Laptops From the Skies
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If you’ve been a listener to the Tech Podcast for awhile, you know that we’ve covered the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project in some detail. The idea is straightforward: build a low-cost computer that can be deployed widely in the developing world. In this episode of WTP, we’re focusing on deployment. Nicholas Negroponte, The head of the OLPC project recently put forward an idea that, at first glance, may look more like a story from The Onion. He wants to drop the machines, or the forthcoming tablet version, from helicopters onto unsuspecting communities. The idea is to see how kids might respond when a machine is, quite literally, dropped into their laps. Sounds a little “out there,” right? Well, the idea is not to be dismissed so easily. After all, look at what Sugata Mitra accomplished with the Hole in the Wall project in India and beyond. To find out more about Negroponte’s plans, we have a podcast exclusive interview with Christoph Derndorfer, editor of an independent website called OLPC News, which exists to disseminate information about the OLPC project, but also to critique it. (Full disclosure: Christoph is also a loyal WTP listener — you folks get up to some very cool things).
In this episode, we’ll also talk Twitter. Specifically, you’ll hear a great discussion about whether militant groups should be allowed to use the social networking site to spread their messages.
And, because I still believe radio is truly “Tech That Matters,” I’ll give you my colleague Mary Kay Magistad’s tremendous piece from Rwanda.
Finally, because I enjoy receiving loads of holiday hate mail, I’ll finish off the podcast, and 2011, with a piece that’s completely lacking technology. Why? Because it’s a great story, especially for the holidays. Listen in to find out how a nurse from the Belgian Congo spent the winter of 1944-45 helping wounded US soldiers in Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. Let me give you a teaser:
A reminder that you can ignore us equally on Twitter, Facebook, and now Google +.
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This entry was posted on Friday, December 23rd, 2011 at 11:41 AM and is filed under Technology Podcast. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Who cares if it’s tech when it’s a great story like that. As always Clark, thanks for the great work and keep ‘em coming!