Since the word got out that all those people who 'donated' laptops through the "One Laptop Per Child" program won't be getting 'their' laptops in time for the holidays, there's been some interesting questions that've come up in varying places.The most interesting is the one theme prevailant:
Kingofwale: How about a "friend-code" chat thing through the laptop I bought to the one I donated? So I can actually find out more about this supposedly under-privilege child I'm supporting. And if the laptop helped him in any way.Maybe some people genuinely want to know they're getting some bang for their buck, but on the flip side the concept is creepy.
What's to keep pedophiles from 'donating' laptops in hopes of cultivating 'sleepers'?I doubt that's the case with Kingofwale, but I don't doubt that some sick SOB hasn't thought of how to get a cheap laptop out of this deal and not considered the possibility.
Another issue I've got with the project is the well intentioned 'policing'. Mentions of kids screens coming up with pornography by media in recipient countries has caused squawks by some locals...who obviously weren't there helping the kids in the first place and teaching them were not to go online. It's caused filtering to be placed in some systems/laptops, and it's not really understood how much 'non adult' content will actually be blocked from being displayed at this time...regardless of what anyone's been told.
In closing, there are millions of children worldwide who could benefit from a laptop. Nowhere have I been able to find where any disadvantaged kids have been able to receive these that resided in any of the American Contintental areas...North, South, or Central.
To me that doesn't sound too global a concept.
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