The Project ‘One Laptop per Child’ (OLPC) was conceived with the laudable objective of making available to the children of third world countries so that they can benefit from the advantages of computing in building up their knowledge, improve the economic prospects and enhancing their quality of living in general. The Project had the aim of developing a laptop at a cost of about U.S.$100/-(app’ly Indian Rs.4000) and is being developed by top-brains in the world consisting of academicians and researchers from the Mass chutes Institute of Technology(MIT). But the efforts so far have not produced the desired result as so far the breakthrough has been on keeping the costs at about u.s.$200/- double of what has been planned for.
The Project had received a setback when sometime back Intel, the world’s leading chipmaker announced that it is quitting from the Board and withdrawing from the Project. The reason cited by them was that the Project-makers of OLPC had objected to the efforts of Intel building a cheap laptop by name Classmate which was considered by them as a rival to their efforts.
However, the hope for the project got revived with the statement of Mr.Nicholos Negropante, the Chairman OLPC that Intel should return to the Project as they did not have any objection in Intel pursuing their efforts in developing a low-cost laptop. He had further observed that it is in fact a welcome move for the simple reason the more the availability of low-cost laptops, the more the chances of their getting at the hands of these children. Hence, they are not in any way competing with us.
Ms.Agnes Kwan an Intel manager had sounded an optimistic note that Intel is willing to talk to OLPC officials about rejoining the project, but, there are issues which need to be resolved before that.
The Project would receive a much needed lease of life if Intel joins back as with their advanced technology and vast resources, they can make it a reality.