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Darren Waters

What future for OLPC?

  • Darren Waters
  • 1 Jan 08, 20:35 GMT

Mary Lou Jepsen, the chief technology officer of the program has stepped down to .

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Jepsen's key role was to develop the laptop's power-efficient display and to ensure the computer was able to withstand the rigours of being used in .

Her departure, coming at the end of the Give One Get One (G1G1) scheme which sold the laptop commercially to users in the US, will be seen by many observers as another piece of bad news for a project which has proved difficult to get off the ground.

Few at OLPC would argue that the scheme has yet to turn the idea of one laptop per child intoin the hands of millions of children.

Thousands of children now have access to the laptops but the success has been modest when compared to the original vision.

OLPC says the Give One Get One scheme has been a success and has seeded the launch of programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Afghanistan.

I've not seen any actual hard data for G1G1 sales - but they would make for interesting reading.

So does Jepsen's departure signal another setback for OLPC?

Clearly the design work for the current revision of the laptop has finished - so perhaps Jepsen's role had become somewhat diminished. But it does raise question marks about the long-term design evolution of the laptop.

The next 12 months will be crucial for the long-term success of the project. Nicholas Negroponte needs to turn interest in the scheme into hard sales, if his grand vision is to be realised.

He is due to speak at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in the next week - and we'll be speaking with him and asking him about the future of the project, and the significance of Jepsen's departure.

Comments

  • 1.
  • At 03:28 PM on 02 Jan 2008,
  • cavlosnap wrote:

Methinks Mr. Walters is wishful thinking. The presence or absence of one member of a development team is not going to damage the future of what is already a viable product. While sales of the OLPC may not be up to early predictions it is a wonderful little product which seems to be putting the fear of god into the established laptop makers. All of a sudden sub-$500 notebooks are available but they lack the virtues of the OLPC.
I own a ASUS eee. It is a great product, light weight, portable,comes with functional software and seems to avoid at least some of the problems of standard PCs such as failing HDDs and overly bloated software.
Both the eee and the OLPC products get past the major problem with personal computers, the complex human/machine interface.
Given the performance of the eee I will likely buy a OLPC in the near future. Finally a VolksPC漏 !

  • 2.
  • At 05:29 PM on 02 Jan 2008,
  • Martin Owen wrote:

I had an opportunity to find out at first hand about the Brazil trials on a recent visit to Sao Paolo. It does seem to work in the environment. The only damage/problem has been to one device when the students "wanted to see how it works".

Availability of power sockets for recharging seemed to be the significant issue.

There may not be such a good future for OLPC in Brazil as in the Brazil "auction", factors like local production and import taxes are more significant than the educational questions. Things are not being compared on a like-for-like or lifetime usage basis.

(I will blog further about OLPC in Brazil next week in the Futurelab Education blog FLUX)

Its frustrating to see people complain about poor sales of the G1G1 sales when the offer isn't available to anybody outside of the US.

I have yet to find an answer to why the G1G1 scheme has only been made available to US/Canadian citizens.

I live in the UK and would buy one in an instant if it were available.

  • 4.
  • At 09:54 PM on 02 Jan 2008,
  • Paul wrote:

OLPC G1G1 whould have had a bigger impact if world wide delivery had have beed available. Not being able to dispatch a laptop to either Australia or the UK and Europe must have limited the capacity of the G1G1 program. This is more of an issue than the loss of one executive.

  • 5.
  • At 10:09 PM on 02 Jan 2008,
  • Keith J wrote:

I still find it difficult to comprehend the idea of a sub-$100 dollars PC. It's not per-se the idea of challenging the technology costs (much as I'd like my next laptop to cost that much!) but quite purely the pessimistic thought that throwing a technology at dis-advantaged individuals doesn't deal with their everyday needs.

Does a laptop feed them ? Does it help them understand disease? Does it dig the well to give them fresh water?

Of course it doesn't... the important thing is that will it enable them to do so in the future? I'm sorry but I don't think so.

They have to survive first. They have to be given the chance to walk before they run and a $100 spent on their community's survival counts way more than having access to google.....

It just makes me feel deeply perturbed that sending in technology gives us the impression that we're helping them and we're just not. Throwing that level of technology at them actually makes me feel that we (the advantaged) are preparing to cherry-pick their talented individuals. I don't feel proud of that.....

I'd rather spend that $100 on bribing the militia force to not steal the medical aid they need to live....

Quality of life and self-help are much more powerful tools than being able to run Quake......

It just doesn't seem as altruistic as I think it should be.

... that's a horribly pessimistic view but shouldn't we all keep that up there in front of the sponsers eyes to ensure they live to good ideals?

