I think many of your are missing the point about the usefulness of a laptop to a child in the third world and the realities faced by these kids:
What stands in the way of children getting access to decent schools, health care, etc. is the inherent corruption that exist in many of these countries at many levels of society. Just throwing money at problems (eg to buy food, medical supplies, build schools) does not usually work, due to the fact that the money never makes it to the people it was intended for. Then build in another layer, where the money gets diverted for political aims at the local level and you have a spiral of violence and deeper corruption that destabilizes governments. The road to hell being paved with good intentions.
Negroponte's idea and his basic plan of distribution seems to take these realities into consideration.
A laptop is small and portable, easily hidden.
You all seem to be discounting 'desire' as a powerful motivating factor. Kids covet and desire small shiny personal electronics, even if they have no idea what the thing is for. How many times have you seem some kid pick up a gameboy type handheld game and figure out how to play without any instruction.
Once a child gets a hold of one of these laptops, you can be certain he or she will figure out how to use it. There you go, the kernel of education happening at the most basic level, being fueled by desire and volition.
Once the process has started, even if the laptop is lost or stolen, the child will have made the conceptual leap into the digital age, the window will have been opened and the goal achieved.
The laptop represents an access point for the child to educate him or herself through the process of learning how to use the thing. This event sets up a dynamic that gives the child the possibility of building on this experience and learning other operating systems down the road, giving a chance at a future with a new skill set.
I too am looking at the Google's cache, Page Rank and Backward Links.
The Stupid vs. not Stupid is a very interesting take. I am astounded how many of my clients or people I am doing consulting with use Yahoo. I have several friends who are in the SEM world that only use Yahoo search, because they prefer yahoo mail. I usually associate people who mostly search with Yahoo to be 'less than' in my mind, but I think that is my own prejudice.
Then, there are a bunch on people I know who only view the web through the AOL browser...
Unlike most of the other people posting here, I think this raises an important issue. That 'user based' content, blogs being created by advertisers and companies designed to capitalize on real world consumer based feedback being a two way street.
If you are going to wade into this realm, you had better be prepared to act upon the feedback, to incorporate the two way forum into decisions and treat the participation from the online world with equal or more weight than marketing companies that came up with the 'blog', user based' solution in the first place.
To 'betray' the trust and confidence of the users will be how it this interaction is seen by the online community before anything else, and in that respect is where the primary issue exists.
In the end, 'the perception of reality' has greater weight in the 'live' interactive world than any 'true' reality on the client side.
This will be fun to watch. I went through 7, yes 7 interviews with Microsoft's AdCenter, before they even came up with a name for it.
After a painful process involving homework assignments (can you say free consulting, I finally had my Big Interview with the MAN. I told him in no uncertain terms that if 'the homework' assignment was any indication of their paid search strategy that they had better re-think.
Needless to say I didn't get the job, but I had reached such a level of frustration with the process, and 'the homework' thingy used a new lexicon that MSN in all their Imperial Wisdom had determined that were going to be 'the new defining keywords for search' I asked what these new words meant, and was told that I should know. Pleeease ! Spare me.
I love that phrase, it's a new one to me. Having spent the last couple of years consulting with a couple of companies surfing the tide of information to define the legal edge of what is possible online, I have started to give up on this notion.
Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you brings into focus the belief of the notion of anonymity: anyone with any brains understands that absolute anonymity is very difficult to achieve if at all even possible. Yet, there is something about staring into the Internet on a computer screen which seduces the masked voyeur in all of us.
I was at a masked party (a disco party at that) a couple of months ago which opened my eyes to this aspect of human nature. The party was a blast, cause everyone seemed to be freed from the usual constraints of behavior. It was fun, relaxed, the communication had been unlocked.
I don't know where I am going with this...I was making a point. Nice presentation, luv the Dylan thing.
A good example of the media industry trying to shoehorn their old business model into an interactive world.
From my own recent interactions with clients I think a great deal of this is that the people (Oscars today, Viacom a month ago, the RIAA forever) are not using the Internet in the way that most people are using the Interent. The see it as a thing, a delivery device, they are not immersed in the experience.
