U.S. schools may join inexpensive-laptop project

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Fire and Forget Tech Doesn't Work

Like many (3rd world) projects in the past, I can't see a "fire and forget" strategy working. History is replete with examples of low-tech societies reverting to tech they can understand and maintain themselves. I think this project has enormous potential, but only if it can be sustained. There needs to be local expertise that can keep these laptops working, plus local expertise and infrastruture to provide connection to resources and to the rest of the world.

I envision a need for a bus to roll into the village (neighbourhood) once a week to provide a free and disconnected download/upload service for email, a download library, ability to subscribe to global news resources (so fans can follow their favorite actor/musician/singer/author) downloads of educational, NGO, and government information (health, law, regs, whatever). The bus would have a laptop repair expert, an electronic librarian, an infrastruture consultant, and an educator. Of course this would likely be just one person.

I can see how this could work, but only with long term commitment, support, and first world $$$ to bootstrap the process and provide at least one successful exemplar for how it can be done.

-RS-

Posted by: retired_spy@...   Posted on: 04/30/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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