Category talk:Hardware ideas

Along the lines of the discussion people have been having about detachable bits, replacement parts, and lifetime, I think the whole thing really has to be modular, to allow incremental upgrades or repairs. Something along the lines of computer Lego, where after opening the case with a screw driver the main components are in user friendly separable modules and can be snapped in and out. Also the “black boxing” should be minimalised, and the bits all labelled with what it is and what it does, and if possible, how to fix it. These machines should each come with a blueprint, so someone determined enough can do what they like with it, improve it or prevent damage. Perhaps the generator could have meccano type customizability, running from a paddle wheel in a stream, a windmill, off the back of a bike wheel, or whatever the end user can think of (hmm, a manual merry-go-round that kids could play on and charge their machines at the same time). The actual device should encourage innovation for the end user and empowerment beyond just the educational content on the display. Users should not feel alienated by an amazing technology they might feel they can never grasp, or shy away from, due to its perceived mystery. -Jakub

True Third World Compatibilty

Most children tend to be rather rough with their belongings.

Will the housing and internals be able to withstand being dropped in a puddle or covered in dirt?

From the photos I have seen it looks like the housing could easily absorb the inadvertant residue of a child's daily activity and totally fry it, at which point the whole attempt would be void.

The whole housing needs to be able to withstand the varibles associated with a child living under extreme conditions.