I ahve noticed as of late, that many of my clients want solutions vis a vis their websites, ecommerce, blogs, search, but they are not willing or capable to dive into the web and get a handle on the tools, the space, the experience.
It can be very frustrating. It is the conceptual leap that is missing.
Kinda like Pol Pot and Cambodia, it almost beomes more useful to deal with the youth, just let the old people build giants earthworks on a bowl of rice a day. They have been corrupted by TV and 'one way media'...
The issue here is not about Iraq, or even unfair trade practice in the US market, the real issue is the revolving door between industry lobbyists and the government.
To go to the heart of the current problems our country is facing is to examine the comments of FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.
There needs to be a moratorium on this revolving door to protect our interests as citizens of this country, after all, it is our tax dollars paying this corrupt mercenary to protect we the people from monopolistic business practices.
As to the humor ?
Guess the joke is on us, the taxpayer and consumer.
Re: The Realities of Technology in the Third World
Re: Jon
Awesome breakdown of the realities of getting technology and computers to the third world.
You helped me get a clearer understanding about the real hurdles out there. Thanks for clarifying !
The Reailities of helping people in Third World
I think many of your are missing the point about the usefulness of a laptop to a child in the third world and the realities faced by these kids:
What stands in the way of children getting access to decent schools, health care, etc. is the inherent corruption that exist in many of these countries at many levels of society. Just throwing money at problems (eg to buy food, medical supplies, build schools) does not usually work, due to the fact that the money never makes it to the people it was intended for. Then build in another layer, where the money gets diverted for political aims at the local level and you have a spiral of violence and deeper corruption that destabilizes governments. The road to hell being paved with good intentions.
Negroponte's idea and his basic plan of distribution seems to take these realities into consideration.
A laptop is small and portable, easily hidden.
You all seem to be discounting 'desire' as a powerful motivating factor. Kids covet and desire small shiny personal electronics, even if they have no idea what the thing is for. How many times have you seem some kid pick up a gameboy type handheld game and figure out how to play without any instruction.
Once a child gets a hold of one of these laptops, you can be certain he or she will figure out how to use it. There you go, the kernel of education happening at the most basic level, being fueled by desire and volition.
Once the process has started, even if the laptop is lost or stolen, the child will have made the conceptual leap into the digital age, the window will have been opened and the goal achieved.
The laptop represents an access point for the child to educate him or herself through the process of learning how to use the thing. This event sets up a dynamic that gives the child the possibility of building on this experience and learning other operating systems down the road, giving a chance at a future with a new skill set.
I think it's brilliant.
Spell Check , Search and General Web Idiocy
I use Google to spellcheck all the time.
I too am looking at the Google's cache, Page Rank and Backward Links.
The Stupid vs. not Stupid is a very interesting take. I am astounded how many of my clients or people I am doing consulting with use Yahoo. I have several friends who are in the SEM world that only use Yahoo search, because they prefer yahoo mail. I usually associate people who mostly search with Yahoo to be 'less than' in my mind, but I think that is my own prejudice.
Then, there are a bunch on people I know who only view the web through the AOL browser...
*throws up hands in frustration*
Crossroads
Unlike most of the other people posting here, I think this raises an important issue. That 'user based' content, blogs being created by advertisers and companies designed to capitalize on real world consumer based feedback being a two way street.
If you are going to wade into this realm, you had better be prepared to act upon the feedback, to incorporate the two way forum into decisions and treat the participation from the online world with equal or more weight than marketing companies that came up with the 'blog', user based' solution in the first place.
To 'betray' the trust and confidence of the users will be how it this interaction is seen by the online community before anything else, and in that respect is where the primary issue exists.
In the end, 'the perception of reality' has greater weight in the 'live' interactive world than any 'true' reality on the client side.
*seething rage*
Fume, Fume, Fume...
Rage, Rage, Rage...
*mumbling*
'One of these days were going to have a real necktie party !'
Super DRM Man.
I am Invincible ! I am Super DRM Man !
I can leap Pirate Bay in a Single Bound !
