Hi Glen,
I agree that the standard of living (housing etc)
for the Aboriginal population is poor, and I'm not
aware of the limitations of the project (you seem
to have more info about that than I do). However,
as someone who has taught rural Aboriginal people
at a tertiary level - one of my favourite students
had sand as a floor, with carpet over it, and no
grid-electricity - this is one of the things that
provides encouragement and shows interest and
commitment beyond the basics of living.
I agree, also, that should it fail it would be
shameful. The knowledge to make these things works
exists. I hope the people involved are committed
to ensuring it does.
Regards,
Patrick
Glen Turner wrote:
elliott-brennan wrote:
The SMH had some very exciting news today.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/laptops--desktops/australia-trials-low-cost-laptop/2007/01/12/1168105153500.html
The OLPC are looking at trialling the laptops in remote indigenous
communities.
Not that exciting. They are going to evaluate it in one classroom.
There's a significant chance the trial will fail as the amount of
application software aimed at children on the OLPC is currently zero
and the amount of supprting training and curriculum material is
currently zero. The OLPC has the potential to become an expensive
white elephant unless this basic low tech and boring issues are
seen to.
There's been enough fads imposed on remote communities by special
interests with a barrow to push. Let's not add another one before
the basics of health, housing and employment are less shameful.
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