Ask OLPC a Question/1

Other "Ask OLPC a Question" Archives

Other sets of questions originally posted to the "Ask OLPC a Question" have been archived at through 2006 and Jan-Jun 2007

Differences between G1G1 XO's and the XO's that will be sent to Least Developed Countries (split, answered)

Bitfrost Activation

I think LDC XO's will have Bitfrost security installed, and will need to be unlocked at their destination (by the school servers I guess), and Donor XO's won't have Bitfrost.

All laptops have Bitfrost installed for inter-activity isolation. Once all the bugs are fixed, this will protect the user from malware. G1G1 laptops will be pre-activated with a non-expiring lease. G1G1 laptop developer keys might be made available on a web server. 24.110.145.202 12:51, 19 November 2007 (EST)

Other differences

Will there be any other operating system or activity differences between the Donor XO's and the world's?

G1G1 might get SimCity. Non-G1G1 will likely come with country-specific software, frequently including things that are blocked by software patents in the USA. 24.110.145.202 12:51, 19 November 2007 (EST)

Dealing with the lack of a School Server

If G1G1 units won't be expected to ever connect to a school server, will that have any implications for how they are maintained that won't apply to LDC XO's? If so, would it be possible for a home user in North America to configure a standard desktop to perform some of the services for his XO that school servers will do around the world? I'm thinking of backup and software updating in particular.

Sure, go ahead, we could do with more testers for the school server software. But you might find that using ordinary SSH based tools will be simpler. --Quozl 18:47, 19 November 2007 (EST)

Oh, Quozl, if you only knew how deep the chasm is between your world and mine. Between the way you view the world, and the way I do. While I have no doubt that I am, in fact, capable of discovering what "ordinary SSH based tools" are, which I suspect puts me in a very attenuated subset of North American G1G1 participants, I have no inclination to do so, and certainly no time to even if I were inclined. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate your diligent patience in helping to maintain this wiki. But my question and my goals are more modest. Let me rephrase this sub-question a bit, and break it into some smaller chunks:

• What services will school servers perform for XO's out in the field?

Internet provision and filtering, mesh network management, content caching, software provisioning, file sharing, and backups. --Quozl 16:55, 20 November 2007 (EST)

• Will G1G1 XO's suffer from not having these services performed?

Yes, in that they won't have the same functions available to them. --Quozl 16:55, 20 November 2007 (EST)

• Could there be ways for G1G1 participants to compensate for the lack of school servers?

Yes. --Quozl 16:55, 20 November 2007 (EST)

• Has anyone in the wide OLPC community been thinking about this already? If so, where do they gather? Hexagonal

Hope so, but don't know. I've certainly thought about it. Please form a community around this Wiki. See XO_Giving/Users. --Quozl 03:04, 21 November 2007 (EST)

Sorry about that, there's no way I can know how much you know, so I'm glad you've asked me to explain. The XO software contains an SSH server, which provides SCP or SFTP functions. These functions can be used for backup. By ordinary SSH based tools I mean things like PuTTY, winSCP, SSHFS, Konqueror's fish URL format, and a host of other things, see Comparison of SSH clients for more details, especially note the SFTP and SCP column in the function table. Putting it another way, you can drag and drop to do backups if you like, or you can script them, you just need some suitable software on your other computers. --Quozl 16:55, 20 November 2007 (EST)

Batteries

Finally, I've learned from this wiki that there are two types of batteries that will be XO original equipment. Which type is better suited for use in North America? Is that the type that will be sent to Give One, Get One participants?

Both types are suited for use in North American temperature ranges. The lithium battery has less mass, but North Americans are sufficiently strong to carry either type. I haven't seen a decision on which one will be used, but it shouldn't really matter that much, since they are operationally equivalent. --Quozl 18:47, 19 November 2007 (EST)

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Give One, Get One Implementation Questions (split, answered)

Estimated G1G1 Shipping Date

Will the unresolved bugs tracked by the developers that are flagged with the "Update.1" milestone be addressed in the G1G1 units? According to http://dev.laptop.org/roadmap code freeze for Update.1 occurred on 11/1/07, and changes made through Update.1 will be included in XO's made for G1G1 deployment. And this milestone currently has a date of 12/1/07. So I assume that bug fixes to the system will continue to occur until 11/30/07, and Quanta will install code that includes everything flagged Update.1 that the developers can fix. So I assume actual final assembly of XO's intended for US/Canadian G1G1 delivery will start sometime AFTER 12/1/07. Can someone who's actually involved in all this let us know what's going on?