I can Protect the Secrets of WMDs !
I am Slower than a moving freight train...
I Super, Super Duper, DOD DRM Man !
Huzzah !
Enough is Enough !
The influence of the RIAA and the MPAA is getting increasingly ridiculous. Next stop, Thought Police !
Oh, wait a minute...
Hah !
This will be fun to watch. I went through 7, yes 7 interviews with Microsoft's AdCenter, before they even came up with a name for it.
After a painful process involving homework assignments (can you say free consulting, I finally had my Big Interview with the MAN. I told him in no uncertain terms that if 'the homework' assignment was any indication of their paid search strategy that they had better re-think.
Needless to say I didn't get the job, but I had reached such a level of frustration with the process, and 'the homework' thingy used a new lexicon that MSN in all their Imperial Wisdom had determined that were going to be 'the new defining keywords for search' I asked what these new words meant, and was told that I should know. Pleeease ! Spare me.
Help !
"Save the Children !"
Patina of Anonymity
I love that phrase, it's a new one to me. Having spent the last couple of years consulting with a couple of companies surfing the tide of information to define the legal edge of what is possible online, I have started to give up on this notion.
Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you brings into focus the belief of the notion of anonymity: anyone with any brains understands that absolute anonymity is very difficult to achieve if at all even possible. Yet, there is something about staring into the Internet on a computer screen which seduces the masked voyeur in all of us.
I was at a masked party (a disco party at that) a couple of months ago which opened my eyes to this aspect of human nature. The party was a blast, cause everyone seemed to be freed from the usual constraints of behavior. It was fun, relaxed, the communication had been unlocked.
I don't know where I am going with this...I was making a point. Nice presentation, luv the Dylan thing.
Was looking for a good new music site...
After I write this post, I am going to the site and see what all the fuss is about. Thanks Evil Music Goons ! (EMG)
*LOL*
Bravo !
Shameless Fanboying here !
Luv tha pic of Babs in the Forbes Article. She's my fave !
Jeepers !
Your are right on point, again, as usual.
A good example of the media industry trying to shoehorn their old business model into an interactive world.
From my own recent interactions with clients I think a great deal of this is that the people (Oscars today, Viacom a month ago, the RIAA forever) are not using the Internet in the way that most people are using the Interent. The see it as a thing, a delivery device, they are not immersed in the experience.
I ahve noticed as of late, that many of my clients want solutions vis a vis their websites, ecommerce, blogs, search, but they are not willing or capable to dive into the web and get a handle on the tools, the space, the experience.
It can be very frustrating. It is the conceptual leap that is missing.
Kinda like Pol Pot and Cambodia, it almost beomes more useful to deal with the youth, just let the old people build giants earthworks on a bowl of rice a day. They have been corrupted by TV and 'one way media'...
;)
Ugly...
I would have to agree, very clumsy guys. Why don't you push the envelop and make it really really ugly, so it makes some sort of retro statement,
Just a though, right mow it is simple ugly, and the beige or yellow is pretty horrid, if you want me to get specific, that and the layers on the top.
Straight shooting...
OMG !
You mean the Moon is not made out of Cheese ?
*wanders to hill to howl at the moon*
1st !
that firm was probably owned by some cops !
reminiscent of out current head cop, Mr. Gonzales.
Pigs on the Web !
3rd
That Damn Internet Thingy just won't go away !
We better do soumtin' about it, and raght quick !
Oh Yeah ?
The issue here is not about Iraq, or even unfair trade practice in the US market, the real issue is the revolving door between industry lobbyists and the government.
To go to the heart of the current problems our country is facing is to examine the comments of FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.
There needs to be a moratorium on this revolving door to protect our interests as citizens of this country, after all, it is our tax dollars paying this corrupt mercenary to protect we the people from monopolistic business practices.
As to the humor ?
Guess the joke is on us, the taxpayer and consumer.
Ha Ha, Hee Hee, Ho Ho.
Avast !
Shiver Me Timbers !
Aaauuurrrgghh !
It's time fer some PAyBAck, ME HEarties !