Keith

  • 6.
  • At 07:57 AM on 03 Jan 2008,
  • Conrad Taylor wrote:

Keith J's response to OLPC is quite a common one, but I believe is mistaken. I suggest visiting the OLPC project pages where you can read the reports from the field trials. It is very interesting to read of the ways in which children are educating themselves and each other through engagement with this educational tool, which by turns can be a writing tablet, a painting set, a musical instrument and composition machine, a camera, an access portal to a world of information and a whole library of books.

Fascination with the OLPC story in the media and generally has been on the one hand about the technology and its cost, and on the other, the "rightness" or otherwise of deploying them in poor countries.

What deserves more attention is the way in which the machine and, more importantly, its custom educational software, have been designed to support a constructionist model of education, something that empowers children and encourages them to think for themselves. And as you can read from the field reports, OLPC is not just dumping laptops into poor schools; it is also working with teachers to foster this innovative learning model.

Conrad

  • 7.
  • At 09:21 PM on 03 Jan 2008,
  • B. Avila wrote:

I'm to know why curious why the GIGI progam was stopped. My American elementary-age son loves his OLPC. I'm sure there is a market in the 1st world for these PCs.

  • 8.
  • At 11:42 AM on 04 Jan 2008,
  • Michael Hughes wrote:

I agree with Kieth J on so many points.

Its likely that the children that take to these computers will use thier talent as a ticket out of the rural areas and straight into the city to find work. I don't see have removing the most intelligent people in a community will help it long term.

They will probably use thier laptops to book the bus ticket....one way.

  • 9.
  • At 02:37 PM on 04 Jan 2008,
  • Anand wrote:

HI folks...;
OLPC seemed to be a good one but then i thought about something else.....
In thrid world countries whos going to pay for the internet bill that is going to come. I am sure that they wont be able to make a crank to pay the bill like they did for the power. Besides How viable is the crank idea. How long will it run for one turn. If the rate is such that it will run only for 1 sec per turn then i do not see the benifit. They might as well as use pen and paer to study with one computer providing net acess for the class so that it can agument what is being taught.

  • 10.
  • At 02:56 AM on 05 Jan 2008,
  • Sarah Corson wrote:

I have lived with and worked with people in eight developing countries and been involved since 1956. I am dismayed to find some comments on this saying they don't need such technology, but rather the money to get them a new water system, or other basic needs. Yes, they need their basic needs met, and our agency (SIFAT) teaches these self help programs. But the phrase, "They must walk before they can run," is not applicable in the developing world today. They have been "leap frogging" technologies, and will continue to do so. The children in these developing countries are awakening giants that are ready to learn NOW! We help them learn or many are tempted to become terrorists if they are closed out of participating in this world. What a tremendous thing this little computer is for children in the hard places of our world who long to learn, to grow mentally, to understand their world!

  • 11.
  • At 11:37 AM on 05 Jan 2008,
  • Alan wrote:

If the OLPC can but achieve critical mass (i.e get enough firm orders), it will, in my opinion, help produce an amazing evolutionary jump for mankind. This will be by its providing access to knowledge, both content and systems, for the dispossessed poor of whatever age, and especially the children, all eager to learn. And Sarah Corson is right: the developing world has provided examples of the leap frogging of technologies - just look at Africa and its rapid utilzation of mobile/cell phones, right down to the hand-to-mouth trader who can now check prices at stages and locations far removed from herself. These are momentuous developments, and Negroponte & OLPC deserve our paeans. And they need all the help that they can get, especially given the recent withdrawal of a partner that could have greatly helped, to bring OLPC to all who need it. Truly, may it be blessed!

  • 12.
  • At 06:48 PM on 05 Jan 2008,
  • John Hobson wrote:

With Intel also jumping ship it looks quite worrying for the project. Jepsen is still involved (see but the impression is that the project hasn't quite delivered what was hoped for as a real alternative to the wintel monopoly.

  • 13.
  • At 11:29 AM on 07 Jan 2008,
  • antonio clemente h wrote:

The comments on the OLPC are very constructive, but is necessary more experience in it

  • 14.
  • At 11:35 AM on 07 Jan 2008,
  • Modupe wrote:

I am always shocked at the ignorance of some of the people in the "developed countries" on what they think developing countries, e.g Africa needs.

I grew up a developing country, Nigeria, with its bad road, poor education, little food and many other basic necessities that you think are missing for any child to grow up, but I also hungered for communication, knowledge about the rest of the world, insight to what other children my own age were doing, reading, watching etc. This hunger will never be satified by food in my belly, good roads, electrcity, good water etc. Technology, access to the Internet, a laptop like this, could have satified me.

