Reactions to story from One Laptop Per Child News

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  Chicago-OLPC Grassroots Group Meeting (Google Chicago, 1/22/2008)

  http://rasml.org/?p=1160
  222 days ago in Present Tensed: · Authority: 25

  Almost a week after the fact, let me add a few minor things to the writeups I’ve seen (1, 2, 3) of the COGG meeting at Google’s Chicago office last week. For a more substantive accounting be sure to check the official notes. IMSA students (an impressive lot) are working on a host of (mostly) technological projects relating to the development of new software and sensors for the XO. I really can’t convey just how impressed I was by their initiative and wild-eyed optimism. I left the meeting thinking about all the things that we can do with University of Chicago Students on the development end, after walking in really focused on what we can do with CPS students in their curriculum. The attendees at the meeting at Google were mostly on the technical side, which while not unexpected was still a bit of a surprise (since I’ve really only been talking to people on “the curricular” side of this). The Python community was well-represented. I’ve always had a fondness for python since my web-programming class back in the day. Good times. PyCon is on the horizon & in Chicago, FYI. I’d never seen so many XOs in one place! The mesh network screens were full! After talking with a few Google engineers, Google is apparently every bit the employment wonderland that people make it out to be. Thanks to Mel (from OLPC) for being our convener and to Google for hosting this meeting. Updates: Our OLPC @ UCHICAGO group is going to have two February events.  The first on Tuesday February 12 from 9-12 (give or take) @ Chapin Hall that will probably have more of a curricular/implementation in classrooms kinds of bend, and a second during an evening in late February that will be more geared as an introduction for students at the University (Date/Location: TBD).  At the first session we’ll have people from CUIP (who work on technology integration in the public schools), and USI (who work on developing top-notch charter schools) present talking about the program in general and what a pilot program in Chicago schools could look like (and what it would need to succeed).  I’ll update the wiki to this effect soon. 
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  One Laptop per Child

  http://mitm.piquant.us/000707.html
  225 days ago in Man in the Middle · No authority yet

  One of this year's hottest Christmas gifts is one you give to the poorest of the poor. The new XO laptop computer, originally intended to help poor children in the third world learn to use a computer, was for a limited time also available to donors via a buy one, get one free offer. Beginning November 14 and ending December 31, 2007, charitable donors were offered a chance to both donate an XO to a poor child via laptopgiving, plus get another XO for personal use or direct donation. Sweetening the pot even more, T-Mobile also threw in a free year of WiFi hot spot access (and I will definitely remember their generosity the next time I need a mobile phone.) Without knowing this would become a trendy thing to do, I signed up immediately, and became one of the first to actually receive an XO. The shocking thing to me is that the XO is actually a very cool laptop. It weighs just 3# 9oz (including the battery & power supply), is a tiny 10" x 10" x 1", and uses only 8 watts. yet includes a custom version of Linux, WiFi, 3 USB ports, an SD port, a mic and audio port, a 7" color screen visible even in full daylight that can be flipped over to cover the rubber-protected keyboard and used as a tablet for such tasks as reading an ebook, Without much fuss I was able to connect to the Internet via my home WiFi system and browse my favorite blog. Even so, it may be months or even years before I figure out all the other options included in this critter. (By then my newborn grandson may be big enough to explain it all to me as we enjoy it together.) Update: Here's a bit more technical info on the XO: It has a 433MHz AMD CPU, 256MB of RAM, 1GB of SSD storage, and can accept one SDHD card up to at least 8GB in capacity. It also has a 640 x 480 Web cam, so theoretically might even be capable of running the new Linux version 1.4 of Skype for video calls. Its browser is based on Gecko, the same as FireFox, and I've already managed to use the XO to run (albeit very slowly) the database I support at work. Here's my prediction: both kids and hackers (in the good sense) are going to have a ton of fun with this thing. Update2: After seeing it, Shades agrees. Small example: It turns out the XO is an excellent eBook reader, with many of the features of the hot new Amazon "Kindle" reader. I've already downloaded and read one very good recent novel on it, and found it every bit as good an experience as reading a book on paper, and better than reading one on my Treo. I expect a LOT of good content to be made available for free on the XO, in support of its educational mission to the poorest of the poor. I'm happy to help with that, and also happy to be among those who benefit. One more new learning: the target age for kids is 6-12, though kids as young as 3 are already enjoying the XO, as are adults. Update3: The Give One Get One promotion has ended, and was a great success, with 150,000 computers donated. For those who got one, the first update is expected to be available sometime during January of 2008. Some expected features weren't ready yet on Day One, such as a spreadsheet, but will be eventually, so be sure to check the OLPC Wiki occasionally for updates. Update4: Wow, look Shades, there's already an OLPC group at IMSA (Illinois Math & Science Academy, a wonderful public high school.) Here's their Wiki. Here's how OLPC News described their first presentation to a new Chicago OLPC group.: "The evening opened with some presentations by the IMSA students. The thing you need to know about them is that they are scary smart. In a good way. Whatever you do, don't underestimate them. Students at IMSA are proud to hold the distinction of the only OLPC High School Interest Group. They are working on a variety of projects from the ambitious (building an EKG device to plug into the microphone jack) to the seemingly simple (clock.) The EKG team was geeky-excited to have talked to the developer of the Measure activity about the nuances of instrumental amplifier hardware. They haven't sustained any permanent damage from their experiments, though that left-leaning limp looked a little suspicious, and are proud to report they now know how to solder. Their work with the acoustic tape measure activity led them to believe that the OLPC is a good tool for conducting experiments. From here, they decided to work on a module to present the scientific method. This led them to do research on the societies where OLPC laptops are targeted for, so as to understand social constraints around manner of dress and gestures for video-based content."
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  Chicago OLPC Community Meetup Success

  http://business-cards.jfcforum.com/2008/01/25/chicago-olpc-c...
  225 days ago in Business Card Information and Deals · Authority: 33

  Chicago OLPC Community Meetup Success January 25th, 2008 The rest of the evening was spent in small groups sharing ideas, passing laptops around, and exchanging business cards. Note to those attending meetups – bring something with your name/email/preferred way of reaching you, … Original post by (Guest Writer) no_spam@olpcnews.com Posted in Uncategorized |

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