Alternatives to One Laptop Per Child

At CES Unveiled this past Sunday a new tablet device from One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) was announced:
When I first heard about OLPC I thought it sounded great. Open source software running on low-cost, durable hardware to help kids in the developing world have access to a better tech education. What's not to like? Although I'm not now against this effort, I doubt it's the most effective means of using tech to help young people in developing nations.

First, however durable the computers are, be they laptops or tablets, they will break eventually. As clever as the solar panels and hand-cranks are for charging, they are not easily replaced in underresourced areas of the planet. I've heard of spare parts being left with responsible parties at sites where the devices are distributed, but there's no telling if they'll be properly managed or made available as needed.

Second, if a laptop is given to a child "off the grid," what good is learning to program if that's the main computer she will ever see? If coding isn't the primary objective, then what material needs to be learned that can't be mastered through traditional means? Certainly literacy and math skills can be communicated through chalkboards, books and practice.

Third, wouldn't it make more sense to equip teachers with better technology, rather than simply hand out devices to students? Click here for more from Wayan Vota about investing in "teacher-centric computing."

Don't get me wrong! I'm a firm believer that it's essential to promote science and tech education in underdeveloped regions of the globe (as well as in the "developed countries!). Education in general, including the arts and literature as well, benefits individuals and society at large. It's simply that I think the methods should fit the circumstances.

In developing nations like Brazil, where there is stable access to electricity and the Internet as well as a means to source hardware and even obtain small business loans, something like Project Cauã  is a better avenue to follow. Tech training that employs open source software can make a big difference for young people and adults alike. Click here for more about Project Cauã.

As for isolated areas where the infrastructure is lacking and electricity may only be available at times, if at all, a different kind of tech education is needed. Open Source Ecology is one example, aiming to work out schematics for agricultural equipment that should be feasible for people almost everywhere. Open source hardware is an idea worth pursuing. Click here for more about Open Source Ecology.

Again, I'm not opposed to OLPC, but I also am not a supporter. If this project makes a real, tangible difference in the lives of children, then great. Personally, I prefer to focus on sustainable open source solutions.