Ask OLPC a Question/archive/Q1 2006

This is the Page that is dedicated to answering any question that you have about the OLPC project. Just edit this page and add the Question in and as soon as possible it will be added to the OLPC_FAQ.

Questions

Can a legitimate NGO or foundation apply for your program?

In some countries there is a lot of corruption. Would OLPC partner with an NGO instead of the education ministry?

Answered Questions

These questions will under go revisions to improve quality and will then be added to the main FAQ. In addition the decision will have to be made whether it is better to include the responce in the answer part of another question rather then adding an entire new question.

Could you get the next generation off of staggered QWERTY keyboards?

QWERTY keyboards are only used in countries with a Latin-based alphabet. Many of the target countries will not use QWERTY because they have a totally different writing system.

First, congratulations! This is a wonderful project that plenty of folks said couldn't be done.

Since your targetted users have no investment in the legacy typewriter keyboard, I really wish you could take this opportunity to move the world off of the darned things.

Many of the target countries DO have a substantial investment in their existing typewriter keyboard layouts.

Could you provide a keyboard with the keys arranged in columns, with a more sensible layout as the default?

Can you cite any studies that demonstrate columnar arrngements to be superior to staggered arrangements. I suspect that staggered arrangements are better for fast typists.

SHIFT and BACKSPACE under the thumbs somehow instead of the pinkies? Seems like this is the *ideal* opportunity to get a new generation of users onto a better typing foundation -- faster learning, faster typing, fewer errors, less stress on the tendons, etc. Your volumes are such that the development of inexpensive keyboards that match your design would be inevitable.

Getting the next generation of users on a decent keyboard would do the world a big favor (to add to the HUGE favor you are already doing it!). If there are extra one-time engineering costs associated with doing the right thing keyboard-wise, I would personally contribute $100 toward them -- and I'll bet lots of other people would do the same.

You misunderstand the goals of the OLPC and the customers. The goal is to educate children but the customers are national Ministries of Education. It is up to them to choose the keyboard layout.

Where is the website that's already selling the 1st Gen OLPC

'Others have already started a website that sells our laptop for $300, so the balance of money can be used to support the poorest children.'

Where is this website? It might be good to have a link so interested parties can sign up. -206.58.200.30 19:35, 12 February 2006 (EST)

http://www.pledgebank.com/100laptop Foneros 11:33, 25 May 2006 (EDT)