab
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Vision
Nicholas Negroponte of the MIT Media lab
proposed an under $100 PC. ( 2004)
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Vision
Nicholas Negroponte of the MIT Media lab
proposed an under $100 PC. ( 2004)
Michael Dell -
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Vision
Nicholas Negroponte of the MIT Media lab
proposed an under $100 PC. ( 2004)
Michael Dell “Impossible!”
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Vision
Nicholas Negroponte of the MIT Media lab
proposed an under $100 PC. ( 2004)
Michael Dell “Impossible!”
Bill Gates -
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Vision
Nicholas Negroponte of the MIT Media lab
proposed an under $100 PC. ( 2004)
Michael Dell “Impossible!”
Bill Gates “Gees! Get a REAL computer!”
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“It’s an education project, not a laptop project”
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“It’s an education project, not a laptop project” - Nicholas
Negroponte
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“It’s an education project, not a laptop project” - Nicholas
Negroponte
Constructivism-
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“It’s an education project, not a laptop project” - Nicholas
Negroponte
Constructivism- Children learn by doing
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Hardware Environment
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Hardware Environment
limited (and/or intermittent) power
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Hardware Environment
limited (and/or intermittent) power
limited (and/or intermittent) connectivity
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Hardware Environment
limited (and/or intermittent) power
limited (and/or intermittent) connectivity
limited (and/or uncontrollable) light
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Hardware Environment
limited (and/or intermittent) power
limited (and/or intermittent) connectivity
limited (and/or uncontrollable) light
limited (and/or intermittent) maintenance facilities
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Basic specs
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Basic specs
AMD Geode 433MHz
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Basic specs
AMD Geode 433MHz
256MB DRAM
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Basic specs
AMD Geode 433MHz
256MB DRAM
1GB Flash memory (no hard drive)
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Basic specs
AMD Geode 433MHz
256MB DRAM
1GB Flash memory (no hard drive)
Dual mode 1200x900 display
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Basic specs
AMD Geode 433MHz
256MB DRAM
1GB Flash memory (no hard drive)
Dual mode 1200x900 display
Built-in wireless with mesh networking
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Basic specs
AMD Geode 433MHz
256MB DRAM
1GB Flash memory (no hard drive)
Dual mode 1200x900 display
Built-in wireless with mesh networking
Microphone, speakers, and jacks
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Basic specs
AMD Geode 433MHz
256MB DRAM
1GB Flash memory (no hard drive)
Dual mode 1200x900 display
Built-in wireless with mesh networking
Microphone, speakers, and jacks
Video camera (640x480 30FPS)
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Case
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Case
3 USB ports, SD card slot
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Case
3 USB ports, SD card slot
Thicker case, protection from water, temperature extremes, shock
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Case
3 USB ports, SD card slot
Thicker case, protection from water, temperature extremes, shock
Rotating display
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Case
3 USB ports, SD card slot
Thicker case, protection from water, temperature extremes, shock
Rotating display
Potrait/Landscape (i.e. eBook) mode)
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Case
3 USB ports, SD card slot
Thicker case, protection from water, temperature extremes, shock
Rotating display
Potrait/Landscape (i.e. eBook) mode)
Handle
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Case
3 USB ports, SD card slot
Thicker case, protection from water, temperature extremes, shock
Rotating display
Potrait/Landscape (i.e. eBook) mode)
Handle
No external display adapter
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Maintenance
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Maintenance
Display can be replaced in 15 minutes
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Maintenance
Display can be replaced in 15 minutes
Few tools required
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Maintenance
Display can be replaced in 15 minutes
Few tools required
Keyboard can be replaced
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Maintenance
Display can be replaced in 15 minutes
Few tools required
Keyboard can be replaced
Bunny ears can be re-attached
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Dual mode display
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Dual mode display
Active colour in normal or low light
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Dual mode display
Active colour in normal or low light
Reflective in bright light
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Keyboard
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Keyboard
Rubber membrane
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Keyboard
Rubber membrane
Several special keys
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Power options
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Charging several batteries at once
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Charging several batteries at once
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Charging several batteries at once
This is an option where power is available for part of the day.
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Solar power
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Solar power
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Solar power
Note that solar cells are not cheap.
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Human charging
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Human charging
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Human charging
This is ok for cellphones, but limited use for the XO.
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If you like chainsaws....
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If you like chainsaws....
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If you like chainsaws....
My personal favourite;
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If you like chainsaws....
My personal favourite; similar problem with clamp charger.
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Foot power
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Foot power
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Foot power
WEZA Foot charger
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One real system in Afghanistan
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One real system in Afghanistan
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One real system in Afghanistan
Note the cool “OLPC green” paint job!
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India, outside Mumbai
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India, outside Mumbai
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India, outside Mumbai
Apparently one cow can power about 20 XOs.