The G1G1 units will ship as soon as mass production has fulfilled OLPC's existing contracts with the countries (such as Uruguay) who have bought large quantities of the laptops. I don't think anyone knows that date exactly yet; it depends on what kinks need to be worked out in the mass production factory; and how quickly the purchasing countries can get their first shipments of laptops out to the schools and kids (and thus need more to arrive). The software loaded onto the G1G1 laptops will be the best stable software that OLPC has at that point. The software will be upgradeable after you receive it -- either directly over a wireless Internet connection, or via a USB memory stick or a USB wired ethernet adapter. Indeed, it will be upgradeable for years to come, and we expect it to get much better over time. I am not "someone who's actually involved in all this", but I've been watching it pretty closely from outside. -- gnu, 19 Nov 2007

Thank you, gnu, for this response. You're too modest about your level of involvement, according to your wiki contribution history. I appreciate your taking a stab at answering this question. I should say that I don't doubt that the G1G1's will arrive with the best stable software available; I'm really trying to learn what dev.laptop.org bugs will be resolved as a way of learning about the process, since it's so unusually accessible to me. Here's another tidbit of info I'll pass along fwiw: I haven't been calling the toll-free G1G1 donor service number, not feeling the need to burden them, but on 11/19 an unregistered contributor to XO_Giving added the following to the "When will the laptops be delivered?" section:

As of 11/19, the donor service line indicated that orders placed on Friday, 11/16, at least, are part of the 'second shipment.' There's no indication of when this second shipment will go out, but it will be later than the first shipment scheduled, as of 11/19, for mid-December.

Let me say that as a G1G1 participant I understand the uncertainties inherent in mass production. I also will not be surprised or disappointed if Uruguay's XO's are produced before my G1G1's are. I take to heart MitchelNCharity's points (found at Talk:XO_Giving#Using_testing_for_expectation_management ). That being said, I'd say my expectation is that G1G1 participants will be informed about delivery details as soon as they are known by the OLPC folks in Massachusetts.

So, how many units are being made for Uruguay? What other firm country contracts are there as of 11/20? For how many units? If other countries commit between now and mid-December, will the first G1G1 shipments be bumped back in the queue? Hexagonal 09:49, 20 November 2007 (EST)

Update (11/12/07): A poster on an external website just shared an e-mail he received from OLPC donor services:

Dear ____:

We are currently producing laptops as they are requested. The first phase is expected to ship out just prior to the Holiday's (mid December). The following ship times can range up to 4 months. We will be using UPS as our shipping carrier.

No Solar Panel will be sent with the laptops, this item is not yet available but should be within the next 12 months. All the laptops will come with an AC Adapter. It will also come with 2 more power sources it can either be a foot pedal, pull cord, or a crank. At this time we are not able to inform our donors which one their laptop will have.

Thank you for your interest in One Laptop Per Child.

OLPC Donor Services

Now, combine the info in this e-mail with two separate contributions to the XO_Giving page's "When will the laptops be delivered?" section:

According to this CNN article, it will depend on the order date, where the first 20,000 ordered are estimated to arrive before Christmas and the others later. However, point 5 of the Give-One-Get-One Terms and Conditions expressly states that delivery may be subject to delays, so there are no certain delivery dates. —Joe 11:48, 15 November 2007 (EST).

As of 11/19, the donor service line indicated that orders placed on Friday, 11/16, at least, are part of the 'second shipment.' There's no indication of when this second shipment will go out, but it will be later than the first shipment scheduled, as of 11/19, for mid-December.

The implication is that about 20,000 G1G1's were ordered by close of business on Thursday, 11/15; that those 20,000 will go out in the first wave of UPS shipments mid-December; and that G1G1's ordered after 11/15 will probably arrive sometime in the first quarter of 2008. Please take this string of suppositions as merely that. ~ Hexagonal 11:20, 21 November 2007 (EST)

G1G1 Volume

How many G1G1 laptops have been ordered so far? How many firm country orders do you have as of today?

