Comments on: An OLPC pre-mortem? Hope not. http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/05/14/an-olpc-pre-mortem-hope-not/ Same old blog, brand new place Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:27:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Allan Wallace http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/05/14/an-olpc-pre-mortem-hope-not/#comment-52353 Allan Wallace Mon, 19 May 2008 14:52:25 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/05/14/an-olpc-pre-mortem/#comment-52353 I doubt the best procedure to accomplish any goal is to be found by utilizing government or an NGO. While organization is essential to large projects; throwing other people's money at opportunities first creates inefficiency and secondly a demand for more money. I doubt the best procedure to accomplish any goal is to be found by utilizing government or an NGO. While organization is essential to large projects; throwing other people’s money at opportunities first creates inefficiency and secondly a demand for more money.

]]> By: Taran Rampersad http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/05/14/an-olpc-pre-mortem-hope-not/#comment-51825 Taran Rampersad Sat, 17 May 2008 12:09:31 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/05/14/an-olpc-pre-mortem/#comment-51825 Oh, I tend to agree, Doc. The trouble is that the spin cycle has been left overattended and where the rubber meets the road it does seem a bit like an underused prophylactic on a tropical road. My problem with the OLPC is not the technology used, but rather the lack of focus on <i>technology use in context</i>. For many government officials around the world, you could dress up a toaster oven and pawn it off as the latest thing... And honestly, the UN really did demonstrate that mobile phones are the present and future cat's meow. Negroponte missed the banana boat. I have the links to the actual report here: http://www.knowprose.com/node/18440 (Long read, but what is interesting is what is and is not in the report.) Oh, I tend to agree, Doc. The trouble is that the spin cycle has been left overattended and where the rubber meets the road it does seem a bit like an underused prophylactic on a tropical road. My problem with the OLPC is not the technology used, but rather the lack of focus on technology use in context. For many government officials around the world, you could dress up a toaster oven and pawn it off as the latest thing…

And honestly, the UN really did demonstrate that mobile phones are the present and future cat’s meow. Negroponte missed the banana boat. I have the links to the actual report here: http://www.knowprose.com/node/18440

(Long read, but what is interesting is what is and is not in the report.)

]]> By: Doc Searls http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/05/14/an-olpc-pre-mortem-hope-not/#comment-51392 Doc Searls Thu, 15 May 2008 20:37:46 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/05/14/an-olpc-pre-mortem/#comment-51392 Sorry, Taran. I knew better. Just a typo. Good to see you here. I'm inclined to give OLPC the benefit of some doubt at this point. The baby/bathwater ratios may differ greatly by location, I suspect. Plus other variables. Sorry, Taran. I knew better. Just a typo. Good to see you here.

I’m inclined to give OLPC the benefit of some doubt at this point. The baby/bathwater ratios may differ greatly by location, I suspect. Plus other variables.

]]> By: Taran Rampersad http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/05/14/an-olpc-pre-mortem-hope-not/#comment-51293 Taran Rampersad Thu, 15 May 2008 11:50:04 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/doc/2008/05/14/an-olpc-pre-mortem/#comment-51293 Ram-per-sad, Doc. ;-) Rampersad. As far as tossing technology around the world, the prediction of the mobile phone's success made before the inception of the OLPC has been substantiated by the latest reports. The OLPC's technology is all well and good, but the lack of understanding of the problems that created the circumstances which it is supposed to solve leave it a dusty piece of neon. Better luck next time to Negroponte & co. Ram-per-sad, Doc. ;-) Rampersad.

As far as tossing technology around the world, the prediction of the mobile phone’s success made before the inception of the OLPC has been substantiated by the latest reports. The OLPC’s technology is all well and good, but the lack of understanding of the problems that created the circumstances which it is supposed to solve leave it a dusty piece of neon.

Better luck next time to Negroponte & co.

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