#3655 (Specify the order of the Activity taskbar icons)

[Bert Freudenberg]

On Sep 20, 2007, at 23:06 , Eben Eliason wrote:

>> Specifically, the first 6 icons from the left should be (in order):
>> Chat, Browse, Write, Record, Paint, TamtamJam?
>>
>> After that:
>> Turtle Art, eToys, Pippy, Calculator, Measure, TamTamEdit?,  
>> SynthLab?, Memorize, Blockparty, and Connect4.
>> -----
>>
>>   It appears to me that this ordering puts higher emphasis on "simple
>> and easy" things and less emphasis on things that require "creativity
>> and hard fun" (excluding games).  Is this observation correct?
>
> I'm not sure that analysis is quite fair.  Browse and Chat are at the
> top of the list because one of the foremost goals of OLPC is to
> provide "connection," both to peers (for collaborative learning) and
> to the internet (to provide access to information they otherwise don't
> have).
>
> Write, Paint, Record, and TamTam address the primary (as opposed to
> "simple") tools for creative expression in text, image, video, and
> audio media respectively.  The other tools are all fantastic, and
> that's why they are still on the list for inclusion as base
> activities.

 From the mission statement: "Our goal: To provide children around  
the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express  
themselves."

So where is the exploration and experimentation part?

>>   If so, it may send a wrong message to the rest of world.  Many
>> potential cuostomer contries have cellphones and PCs already, and
>> adults and youth are chatting and browsing and taking notes (and
>> playing games) with them.  Are we trying to compete in such
>> "cellphone" culture domain?
>>
>>   I'd say, cellphones and PCs they already have can take care of
>> simple stuff, so our priority (or our message) should be more on the
>> "hard fun" items.
>
> These laptops are often going to people and places where cellphones
> and laptops don't exist for reasons of cost, power consumption, lack
> of connectivity.  We're addressing all of those issues, and at the
> same time providing an array of activities which address all age
> groups and interests.  Just because some of them are "simple" doesn't
> mean that they can't produce incredibly impressive and complex results
> in the hands of a creative individual (or group of individuals).
> Furthermore, the emphasis on connectedness and collaboration puts even
> the most basic activities on the laptops far ahead of any mobile
> applications and in some ways many desktop applications as well.

So it's an "connectedness and collaboration" project now? The website  
still says it's an education project.

- Bert -