According to an 11/24/07 Wall Street Journal article ( currently found here, though this may be an expiring link), "Mr. Negroponte says there were about 45,000 two-laptop orders in the first nine days, with nearly half coming on the first day." ~ Hexagonal 10:04, 24 November 2007 (EST)

Shipping Costs

G1G1 started today. Folks who used Pay Pal online were charged $24 shipping; folks who called weren't told about shipping costs. What's really happening?

Both phone orders and on-line orders are charged for shipping.

Phone Order Processing

Have any phone orders been processed yet? Were they charged shipping?

They should have been charged for shipping.

Well, yes, they should have been. But have they been? On another website at least one external G1G1 participant who made phone orders on Monday, 11/12 still had no charges posted to their credit card accounts by Thursday am 11/15. So we haven't gotten actual confirmation that phone orders actually have been charged, only that they ought to have been. And as of mid-week the folks taking phone orders were still not mentioning shipping costs. Walter, I have a suggestion for you: make a call to the 800 number yourself, and walk through the whole process, to check for yourself what info is being given to the great unwashed... [-from Hexagonal.]

Subsequent Updates

Will G1G1 owners be able to download system and application updates online from a central OLPC website? Or will we download updates to a USB flash drive on our "big" computer, and then boot our XO from that, which seems to be the way updates are being distributed to beta testers currently? As new activities are added to XO systems, will G1G1 owners be able to download and install those activities?

All OLPC software will be available to G1G1 owners for direct installation over the network. This will remain true for the life of the project; thus, over the next few years, you can expect to install periodic upgrades that improve the system. Ben 10:12, 20 November 2007 (EST)

Also, since the software is open source, or redistributable without hindrance, there is nothing stopping another community filling any functional gap that OLPC leaves. Once a critical mass of interested people exists, you will not be orphaned ... until the hardware becomes so old as to be uninteresting. --Quozl 16:26, 20 November 2007 (EST)

Exterior XO Logo Colors

Will the colors of the XO Logo on the case exterior vary at random? Will two G1G1 laptops shipped to the same address have different colors?

There are 400 different color combinations; they are chosen at random so there is a high probability that two G1G1 laptops shipped to the same address will have different colors.

Sim City

Will Sim City be on the G1G1 North American XO's?

I don't know if SimCity will be shipped on the machines, but note that it's very easy to install via an internet connection (or so I've found in an emulator): Just open the XO's Web activity, navigate to the SimCity page on this wiki, then click on the SimCity-1.xo link; the activity downloads and installs automatically. —Joe 15:39, 17 November 2007 (EST)

Thanks! Hexagonal 09:57, 20 November 2007 (EST)

OLPC & UNPO Members

N.B. UNPO => Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

Many regions are not represented by an official government. Kosovo, Somaliland, Iraqi Kurdistan and many refugee camp as Dafur/Mali, Myanmar/Thailand border,... have no chance to get support from any government. (see UNPO) Normally the United Nations gives some support, but the people have no work and the people are bored.

Especially for these people, education is very important. It is also important to give them a voice with which to tell about their lives. The 100$ laptop and a internet link could improve the situation of this people very much.

These regions are too small to order one million laptops but all this regions together have more then 1 million children. Is there a special program for these children? There is no government to talk with, but the UN together with NGOs could do a lot.

Many people ask if it's possible to give some money for the OLPC project. If there is some money, this regions should be the first that receive sponsored laptops. One million children with the ability to send text and videos from daily life as a refugee could change the world. --Bz 09:28, 27 January 2007 (EST)

There are plans to extend invitations to NGOs after the first phase—OLPC currently targets only national governments.

Community sponsoring (ie: Buy 2 Get 1) is not being contemplated as an option in the near future—maybe later.--Xavi 10:21, 27 January 2007 (EST)

OLPC & United Nations

Will the new leadership at the United Nations affect the laptop.org program in general? --216.194.7.160 18:08, 26 December 2006 (EST)

Probably not, given that neither dependends on the other. AFAIK, agreements have been signed with the U.N.'s Development Program.--Xavi 11:44, 27 December 2006 (EST)

What are the Pros and Cons of OLPC?

