One learner, one laptop

I too am pessimistic but now even more so of my peers here who seem to suspect that most of the finacially challenged students who would benifit from a program like this will trade computers for Zol, guns and booze or perpetuate 419 scams. I think its sad that some of the poor examples of humanity that one sees see prejudice many of you against a huge underclass of people who are desperate to work hard and get ahead.
That said, I still think people need to be able to read a book before they get a computer unless you just want a nation of Pac-man players (yes, maybe cynical).
The wireless thing is great providing there is some range, 1km or so will enable meshes to be established. Probably illegal but Im sure most people can smell the bad publicity in enforcing wireless regulations (ALthough I guess it has not really stopped Telkom or others in the past)
 
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groundnut said:
I wasn't referring to the machines themselves... I was referring to the fact that Wifi without a WISP or users group is like peeing without farting... it can be done, but no real value...

The legality lies with providing internet access publically over WiFi.
Click to expand...

Sure, but these things apparently have ranges over 1km...

http://www.olpcnews.com/hardware/wireless/olpc_xo_btest-1_wifi.html
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/commun...in-802-11s-tests/0,130061791,339277912,00.htm

They're designed to start their own networks on the fly and share any available internet access, which is why I asked about their legality...
 
I imagine exisiting leglislation will cover it. Illegal if you are using the signal to transfer data across roads or property borders fine if you are on the same erf. I know, kind of defeats the real potential but lets see how popular ICASA become by enforcing the rules in this case. Get the laptops out there and worry about thiat stuff later.
 
Power to the People

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070629/od_afp/nigeriaeducationit_070629183418

Full story in link

Nigerian school without power receives 300 laptops

LAGOS (AFP) - A Nigerian school has received a gift of 300 laptops -- one per pupil -- but has no electricity to power them up, the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Friday

"We have been browsing the Internet and we are very happy", Juliet Onah, an excited primary six pupil, was quoted as saying.

But she said powering the laptop remained difficult as the school had no electricity and the supply at home was irregular.

Electricity is indeed a big problem in Nigeria, the world's sixth largest exporter of crude oil. Electricity is provided mainly in the cities and even there the service is at best erratic
 
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