One Laptop Per Child in Sri LankaOLPC has become a hot topic, olpc initiatives are under way around the globe. It is always good to see what this OLPC is and what are the benifits Sri Lanka can gain, basically how it can be used for sutainable development.
Following are some thoughts about the OLPC, positive and negative, without going for radical "YES" or "NO".
Some positive aspects;
- Can reach five children with OLPC when we reach one child with normal PC.
- Inbuilt Wi-Fi mesh network capability is ideal for an eVillage.
- Minimal power consumption (<2w)>
- Rugged encasement and rubber sealed keyboard make OLPC resistant to water, dirt and hardy use by kids.
- Can be used for peer learning within a homogeneous children’s group in a village or a children’s home, etc.
- Good teaching and learning assistant
Some negative aspects;
- Specifically designed for kids, so have to target only that age group (normal PC for everyone)
- Cost of ownership is higher, initiatives like Nanasala tries to reduce the cost of ownership by promoting common/shared access.
- Does not promote the sharing of resources
- Does Sri Lankan every child need a his/her own laptop, can our economy bare it?
Sameera.


