As we all know, there are good things about our past technology. We learn what it can do for us, its limits, and then use it to build the next version. In 1997 Apple released the eMate 300 for K-12 Education market and used the Newton OS. It was on the market for only a year. A good idea, but the $800 was expensive for a limited device at that time.
ZDNet’s David Morgenstern reminds us about the eMate 300 and compares it to today’s OLPC XO. It’s another interesting "Then and Now" comparison and I think context is extremely important in this comparison that really goes far beyond a simple hardware comparison.
Today’s technology world is dramatically different from a decade ago. Then we were still learning about PCs for the majority of workers, PCs were going mainstream for consumers, PCs in schools were in labs and mainly used for learning wordprocessing.
PCs aren’t everywhere — yet. PCs and devices aren’t affordable to everyone yet either. However, PCs are valuable tool for learning. Today we’re continuing to improve what PCs and devices can offer to all students, so there isn’t as great an access to information gap. How many times do you search for information in one day? A student, no matter where they are, can benefit from searching for information too. Ultra-low cost devices may be able to help us get closer to providing just that.
Whether it is the XO, Classmate, a traditional tower in the home, or something yet-to-come, the fact that the industry is working on providing solutions is fantastic. It will take time. It will take many iterations. There isn’t a silver bullet. But the goal is clear, through this incremental process the industry is working toward providing this opportunity to students – everywhere.
Dan West was the founder of Heifers for Relief (today, Heifer International). My dad, being the good story teller he is, tells of how he remembers Dan West coming to church in the late ’30s and early ’40s to raise money for milk for children in Spain. He pleaded to the congregation to extend the way they work with each other to those in other areas who would benefit from help, "children don’t need a cup, they need a cow.” (So of course Dad gave his dime then raised cattle that eventually went to Japan post WWII.) Though the mantra is simple, the actions continued for learning to care for the cow, raising a herd, and learning skills to in turn help others in the community. This is still an important lesson and can be applied to students and ultra-low cost PCs or devices. Immediate food, shelter and health needs are important, just as tools for learning is important. The PC is a learning tool and access to current information. A PC for learners everywhere is a good goal and with a lot of effort it’s starting to happen.