Software ideas

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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
      • Basic Calculators
      • Spreadsheet software
      • Financial tools
        • Budgeting
        • Loan calculators
        • Accounting software
    • Higher mathematics
      • Scientific calculators
      • Graphing Calculators
      • 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