Definition
The Hundred Dollar Laptop, also known as the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project, was an initiative aimed at providing low-cost, robust and efficient laptops to children in developing countries for educational purposes. The laptop was designed to withstand harsh conditions, use little power, and be financially accessible, costing around a hundred dollars. Despite the name, the actual costs usually exceeded a hundred dollars due to production and distribution challenges.
Phonetic
The phonetic pronunciation of “Hundred Dollar Laptop” would be: ʜʌn-dred ˈdɑː-lər ˈlæpˌtɑːp
Key Takeaways
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- The Hundred Dollar Laptop is an initiative aimed at making technology accessible to children in underprivileged communities.
- This project is spearheaded by the non-profit organization One Laptop per Child (OLPC), with the goal of providing affordable, durable, and efficiently working laptops that support and enhance education.
- The Hundred Dollar Laptop is not just a piece of equipment, but a comprehensive tool to help bridge the digital divide, provide educational opportunities to children across the world, and empower them to shape their future.
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Importance
The term “Hundred Dollar Laptop” is crucial because it refers to an innovative project, also known as One Laptop per Child (OLPC), aimed at providing inexpensive, durable, and low-powered computers to children in developing and underprivileged communities worldwide. These laptops were intended to transform education by making technology and the internet, with their vast resources for learning and communication, accessible to the world’s poorest kids. The low cost made the devices more widely available, thus promoting digital literacy, bridging the digital divide, and potentially uplifting communities through knowledge empowerment.
Explanation
The Hundred Dollar Laptop, also known as the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project, is a revolutionary technological initiative that aims to boost education and learning opportunities, particularly in developing countries. The primary purpose of the Hundred Dollar Laptop is to diminish the digital divide by providing less advantaged children with access to affordable, innovative technology. These laptops come equipped with educational software and internet connectivity, enabling children to access a vast array of learning resources, thus promoting digital literacy and encouraging self-empowered learning.The project is geared towards the transformation of education by facilitating access to a knowledge-based society. The built-in software includes programs for writing, drawing, and coding, along with a variety of other educational resources and digital books. In essence, the ‘Hundred Dollar Laptop’ aims to nurture creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in children who might not otherwise have such opportunities. By providing each child with a laptop, the OLPC project encourages children to explore, experiment, and express themselves digitally, ultimately leading to a better grasp of the digital world around them.
Examples
1. One Laptop Per Child Initiative: A nonprofit initiative launched by Nicholas Negroponte and other co-founders from the MIT Media Lab, where they developed a low-cost laptop, famously known as “$100 Laptop” or “Children’s Machine”, to help children especially in developing countries enhance their education. The computer was equipped with features such as an innovative display that is readable under direct sunlight, low power consumption, and the ability to be powered by alternative power sources like solar energy.2. Raspberry Pi Computer: Though this cheap miniature computer was not originally meant to be a laptop, resourceful tech enthusiasts around the world have been able to turn it into a fully functional portable computer. Board and components of the Raspberry Pi can be purchased for less than $100 and they can be used in building an entire system.3. Pinebook: Created by Pine64, Pinebook is an affordable Linux laptop, which costs about $100. Weighing less than 1.3 kg and equipped with a full-sized keyboard and large multi-touch touchpad, Pinebook is a great example of a low-cost laptop alternative, offering a range of features including long battery-life and customizability.Remember, the intention with all these “Hundred Dollar Laptop” instances is to make technology and education accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of their income or where they live.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
**Q1: What is a Hundred Dollar Laptop?**A: The Hundred Dollar Laptop, also known as the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project, is an initiative that aims to provide low-cost, robust, and connected computing devices, essentially laptops, to children around the world, particularly in developing countries.**Q2: Who is behind the Hundred Dollar Laptop project?**A: The project was initiated by Nicholas Negroponte, co-founder of the MIT Media Lab, together with other MIT faculty members. The organization, non-profit in nature, is called One Laptop per Child.**Q3: What is the main purpose of the Hundred Dollar Laptop?**A: The primary objective of the Hundred Dollar Laptop is to provide children in developing countries access to educational materials and the digital world that they would otherwise lack due to financial restrictions.**Q4: How much does the Hundred Dollar Laptop actually cost?**A: Despite its name, the Hundred Dollar Laptop is technically not priced at $100. The actual cost has fluctuated over the years due to changes in manufacturing, technology, and shipping costs. However, the goal has always been to keep the price as close to $100 as possible.**Q5: What are the features of the Hundred Dollar Laptop?**A: The laptop is designed with a rugged exterior suitable for harsh conditions. It has a color and black-and-white display for readability in bright sunlight, Wi-Fi connectivity, low power consumption, flash memory instead of a hard drive, and runs on a Linux-based operating system.**Q6: How can I donate or get involved in the Hundred Dollar Laptop project?**A: Individuals can get involved with the One Laptop per Child project by donating directly to the initiative, sponsoring a specific project, or volunteering their time and skills. More information can be found on the official OLPC website.**Q7: Has the Hundred Dollar Laptop project been successful?**A: Success can be subjective and often hard to measure in initiatives like this. However, OLPC has indeed seen success in certain areas, with over 2 million laptops delivered to children in more than 40 countries so far.**Q8: What kind of software does the Hundred Dollar Laptop use?**A: The Hundred Dollar Laptop runs on a Linux-based operating system called Sugar, specifically designed for this project. It focuses on education and includes numerous applications for learning and creativity.
Related Tech Terms
- One Laptop per Child (OLPC)
- Affordable technology
- Educational tool
- Digital inclusion
- Open-source software
