Computer for Every Child

Nicholas Negroponte has a dream. He would like to provide every child with a computer. He is working to do that via his company, OLPC (2007).

Negroponte is courting various governments with his latest computer. The computer is physically durable and can resist shock, dirt, sand, and water. It has wireless Internet capability. It can be charged with a crank device. There are music programs and more.

His critics claim it will be impossible to get every child a laptop. His critics may be correct. However, if a large portion of children are exposed to laptops and many of them on an intimate basis, the gains within education are sure to be felt.

Considering all of the many benefits of technology within education, Negroponte's goal is a valuable one. It's also not going unnoticed as reported by 60 Minutes (CBS News, 2007). Intel is in competition with Negroponte's computer. In fact, Negroponte is claiming that Intel is purposely undercutting their price for their device merely to wedge his computer from the market.

One thing is sure, when companies battle/compete in the marketplace for a product, there must be big potential for followup gains. This should tell us that the idea is a good one, for both business investors and communities.

Resources
OLPC (2007) One Laptop Per Child. Official Website. Accessed online at: http://laptop.org/.
CBS News (2007) What If Every Child Had a Laptop? Accessed online at: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/20/60minutes/main2830058.shtml.