[Olpc-open] Status of MaMaMedia and Avallain

Thu Dec 6 13:26:06 EST 2007

Well, I put my comments on the "talk" section of the relevant pages.  The
wiki instructions say not to modify the main pages, if I recall.

On Dec 6, 2007 10:01 AM, Todd Kelsey <tekelsey at gmail.com> wrote:

> That's helpful commentary -- perhaps you could add it to the MaMamedia and
> availlain pages respectively -- not everyone knows how to use/consult the
> "talk" pages or even the discussion tab, so I'd suggest adding a Status
> section with your impressions.
>
> Given the realities of volunteer work etc., maybe a helpful thing would
> also be to add a Help section - "If you are interested in helping this
> project if/when help is needed, please add your name and contact info in
> this section"
>
> It's also possible things can move along without them having the time to
> update -- but if a project falters because of lack of assistance -- even
> though there may be people coming who might be able to help -- perhaps this
> is a way to help things come along.
>
>
> On Dec 6, 2007 11:55 AM, Carol Lerche <cafl at msbit.com> wrote:
>
> > Maybe, but a version of mamamedia was in the prior vmware build, and the
> > group doing this is clearly affiliated with the media lab and olpc.  They
> > had a bundle released in October.  Browsing to the links to the .xo files
> > from the latest vmware image (649) and attempting to download starts an
> > install which hangs and requires a reboot to clear.
> >
> > As for Avallain, it seems that they are working with the Nepal
> > deployment, and email offering development help to their "contact us" link
> > gleans no response, not even a "we received your mail, run along and play".
> > I think this is an instance where the page about them in the OLPC wiki needs
> > to be clarified.  Literacy content is highly important in a product aimed at
> > primary grades, and it is really hard to see any content/strategy that
> > actually shows that someone has thought about it.  I don't think this is
> > necessarily true of the facts on the ground -- it may be an artifact of the
> > wiki's inherent lack of cohesive structure and update.  Also, the persons
> > most active in instigating the project have a long history of finding ways
> > to use technology in science and math education, especially in upper
> > elementary grades where literacy competence was presumed, at least at some
> > minimal level.
> >
> > On Dec 6, 2007 9:45 AM, Todd Kelsey <tekelsey at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I am not certain on either Mamamedia or Availlain -- my guess is that
> > > they are both instances where employees of the companies are trying to fit
> > > in product development for olpc in parallel with their corporate development
> > > ( i.e. staying late at work to try and get it done). The best thing I
> > > could suggest is to send an email once a month, asking them what the status
> > > is of their work -- and if you like, asking them if there's any help you can
> > > provide to put it forward -- simply by getting a sense of the help they
> > > need, and possibly updating their wiki page (x,y,z needed, please add your
> > > name if you are willing to help) -- eventually enough traction may occur to
> > > get something going.
> > >
> > > On Dec 6, 2007 11:04 AM, Carol Lerche <cafl at msbit.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > >  Their wiki seems dead. November 30, the date stated as the next
> > > > milestone, is past -- what is the status? When I look at the "blocker bugs"
> > > > it isn't clear why they block a release. Why does language selection have to
> > > > be dynamic, for example? Couldn't versions be packaged for individual
> > > > countries? This stuff isn't present in the latest vmware image I downloaded
> > > > (649), and when I tried to install by browsing to the .xo link on the olpc
> > > > wiki I got a stalled activity that required a reboot of the vm to clear.
> > > >
> > > > The activities in the mamamedia group seem most appropriate for
> > > > creating early literacy content and that is what I am trying to put together
> > > > for my 4 g1g1 laptops, which are destined for a kindergarten in the South
> > > > Bronx. Is there a mailing list for development activity?
> > > >
> > > > Also, the OLPC wiki tells me that Avallain is somehow the plan for
> > > > supporting literacy contentn the OLPC, but I couldn't find any info on their
> > > > website  There is mention of developing an open source version.
> > > > Does anyone reading this list know about these content issues?
> > > >
> > > > Carol Lerche
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Olpc-open mailing list
> > > > Olpc-open at lists.laptop.org
> > > > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-open
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Todd Kelsey
> > >
> > > Save yourself from bloated email: http://www.sentenc.es/
> > >
> > > About Me/CFTW |
> > > http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dhbxftbn_35f5b46b&hl=en
> > >
> > > 1000 Year Reunion (Poem) | http://welcome.cftw.com
> > >
> > > Free Music by Me for You (mp3): http://www.cftw.com/music
> > >
> > > "Fascinating for me to sit here and realize the interplay and
> > > influence that music can have -- it is a part of my life, yet I haven't
> > > continued as I could, partly out of thinking "there are more important
> > > things". but it has it's place. i am sitting at olpc offices, and someone is
> > > playing pink floyd, and I think music is a gift of creativity that can
> > > inspire an atmosphere of creativity, and the range of such echoes is
> > > infinite." - Me
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Love is a better master than duty. -- A. Einstein
> > _______________________________________________
> > Olpc-open mailing list
> > Olpc-open at lists.laptop.org
> > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-open
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Todd Kelsey
>
> Save yourself from bloated email: http://www.sentenc.es/
>
> About Me/CFTW | http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dhbxftbn_35f5b46b&hl=en
>
> 1000 Year Reunion (Poem) | http://welcome.cftw.com
>
> Free Music by Me for You (mp3): http://www.cftw.com/music
>
> "Fascinating for me to sit here and realize the interplay and influence
> that music can have -- it is a part of my life, yet I haven't continued as I
> could, partly out of thinking "there are more important things". but it has
> it's place. i am sitting at olpc offices, and someone is playing pink floyd,
> and I think music is a gift of creativity that can inspire an atmosphere of
> creativity, and the range of such echoes is infinite." - Me
>
>

-- 
Love is a better master than duty. -- A. Einstein
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