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Software
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Software
open source
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Software
open source
education focus
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User interface; Sugar
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User interface; Sugar
Operating system is modified Fedora Linux
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User interface; Sugar
Operating system is modified Fedora Linux
No file system
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User interface; Sugar
Operating system is modified Fedora Linux
No file system
uses a journal and tagging
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User interface; Sugar
Operating system is modified Fedora Linux
No file system
uses a journal and tagging
Activities, not applications
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User interface; Sugar
Operating system is modified Fedora Linux
No file system
uses a journal and tagging
Activities, not applications
Collaboration built in
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User interface; Sugar
Operating system is modified Fedora Linux
No file system
uses a journal and tagging
Activities, not applications
Collaboration built in
Mesh networking, activity sharing
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User interface; Sugar
Operating system is modified Fedora Linux
No file system
uses a journal and tagging
Activities, not applications
Collaboration built in
Mesh networking, activity sharing
Ability for students to view source of any activity
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User interface; Sugar
Operating system is modified Fedora Linux
No file system
uses a journal and tagging
Activities, not applications
Collaboration built in
Mesh networking, activity sharing
Ability for students to view source of any activity
No built-in printer support
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User interface; Sugar
Operating system is modified Fedora Linux
No file system
uses a journal and tagging
Activities, not applications
Collaboration built in
Mesh networking, activity sharing
Ability for students to view source of any activity
No built-in printer support
Set-up allows for school server
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School server
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School server
Intended source of Internet connection
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School server
Intended source of Internet connection
Allows teachers to view student work;
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School server
Intended source of Internet connection
Allows teachers to view student work;
i.e. paperless
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School server
Intended source of Internet connection
Allows teachers to view student work;
i.e. paperless
Performs automatic backups of all XO journals
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This is what the first version of the Sugar interface looked like.
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This is what the current version of the Sugar interface looks like.
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The outermost “layer” of the interface is the neighbourhood.
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The home “layer” of the interface shows personal activities.
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The journal has chronological entries of all activities.
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Searches can be done by activity type or tag.
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Education activities
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Education activities
Distance
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Education activities
Distance
Uses two XOs with sound to measure distance using sonar
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Education activities
Distance
Uses two XOs with sound to measure distance using sonar
Measure
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Education activities
Distance
Uses two XOs with sound to measure distance using sonar
Measure
Uses microphone input for signal, screen is an oscilloscope
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Education activities
Distance
Uses two XOs with sound to measure distance using sonar
Measure
Uses microphone input for signal, screen is an oscilloscope
Lots, many internationalized for several countries
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Education activities
Distance
Uses two XOs with sound to measure distance using sonar
Measure
Uses microphone input for signal, screen is an oscilloscope
Lots, many internationalized for several countries
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Programming
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Programming
Many languages
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Programming
Many languages
especially Python
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Programming
Many languages
especially Python
“Gear” key eventually intended so students can look at source
code for any activity
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Programming
Many languages
especially Python
“Gear” key eventually intended so students can look at source
code for any activity
Open source software allows students to learn more about any of
the system
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Security
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Security
$100 laptop
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Security
$100 laptop
$2 average wage
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Security
$100 laptop
$2 average wage
What about theft?
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Bitfrost security
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Bitfrost security
New machines are “activated”
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Bitfrost security
New machines are “activated”
Daily call-in
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Bitfrost security
New machines are “activated”
Daily call-in
Cryptographic leases
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Bitfrost security
New machines are “activated”
Daily call-in
Cryptographic leases
(eg. 21 day)
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Some success stories
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Uruguay
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Uruguay
Country-wide distribution
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Uruguay
Country-wide distribution
One school;
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Uruguay
Country-wide distribution
One school;
cow project
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Uruguay
Country-wide distribution
One school;
cow project
girl from farm filmed birth
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Uruguay
Country-wide distribution
One school;
cow project
girl from farm filmed birth
over 200000 hits on YouTube!
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Peru
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Peru
50% of kids in Peru with XOs are teaching their parents to read
and write.
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Resource for communities
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Resource for communities
Books delivered to one village;
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Resource for communities
Books delivered to one village;
100 laptops with 100 DIFFERENT books on each
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Resource for communities
Books delivered to one village;
100 laptops with 100 DIFFERENT books on each
→ 10000 books!
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Challenges
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Challenges
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Deployment issues;
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Deployment issues;
School server setup
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Deployment issues;
School server setup
Teacher training
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Deployment issues;
School server setup
Teacher training
Software internationalization
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Deployment issues;
School server setup
Teacher training
Software internationalization
Support
OLPC had a few dozen staff
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Partial timeline of deployment
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Partial timeline of deployment
Nov. 2006
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Partial timeline of deployment
Nov. 2006
First 1000 XOs produced
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Partial timeline of deployment
Nov. 2006
First 1000 XOs produced
Nov 2007
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Partial timeline of deployment
Nov. 2006
First 1000 XOs produced
Nov 2007
G1G1
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Partial timeline of deployment
Nov. 2006
First 1000 XOs produced
Nov 2007
G1G1
150000 XOs sold;
half donated
many delivery problems
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Politics
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Politics
Some countries wouldn’t accept XOs without Windows on them.
