OLPC UK/Lending Library and Repair Centre
There is no OLPC UK repair centre yet, but herein are plans to start one under the OLPC UK umbrella
Vision
The combined Lending Library / Repair Centre will serve to:
- support the OLPC mission and community via lending out laptops to UK volunteers / contributors; and
- facilitate with space, materiel, and expertise XO repairs by volunteers; and
- encourage, enable, and support Contributor Program applicants from the UK.
We see the Lending Library and Repair Centre concepts as symbiotic and synergistic: the same set of hardware and volunteers can both encourage the OLPC mission and supply a volunteer-run Repair Centre. For more specifics, read on.
FAQ
Who is "we"?
See People section
Who's going to stock them?
People and other volunteers - anyone else with sufficient space is welcome to put their hand up. Martin has space he can use in Central London (City), but the proposal is not offered contingent on exactly (or specifically) one site. Sites around the UK run consistently with the vision above are encouraged.
Who's going to do the repairs?
People and other volunteers. For example, Martin has all the kit recommended at home and in Central London, and has already demonstrated an ability to [apart his XO] (further pictures of computers in various states of a) disarray and b) subsequently working happily provided upon request.
Who's going to deal with the "customers"?
People and other volunteers. The Lending Library and the Repair Centre are not envisaged as for-profit or guaranteed/bonded concerns. The target audience and number of laptops involved seems a fit with this level of organisation.
How much will it cost for each repair type?
Each repair type will be done at shipping and material cost (if any, and agreed beforehand). Donations are welcome but this will be effectively free.
How does this relate to the contributor program?
The contributor program is a great engine to have going. This proposal - Lending Library and Repair Centre - is specifically intended to encourage and enable a contributor program application by lowering the barriers to entry of that proposal. With OLPC and SugarLabs encouraging software development that makes use of the unique OLPC hardware, what's lacking often is a sense of what exists and what incremental developments are best (witness some of the GSoC proposals that start off very rough even after a motivated student has gotten so far as to reach out and get involved). The Lending Library specifically addresses that barrier, and the Repair Centre naturally supports such a Lending Library in addition to the already in-country XOs.
Is this a "hack" to get laptops instead of a contributor program proposal?
No. That is explicitly not a goal. We hope that Lending Library beneficiaries will go on to submit contributor program proposals to get laptops of their own (that *is* a goal), but that is a separate part of the virtuous cycle we hope will begin in the UK.
Do you know what you're doing?
We haven't done this before. But we want to do it right, and will leverage all our OLPC, SugarLabs, OLPC grassroots community peer organisations, hardware- and software-development contacts to try to make it a success.
You forgot about Big Problem A or Nasty Surprise B
Probably - see the previous question's answer. Please tell us at olpc-uk@lists.laptop.org about it so we can avoid the pitfalls.
What's the next step?
Get buy in from a) more OLPC UK people; abd b) OLPC Boston to provide the hardware.
People
So far, Martin Dengler has put up his hand to send the most emails on the subject and coordinate with anyone else that wants to get involved. He hopes that more people will get interested. For purposes of this page, "we" is Martin and all other future volunteers involved in this effort.
Proposal for hardware submitted to OLPC Boston
The proposal We're applying for some used hardware:
- What you want, exactly how many of each
- 10 D stock (would accept less)
- 20 M stock (would accept less)
- 35 chargers (would accept less)
- how you intend to use them.
We intend to use them to:
- D stock: repair them and 1) set up a Lending Library of laptops for
OLPC-UK members / community; 2) generate enough interest and proven contributions to justify a Contributors Program application by OLPC-UK members / community.
- M stock: use to back up the D stock for a UK repair centre / Lending Library
- Chargers: Power the Lending Library stock and supplement the repair centre.
Initial feedback
18:37 < mtd> CanoeBerry: I'd ask for feedback on my email, but as I've only
sent it recently it's unfair. Will you consider giving such
feedback if you have time, later?
18:37 < CanoeBerry> bz_g: yes I have Lionel's proposal for a sizable amount of
used hardware, thanks! OLPC France is doing really great
work.
18:37 < CanoeBerry> mtd: definitely today
18:37 < mtd> CanoeBerry: thanks
18:39 < CanoeBerry> mtd: can you explain a bit more about your UK plans, and
how you will grow your group? Only if you have a sec. 30
used/broken laptops is a large amount (France similar) but
I will definitely consider it if you make your case!
18:39 < CanoeBerry> Alabama is asking for even more :)
18:40 < mtd> CanoeBerry: OLPC UK is targeting a pilot of 30 laptops in a
school in London in September. This is aggressive but we have
funding and initial buy-in from the headmistress...
18:40 < mtd> CanoeBerry: This proposal is *not* for hardware for that pilot...
18:41 < Caryl> We would all love to start pilots somewhere with D&M stock.
There aren't enough to go around. Not the best use.
18:41 < mtd> CanoeBerry: ...but in order to build community for that project I
thought a lending library would be something people could get
into on a volunteer basis, and hopefully that would lead to more
involvement both in OLPC-UK and in the pilot programs.
18:41 < mtd> Caryl: This proposal is *not* for hardware for that pilot...
18:41 < mtd> Caryl: I want to make that clear.
18:42 < CanoeBerry> mtd: are you coordinating with dsd?
18:42 < mtd> CanoeBerry: I chatted with him yestrday, but before I saw the
used hardware email.
18:42 < mtd> CanoeBerry: I'd be happy to work through him if that'd be esasier.
18:42 < mtd> CanoeBerry: he is involved in the OLPC-UK organizational
discussion on olp-uk@lists.latop.org
18:43 < mtd> CanoeBerry: also I'd like to stress I am new to this, so
appreciate guidance on numbers of amachines, etc.
18:43 < CanoeBerry> Ask dsd to take a look, and cc me.
18:43 < mtd> CanoeBerry: thanks, will do.
18:43 < CanoeBerry> I will support proposals like yours when they have
multiple backers.
18:44 < CanoeBerry> Caryl: There is a lot of M Stock to go around. But a
pile-of-broken-parts does not a Pilot make ;)
18:45 < mtd> CanoeBerry: no, definitely - please let me stress this is *not*
for the poilot.
18:45 < mtd> CanoeBerry: ...but in order to build community for that project I
thought a lending library would be something people could get
into on a volunteer basis, and hopefully that would lead to more
involvement both in OLPC-UK and in the pilot programs.
18:45 < CanoeBerry> Repair Centers are the focus here, and general support of
others, first and foremost :)
18:45 < mtd> CanoeBerry: it's about building the community
18:45 < mtd> CanoeBerry: sure, understood.
18:47 < CanoeBerry> mtd: i think you already know this, but just a reminder
all chargers here are US chargers (and being used, may not
all work!)
18:48 < mtd> CanoeBerry: yes, thanks. We can get adapters easily, and my US
G1G1 one works here fine :).
18:49 < CanoeBerry> mtd: OK. While we cannot sell US chargers in Europe, I
think surplus parts on a very limited basic like this are
OK.
People
So far, Martin Dengler has put up his hand to send the most emails on the subject and coordinate with anyone else that wants to get involved. He hopes that more people will get interested. For purposes of this page, "we" is Martin and all other future volunteers involved in this effort.