Internet for the Third World
April 28th, 2007, by Hilko
Nigerian students power up their laptop (see gallery)
In the past months I’ve been following the development of the ‘$100 computer’ for the third world. It’s a great initiative that will allow children to become computer-literate, and a good example of what can be accomplished when we work together.
For an idea how much of a difference a computer can make in these children’s lives, here’s an article on an interesting experiment a computer-scientist in New Delhi conducted: India: Hole in the Wall
One boy in particular, Rajinder, has become a computer whiz and a celebrity in India. “Mainly I go to the Disney site,” Rajinder tells FRONTLINE/World, but he also regularly visits news sites and likes to use computer paint tools. His teacher says that Rajinder is a much better student now: “He has become quite bold and expressive. I’ve got great hopes for this child.”