Comments for Appfrica» Appfrica | Ideas, Development, Data and Design.

Comment on Alternative Models for OLPC? by tms ruge

tms ruge — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:45:29 +0000

Theresa, you echo my sentiments exactly regarding the role of children.

However, I do think that there is merit for hardware AND software to engage local participation. I cringe at imported all-in-one solutions.

Agree as well, that change has to come from WITHIN!

Comment on Alternative Models for OLPC? by Marieme Jamme

Marieme Jamme — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:07:19 +0000

Thanks John, I personally will support any new solution that can replace or enrich OLPC, and if the Idea can be Made Inside Africa, even better.
You have my full support. Keep the good work, I will be watching closely!

Best Wishes

Comment on Alternative Models for OLPC? by jongos

jongos — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:48:28 +0000

Marieme, I agree with you. I don't see anything written here as slagging anyone. But I don't see how constructive critique is an unwarranted thing. The people I respect most are people who challenge me. Secondly, it goes without saying I agree with you on all your other points here.

Comment on Alternative Models for OLPC? by Marieme Jamme

Marieme Jamme — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:05:13 +0000

@john- I am sorry but its not by slagging other people work that we will succeed John.
I would love to see something better that the OLPC coming from my continent Africa, but it has to be done in a learning/ sharring environment. What we are not good at in Africa is sharing, learning, collaorating and listening to one another.
We would be wonderful if we could trepass those dark areas!

OLPC is a wonderful organisation with clean record, I have been their advocate for many years, have seen their work on the ground and I think one can learn from them.

Just my opinion!

Best Wishes

Marieme

Comment on Alternative Models for OLPC? by jongos

jongos — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:04:42 +0000

@Matin You're telling this to someone who has already executed many ideas in Africa, that many people have slagged off, and yet the wheel does turn. That's because no idea is in fallible and I think it's smarter to at least hear out the skeptics. They don't have to listen, and a little dissent shouldn't sway their path, unless they find some points they agree with.

Comment on Alternative Models for OLPC? by jongos

jongos — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:56:56 +0000

1. I don't disagree here, but I do think they should be aiming for the palm, not the lap.

2. This is one of the few big gripes I've got with them, but it's definitely a big one. Even if it was only having a local company install the keyboards, there should be some element of the product that is done locally.

Comment on On Lessons from Appfrica by Sarah B

Sarah B — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:32:00 +0000

What a nice piece, Ollie. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and also your kind words. Good luck with your next endeavors. We look forward to seeing you next time you make it to Uganda.

Comment on Alternative Models for OLPC? by martin langhoff

martin langhoff — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:58:13 +0000

Got to agree with Wayan. OLPC is OLPC, and given the goals and constraints, the design decisions made at OLPC make sense.

Any project has to pick one set of goals!

Jonathan's article talks about different goals. I can suggest: if OLPC's goals are not yours, pick _your goals_, get a team together, identify the hard constraints you face, and start making your own decisions. There will be some harsh tradeoffs. And a lot of work…

…and random people you never met will write articles saying that your project doesn't address _their_ goals, and so in their opinion _you_ should be instead doing something else. And so the wheel turns…

Comment on On Lessons from Appfrica by jongos

jongos — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:50:32 +0000

I am still very much interested in Thrust all though I haven't heard much from the guys lately.

Comment on Alternative Models for OLPC? by uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:41:46 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by tmsruge: Alternative Models for OLPC http://bit.ly/9fZQXb @appfrica chimes in on the OLPC debate….