[amsat-bb] FYI -- One Laptop per Child (OLPC) Opportunity

[Tom Clark, K3IO]

(I'm re-posting this from yesterday because somehow it got lost in route
to the AMSAT-BB web site -- Tom)

Some of you may have heard about the efforts of Nick Negroponte (MIT
Professor, brother of the Top Spook) to develop a really low-cost
computer (the target is $100, but they are just at the $200 level now)
intended to bring modern technology to children in 3rd world countries.
As I understand, their initial target audience is in Peru. More about
their program and plans can be read at
http://www.laptop.org/vision/index.shtml. All the software is to be
developed open source (see
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_on_open_source_software)

I noted in Time Magazine a month or two back that they planned an
initial "public" release with an offer that if you buy two, you get one
to keep and the other goes to a foreign school. Tonite I got this
announcement from them announcing that this campaign begins next Monday.
Of the $399 you contribute, $200 is a 501c3 deductible item.

I can imagine AMSAT developing several "Space Cadet" software packages
for the OLPC (see http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Content ). I can also
imagine the OLPC serving as a terminal for the ACP (Advanced
Communications Package) for Eagle/Phase 4, especially for the Emergency
Communications application.

FYI -- The O/S specs are based on Fedora LINUX, running Python, Java,
Csound, Squeak & Logo (see
http://www.laptop.org/en/laptop/software/specs.shtml ). You can see more
info on the hardware and on developing widgets for the OLPC at
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Developers_Program.

73 de Tom, K3IO (ex W3IWI)

-------- Original Message --------

> You are receiving this email because you requested a reminder from One
Laptop per Child about our limited-time "Give One Get One" program.
Starting Monday, November 12 at 6:00am EST, you will be able to donate
one XO laptop to a child in the developing world and also receive a
laptop for the child in your life, by visiting
http://www.laptopgiving.org or calling toll-free 1-877-70-LAPTOP.
>
> "Give One Get One" is the only time we are making the revolutionary XO
laptop available to the public. For a donation of just $399 ($200 of
which is tax-deductible), you will be giving the gift of education.
Additionally, T-Mobile is offering donors one year of complimentary
access to T-Mobile HotSpot locations throughout the United States, which
can be used from any Wi-Fi-capable device, including the XO laptop.
>
> We will send you another email when the program begins on November 12.
Until then, thank you for your interest in OLPC. We hope you'll join us
in our mission to bring education and connection to children in even the
most remote regions of the globe.