One Laptop per Child

OLPC is a proposed inexpensive laptop computer intended to be distributed to children around the world, especially to those in poor countries, to provide them with access to knowledge and modern forms of education. The laptop is being developed by the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) trade association. OLPC is a U.S. based, non-profit organization created by faculty members of the MIT Media Lab to design, manufacture, and distribute the laptops.

AKA The ¨$100 laptop¨ - I have been watching this for a while and am very excited with how it's all going. Having had a bit of contact with orphan initiatives in India and Ghana it is the case that education (and education in IT disciplines) definately fast-tracks kids out of poverty. Although it's the case that this thing provides neither nourishment nor shelter it does enable clever and motivated individuals to rise out of their situations. The naysayers will criticise this kind of project but it's the ultimate example of the ¨Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.¨ philosophy.

Wikipedia's page on the project covers all the details including the valid criticisms. I'm particularly interested in the mesh networking features and the very modest 2w of operating power (my MacBook consumes 30w!).