http://pcic.merage.uci.edu/papers/2009/OneLaptop.pdf
The article is about two years old, but it makes a lot of good points about why the XO laptop has not made an impact in resource poor countries. Some interesting breakdowns in context of use:
1. Many of the teachers were apprehensive to adopt the new technology and with the teachers uneasy with the laptops, it confused the children as to how the laptops fit into their education. Vice versa, for teachers that were computer literate, they were accustomed to using Windows software and the XO laptops uses Linux/Sugar operating systems, which the teachers don't understand and hence apprehensive to use. Reminds me of the example Prof Zak talked about today with the Chevy Volt.
2. The article also pointed how although the OLPC's laptop was beautifully engineered to be used in a developing country, the organization by passed other requirements for ensuring that the laptops fit in to the educational contexts of many developing countries. Like many failed ICT4D projects, Negroponte and his team seemed to fall into the trap of thinking, by providing technologies in underserved communities, they have solved the problem of youth having access to information. Until social/cultural elements of sustainability are integrated into their model, that won't happen.
"While the Uruguayan government is making a great effort in providing funding for the hardware, there is no funding for designing and developing software and content for use with the laptops or for conducting a thorough evaluation of the educational and societal outcomes of the project"
3. Governments also need to play a more active role in understanding how these laptops will be beneficial to their communities. Simply buying 10,000 laptops for the country without investing in teacher training or technological support, doesn't help anyone.
So yea, check out the article makes a lot of really interesting points.
