There is a growing need to provide schools in disadvantaged areas with access to information and communication devices, and the once coveted $100 laptop project – aka the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project – seems to have fallen short of expectations.<\/p>\n
A South African company may, however, bridge the information gap with an innovative and affordable solution to serve the basic needs of some educational institutions.<\/p>\n
The cellular and wireless technologies development company, Psitek, has developed an "information terminal" called Streetwise which may solve the needs of underprivileged schools.<\/p>\n
Streetwise is essentially a GPRS-based email and information terminal which can be used by itself or with four "extension terminals". Apart from basic information services like email and access to information the system also allows for fax services.<\/p>\n
According to Psitek the Streetwise system provides an affordable alternative to traditional basic computing systems which is easy to set up, rugged, secure and without much value which will make it vulnerable to theft.<\/p>\n
Psitek says that it can provide schools with eight full Streetwise sets – the main terminal and four extension terminals – for a fraction of the cost of setting up a traditional PC lab. The fact that it uses the existing cellular networks in South Africa also means that rollout should be easy and connectivity assured.<\/p>\n