[Olpc-open] reading books... - finding nemo

[Sameer Verma]

tekelsey at gmail.com wrote:
> sameer,
>
> thanks for taking the time to share. Another message that helps to confirm the sense I have that I need to focus on story.
>
> I just got out of a meeting with a toy development company, with the hopes of convincing them to help develop a creative property that could ultimately result in bringing enjoyment and learning to kids around the world. Something like an open source finding nemo.
>
> somewhat related to http://www.cftw.com/3d
>
> and
>
> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/glf
>
> It was interesting to see their reaction to my presentation. It may have been a little premature, because the story is not yet fully developed, and that makes sense. When a toy development company brings a creative property to a very big fish, there needs to be a strong story, for the people with money to risk it.
>
> The mtg ended up being a conversation, the beginning of one. They're interested in the PhD work I'm doing with multilingual convergence, interested in possibly doing some pro-bono work. They also ended up wanting to order a g1g1 laptop, and learning more about olpc and "wikinomics".
>
> At the same time that I dream of harnessing an existing entity that is "ready to go", with peoples' full time dedicated towards something kids with or without money could enjoy,  I stilll nourish the dream of seeing if there's a way for characters to arise from collaborative, open frameworks, where there may be a tenth ofthe time to spare, but perhaps enough people out there to bring something about.
>
> Could there be a truly open source finding nemo? An interesting thought.
>
> In either case, it seems that story is key.
>
> Maybe there is room for both.
>
> I guess I was discouraged coming out of the mtg, because I feel a sense of urgency about these things. 

The revolution is just beginning!

> But I picked up my little phone, read your email, and was encouraged by it, and reminded of how I am not alone, but part of a community. 

You bet! I was talking to one of my students today who was wondering why
I was so excited about OLPC all the time. I told him that above all, the
mechanism of OLPC allows me and others to be an active part of something
without having to be employed by that firm. The other projects don't (we
were talking about Classmate, Eee, etc. at the time).

> One whose members I very much appreciate.
>
>   
Very much indeed!

Sameer

-- 
Dr. Sameer Verma, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Information Systems
San Francisco State University
San Francisco CA 94132 USA
http://verma.sfsu.edu/
http://opensource.sfsu.edu/