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Politics
Some countries wouldn’t accept XOs without Windows on them.
Some countries require local assembly of XOs.
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Competition
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Competition
2008 -
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Competition
2008 - Intel Classmate
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Netbooks didn’t exist before the XO!
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The Empire Strike Back
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The Empire Strike Back
May 2008-
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The Empire Strike Back
May 2008- XP on the XO
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The Empire Strike Back
May 2008- XP on the XO
“To enable the Sugar environment to reach as many children as
possible, particularly in the poorest areas of the world, OLPC must be
able to bid on educational technology contracts, some of which
require that Microsoft Windows be able to run on our hardware. The
increased volumes will lower the XO-1’s price, already lowest in the
industry with capabilities no other laptop shares.” -
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The Empire Strike Back
May 2008- XP on the XO
“To enable the Sugar environment to reach as many children as
possible, particularly in the poorest areas of the world, OLPC must be
able to bid on educational technology contracts, some of which
require that Microsoft Windows be able to run on our hardware. The
increased volumes will lower the XO-1’s price, already lowest in the
industry with capabilities no other laptop shares.” - Nicholas
Negroponte
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The Empire Strike Back
May 2008- XP on the XO
“To enable the Sugar environment to reach as many children as
possible, particularly in the poorest areas of the world, OLPC must be
able to bid on educational technology contracts, some of which
require that Microsoft Windows be able to run on our hardware. The
increased volumes will lower the XO-1’s price, already lowest in the
industry with capabilities no other laptop shares.” - Nicholas
Negroponte
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Another view
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Another view
“You might as well introduce the children to an addictive drug. If the
XO turns out to be a platform for spreading the use of proprietary
software, its overall effect on the world will be negative.” -
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Another view
“You might as well introduce the children to an addictive drug. If the
XO turns out to be a platform for spreading the use of proprietary
software, its overall effect on the world will be negative.” - Richard
Stallman
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Nov. 2008
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Nov. 2008
G1G1 take 2
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Nov. 2008
G1G1 take 2
Run through Amazon.com
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Nov. 2008
G1G1 take 2
Run through Amazon.com
12000 XOs sold;
half donated
about 1/10 as successful as G1G1 2007
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Crisis
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Crisis
Jan 2009;
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Crisis
Jan 2009;
Sugar separated from OLPC;
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Crisis
Jan 2009;
Sugar separated from OLPC;
community based
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Crisis
Jan 2009;
Sugar separated from OLPC;
community based
July 2009;
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Crisis
Jan 2009;
Sugar separated from OLPC;
community based
July 2009;
NN calls Sugar a ”mistake”; should have been an Activity;
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Crisis
Jan 2009;
Sugar separated from OLPC;
community based
July 2009;
NN calls Sugar a ”mistake”; should have been an Activity;
OLPC switches from production to producing reference to be built
by outside partners
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Deployments as of May 2009
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Deployments as of May 2009
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Deployments
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Deployments as of May 2009
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Deployments
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Sugar changes
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Sugar changes
Sugar LiveCD;
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Sugar changes
Sugar LiveCD;
allows running Sugar on any PC;
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Sugar changes
Sugar LiveCD;
allows running Sugar on any PC;
also Sugar-on-a-stick
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Sugar changes
Sugar LiveCD;
allows running Sugar on any PC;
also Sugar-on-a-stick
Community-based means it can continue regardless of what
happens with OLPC organization
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Future
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Future
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Several directions
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Several directions
Sugar and netbooks
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Several directions
Sugar and netbooks
→ many other places
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Several directions
Sugar and netbooks
→ many other places
Pixel Qi working on next-generation cheaper display
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Several directions
Sugar and netbooks
→ many other places
Pixel Qi working on next-generation cheaper display
touch screen dual display?
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This is a vision of XO “version 2”.
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This is a vision of XO “version 2”.
This has apparently been abandoned.
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This is a vision of XO “version 3”.
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This is a vision of XO “version 3”. XPad, anyone?
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XO-3 preliminary specs
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XO-3 preliminary specs
Induction charging
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XO-3 preliminary specs
Induction charging
<1W power consumption
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XO-3 preliminary specs
Induction charging
<1W power consumption
Target price-
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XO-3 preliminary specs
Induction charging
<1W power consumption
Target price$75 (US)
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XO-3 preliminary specs
Induction charging
<1W power consumption
Target price$75 (US)
Target delivery-
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XO-3 preliminary specs
Induction charging
<1W power consumption
Target price$75 (US)
Target delivery2012
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XO-3 preliminary specs
Induction charging
<1W power consumption
Target price$75 (US)
Target delivery2012
(after XO 1.5, XO-1.75 in 2011“ish”)
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