Software ideas

Projects and proposals    +/-
Content ideas	Content projects
Hardware ideas	Hardware projects
Software ideas	Software projects

This page is a brainstorming space for ideas which may eventually become Software projects. Keep in mind that the projects here are merely proposals or ideas. If you would like to add a new project idea, try to be reasonably thorough in your description.

When brainstorming, try to let your mind run free. When reading and looking for a project to start, keep in mind that we are looking for projects that encourage Playful Learning instead of Edutainment.

Application Classes

This section discusses whole application-classes that might be useful to have available on the OLPC laptops. That is, these are "requirements"-focussed ideas for what type of thing we want to provide:

• Mathematics
  • Simple Calculations
    • Calculators, Basic and Scientific
    • Spreadsheet software
    • Graphing Calculators
    • Financial tools (budgeting, loan calculators, accounting software)
  • Higher mathematics
    • Typesetting/equation editing
    • Algebraic solvers
    • Geometric exploration (e.g. PyGeo)
    • Fractal explorers
• Language
  • Initial literacy (local language)
  • Second-language literacy (WiXi?)
  • Story-book reader (illustrated story reader)
  • Audio-book reader
  • Dictionary (including meanings)
  • Thesaurus
• Science
  • Starfield explorers
  • Chemical simulators
  • Physics simulators (Newtonian)
  • Biological simulators (population simulators)
  • Genealogy software
  • Dynamic system simulators (e.g. ecological simulators, economic simulators)
  • Geography (mapping) software, coordinates, maps, data-overlays, GIS operations
  • Data collection tools
• Physical Education and Training
  • Training program tracker
• Art and Expression
  • Vector graphic creation (illustration)
  • Raster graphic creation (painting, sketching)
  • Collage operations (eToys?)
  • Programmatic creation (Logo or the like)
  • Video creation
  • Performance broadcast (school plays and the like)
• Music
  • Voice training
  • Score display and creation (TamTam?)
• Communications
  • VoIP phone
  • Conferencing system, virtual classroom, shared presentations
  • Email client (gmail-for-children?)
  • Voice-mail (voice email and standard voicemail)
  • Web-page editor (wikidpad?)
  • Televised video (streaming video viewer)
• Educational
  • Role-playing systems
  • Mind-mapping systems (outliners, free-form note-taking tools)
• Games (see also [Games])
  • Game console emulators (needs content)
  • Strategy games
  • Simulation games
  • eToys games
• Technology
  • Microcontroller programmers/compilers (e.g. for irrigation systems, art installations and general automation)
  • CAD/CAM applications
• PIM
  • Clock
  • Contacts
  • Scheduling
  • Todo

XXX Teaching Software should be integrated in here somewhere, as should System Software

Porting Existing Software

Mathematics

• Calc for more basic tasks, BC for more difficult ones, and SC or a GUI based spreadsheet, perhaps.
• LaTeX, this is free and quite powerful editor
• Mathematica for children, for modeling and calculating

Updates

• An update/software manager to handle updates and new software that come out after the laptop is given to the child