One could be that many children want to have a computer, now that many places are going solar for energy so many more will want a lap top like the OLPC laptop! --Hunter 08:50, 8 January 2007 (EST)

This is also discussed on various question pages, including OLPC FAQ and Ask OLPC a Question. --Mokurai 17:45, 9 November 2006 (EST)

There are a number of naysayers claiming that the OLPC project will never work for various alleged reasons. Most prominent among them are Bill Gates and John C. Dvorak. Dvorak's recent attack, posted on MSN Marketwatch is a misch-masch of straw men, ad hominem attacks, and ignorance, in my opinion. More than 400 comments have appeared on Slashdot. The Linux community is of the opinion that Gates is opposed to the laptop purely because it runs Linux and other Free Software, and that Dvorak, once a respected voice in the industry, is shilling for Gates. --Mokurai 06:59, 21 November 2006 (EST)

Public traded company?

I am wondering if olpc is a public traded company and if not are there any plans of this happining in the near future?

US non-profit corporation, so no. You could start your own company to buy from or sell to the families of the children. (But not to sell the laptop.)--Mokurai 02:23, 13 October 2006 (EDT)

Background in pedagogy?

Do any of the OLPC designers have experience with teaching young children, especially ones in the third world?

It is best to read through some of the site or use the Search button at the left before asking questions. Or are you questioning the management's competence in making the decision to assign technical design experts to do the design instead of pedagogues? Read the constructivist page to begin with and then check the backgrounds of the people who are running the OLPC project. You couldn't ask for more solid educational credentials.

Also those that may not know what pedagogy is it is:the activities of educating or instructing or teaching; activities that impart knowledge or skill; "he received no formal education"; "our instruction was carefully programmed"; "good teaching is seldom rewarded"Not every one is that smart a first glance that asks questions. --Hunter 09:48, 8 January 2007 (EST)

The question was to try to find out to what extent unusual aspects of the system (sugar, social chat-oriented software) were validated by experience teaching young children. From what I have seen of the OLPC staff backgrounds, they're generally university people, surely a very different demographic.

Seymour Papert has been involved in elementary school classroom software for decades. See his book Mindstorms. Alan Kay managed the design of computers suitable for children at Xerox PARC in the 1970s. His Alto computer and Smalltalk software were the original GUI system that became the model for the Apple Macintosh, the X windowing system for UNIX, and Microsoft Windows. There are other educational software developers and classroom teachers in OLPC.

In addition, the concept of One Laptop Per Child has reportedly been validated in classrooms in Maine and Cambodia, using conventional commercial laptops. Some of us are eagerly awaiting the research reports on these deployments. --Mokurai 05:55, 7 November 2006 (EST)

That reported validation indeed sounds exciting, but where are the reports?

Statistics

I would like more information about the Nations that are involved with the OLPC program as far as statistics and population information!

You can find out information about statistics here. Also, some countries have an infobox with an abstract.

About the Colors

What is the difference (apart from the color) between the Orange and Green machines? .--Ahmad 11:36, 27 October 2006 (GMT+1)

There are no Orange or Green machines. There are only prototype boards and components in various stages. Pictures with Orange and Green machines used plastic models or case prototypes. They are just there as pretty pictures to give a rough idea of what a finished unit MIGHT be.

Green ones now exist: B1 Pictures. --66.30.117.127 16:53, 9 January 2007 (EST)

What does XO stand for ?

Nothing really. It is simply a shorthand reference to the shape of the icon which is used to represent a user of the mesh network. The icon represents a person with arms outstretched, jumping for joy. It looks like an O stacked above an X. Some people don't like it.

History

I am curious about the history of this project: when was it started, by whom, how it has evolved, etc.

Some of this information is being collected on the History of OLPC page. You may also find some information on Wikipedia however the best way is to Google for information on Nicholas Negroponte and Seymour Papert.

Rwanda

I would like more infromation about Rwanda.

Rwanda has recently joined the OLPC program. You can find out more infromation about them at this link [1]