Digital divide

1. One Laptop Per Child Digital divide

2. Alex Tweed Brandon Jones Steven Krasicky Sarah Proctor

3. What is Digital Divide? Access vs. Non-Access

4. What Digital Divide Affects EDUCATION

5. Where the Digital Divide Exists • Cities and rural areas. • Between nations (globally). • The educated and the uneducated- MAIN FOCUS!

6. VIDEO • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp9xjeon8c4

7. Some evidence suggests this Is the internet the same as other technologies from the past? Is it a luxury instead of a necessity? Is the Digital Divide Even a Problem?

8. Closing of the Divide • Computer use is increasing the fastest among the poor and disadvantaged groups • The poor are seeing increases in Internet use • Someday these groups will catch up with the privileged

9. Technology in the Past • Example: Air Conditioner • AC divide essentially the same • AC also linked to increases in productivity • “Arguments for a G-8 Task force on overcoming the air conditioner divide would rightly be dismissed as insane”

10. Technology in the Past • Example: Air Conditioner • AC divide essentially the same • AC also linked to increases in productivity • “Arguments for a G-8 Task force on overcoming the air conditioner divide would rightly be dismissed as insane”

11. Technology in the Past • Example: Automobile • Owning a car was just as crucial as email is today • Gaps in those who could afford a car and those who couldn’t • Cars became more affordable, the net will become more accessible

12. Luxury, not Necessity • There are bigger problems to conquer • Not a necessity for survival in the modern world • AIDs, hunger, wars, more important • Regarded as a “want” and not a “need”

13. The One Laptop Per Child Project • http://www.uplandproductions.com/films/trm/ts04/play_wmv.htm • Overview • Giving children access to one connected computer • Founded by Nicholas Negroponte • 2 billion children in the developing world are inadequately educated – OLPC is their solution • XO laptop • $100

14. One Laptop Per Child • Developing countries - $20/person is spent on pupils, compared to $7500 in the US • Change is necessary

15. One Laptop Per Child • Increasing aid by providing more of the same—building schools, hiring teachers, buying books and equipment • Little progress would be made • Step in the right direction • Skilled Instructors • Peers teaching peers

16. Goals of OLPC • Why OLPC will lessen the digital divide? • Greater Access • Increased opportunity

17. OLPC Opposition • Focus should be on fighting illiteracy and alleviating poverty.

18. OLPC Opposition HUGE RISK!!! Financially & Educationally

19. OLPC Opposition Alternatives • Provide more traditional forms of education ie. Schools and Libraries. • Room to Read foundation does this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbcNuaatFRA

20. XO Laptop • Is it as easy-to-use as advertised?

21. OLPC and Technical Aspects • Long Battery Life • Waterproof and scratch resistant • New technology to the U.S

22. OLPC and Technical Aspects • Software is based around learning • XO built from free and open source software • The goal is for children to express themselves and explore • There is no ceiling imposed

23. OLPC Technical Problems • XO Laptops are not reusable 1. Only work for 5 years. 2. Every child needs one.

24. OLPC Technical Problems Lack of Support • No local technical support for software errors. • Laptops are sealed like Macs, but the nearest store is 3000 miles away.

25. DEBATE Room to Read vs. OLPC

26. DEBATE Right side of room for OLPC Left side of room for Room to Read

27. For OLPC • Why do you feel this is a better program than Room to Read?

28. For Room to Read • Why do you feel this is a better program than One Laptop Per Child?

29. DEBATE Now put yourself in the shoes of the government/country receiving one of these programs. Would you still prefer the program you chose?

30. DEBATE • In addition, do you feel that there is a better way to allocate funds besides these two programs?