Can you let Africa speak for itself. Let Africans speak for themselves. Stop deciding what is important for us. It is a wonderful initiative and I am shocked that everybody is not backing this up.

African children are hungry for technolgy, communications and access to the rest of the world. We need hope and a window to see the world!

  • 15.
  • At 11:35 AM on 07 Jan 2008,
  • Modupe wrote:

I am always shocked at the ignorance of some of the people in the "developed countries" on what they think developing countries, e.g Africa needs.

I grew up a developing country, Nigeria, with its bad road, poor education, little food and many other basic necessities that you think are missing for any child to grow up, but I also hungered for communication, knowledge about the rest of the world, insight to what other children my own age were doing, reading, watching etc. This hunger will never be satified by food in my belly, good roads, electrcity, good water etc. Technology, access to the Internet, a laptop like this, could have satified me.

Can you let Africa speak for itself. Let Africans speak for themselves. Stop deciding what is important for us. It is a wonderful initiative and I am shocked that everybody is not backing this up.

African children are hungry for technolgy, communications and access to the rest of the world. We need hope and a window to see the world!

  • 16.
  • At 11:09 AM on 08 Jan 2008,
  • Se谩n wrote:

Stop kicking OLPC. It's a brilliant idea and has been turned into an amazing piece of technology. From the microscope attachment which can be used to detect Malaria to the carrying handle designed for a childs use.

Keith J is so narrowminded it amazes me, I've heard such anti technology rants before and they are as worrying as right wing religiosity in the states.

Mr Hobson has the wrong end of the stick also. Intel only joined up with OLPC to destroy it. That's right a huge US corporation is attempting to destroy a charitable effort to help the developing world for the sake of a few measly dollars. That's the real story, intel and their disgusting habits.

  • 17.
  • At 09:55 PM on 08 Jan 2008,
  • Dave Raftery wrote:

The OLPC is a great machine with a great future ahead of it. The technological advances of the low power daylight readable display, mesh networking and ruggedness will become must haves in the commercial market. Jepsen has left OLPC to market these technologies commercially. A commercial version of the OLPC with additional RAM memory priced at $250 USD would sell like hotcakes. There is nothing like it in that price range. Commercial sales would funnel money back to OLPC in the form of royalties for using the display and mesh networking technologies and get the production lines running at full capacity, which would reduce OLPC manufacturing costs for building laptops for the 3rd world countries. The G1G1 program was priced too high. The price point should be $250 to $300 USD to maximize sales. I want a OLPC laptop, but at $400, I would buy a Dell laptop for $100 more. My bet is that Jepsen will price a commercial version correctly and sales will take off.

  • 18.
  • At 02:59 AM on 10 Jan 2008,
  • pete manfield wrote:

it is interesting to read the predjudice about supposed 'third world' community priorities and needs enminating from armchair internet browsers in the west. whilst the cost, design, sustainability and running of the XO laptop are real concerns of both the designers and client governments that clearly have not yet been fully answered, this is a project that holds a lot of potential to be both a catalyst for change and an opportunity to make money for business (look at the behaviour of Intel..!). Governments with severely limited education budgets may not yet be in a position to place orders for 1 million laptops set against other more basic priority needs, but that isnt to say that this wont be viable in the future. Most communities I have worked with in developing countries value the education of their children above all else. The evidence of the development impact of other recently introduced 'leapfrogging' technologies (such as mobile telephones and wind up radios) has been tremendous. Currently, G1G1 might be the only viable way to get laptops into poor communities, but I suspect the indirect impact that connection to the wider world will bring by having only a few laptops in each community will become more and more apparent as results from trials return in the coming months and years ahead. Who knows, may be we in the west will be buying XO for 100 USD our children in the future...I suspect this it is western market for laptops that is the real reason for the breakdown of goodwill in the project thus far....

  • 19.
  • At 09:23 PM on 10 Jan 2008,
  • Daryl wrote:

I just got my XO laptop the other day, and I must say I am impressed!

This will definitely win the 2008 award for the coolest technology product!

The custom software, designed for young children, is simply amazing. They have put a lot of thought into it. Everything is so simple to do.

I wish I had bought 2 of them, so I can play with all of the shared/multi-user capabilities. Kids can chat, share the editing of documents,etc.

Congrats to OLPC!

  • 20.
  • At 08:16 PM on 18 Jan 2008,
  • Chris wrote:

Many people received this computer.
Maybe its because they were lonely and poor.

I read a post in PC Pro. They said that the OLPC had raised the price to $200, 拢100 approx in the UK.
I may want to recommend the Asus EEE PC 701. Cheaper and more faster than the OLPC.

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