FUSE PROJECT UNVEILS NEW "ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD" XO-3 LAPTOP DESIGN TO BRING TECHNOLOGY TO THE WORLD'S POOR CHILDREN

With the XO-3, OLPC unveils a design that will allow it to be customized for myriad markets.

-

--

-

Click Images To Enlarge

Let's get this out of the way. The OLPC XO-3, the rugged ultra-low-cost tablet addition to the One Laptop Per Child family, newly launched at CES 2012, is much thicker than the concept tablet, which they showed in 2009. Plus, it's missing the ring!

Yves Béhar, founder of fuseproject and OLPC Chief Designer says. 

"They're still the ultimate goal.  The key component that enables the thinness of the concept tablet is flexible color e-paper, and that has been slow to come to market."

When it does, the OLPC team anticipates that the robustness and low power consumption will make for an ideal very thin and lightweight tablet.

The original XO-3 concept, featuring a slimmer design and that lovely ring

The ring was a design solution to that anticipated thinness. Béhar, and the ring made it easy for small hands to keep a grip on the tablet says.

"Children have a nonchalant way of handling things." 

Click Images To Enlarge

With technology dictating a thicker tablet, and a bezel around the edges of the screen, the XO-3 is more comfortable to grip; testing showed that the ring becomes unnecessary.  He says.

"It's a detail I like, but part of what makes OLPC exciting and different is that we have to be editors and make sure that everything is there for a reason."

Click Images To Enlarge

Testing and getting back reports of usage on the ground is a core part of the OLPC design process. From their previous experience, they knew localization would be key for this product. For instance, one of the benefits of a tablet form factor is that keyboards and other interfaces are entirely done in software, so it's easy to swap them out for different languages and milieus. Easier than doing it in hardware, anyway.

Click Image To Enlarge

There is localization in the hardware as well. This is localization not for language but for the infrastructural conditions of the places where the tablets will be used. Every XO-3 comes with a removable cover.   Béhar says. 

"The cover is the multiple personality side of the tablet."

They can be simple passive protection, but depending on the needs of a particular locale, other capabilities can be built in.

For example, one version of the cover comes with a solar panel on the inside along with a thin battery. When you are in school, using the machine, you can leave the cover out in the sun to power the battery. When you put the cover back over the tablet, the battery connects and recharges the machine. Béhar says they are also working on a version of the cover with antenna that will enable the tablet to communicate with satellites. There are more accessories to come. Béhar says.

"We learned a lot with the original OLPC XO." 

COMMENTARY:   What incredible and noble goal--to bring a computer to every child in the world. That picture of young women in Afghanistan, who have suffered so much under the Taliban, is so touching.  I am glad that there are organizations like Fuse Project and their "One Laptop Per Children."  Love the slick new design of the Xo-3 laptop.  The children must just enjoy using it for hours on end. 

Courtesy of an article dated January 10, 2012 appearing in Fast Company Design 

 

Comments

[M Frazier]

I find you did bright the moment when you choose this theme of the article here. Do you as a rule create your entries on your own or you work with a writing partner or even a helper?

[7 Inch Tablets]

It is such a good idea to give laptops to students. Laptop and internet will surely help them in their studies. I think all information you need is in the internet. I am so happy that we still have programs that really help students. I hope this program will also be done in all countries that need help in their education.

[Shania Simpsons]

They look so cute with those green thin laptops. Are these laptops available in colors other than green? Well, in any case, the laptop is a very good addition in schools that do not have the financial capability to buy them. It would be great if this technology is spread in other education facilities so learning would be enhanced and furthered.

[Industrial chemical supplier]

Making laptops for the poor children is a very good industrial initiative.