[OLPC-Philippines] Pilot Software and Content

[Carlos Nazareno]

Hey all!

1) Windows, Linux, what have you:

This is why I've been more inclined to work with Flash &
HTML/browser-based content for OLPC -- so that whatever content we
generate can work across different platforms whether users go with the
XO, Intel Classmate, old 2nd hand PCs, whether it be Linux or Windows
or what have you.

As to network connectivity, we can host these files internally in the
hard drive of the laptops so that connecting to a network with will be
optional.

2) Content

I totally agree with this and have actually commented at OLPC-dev
about this. Much of the work at OLPC has been concentrated on building
a fantastic piece of machinery and from computer hardware & software
engineering approach. There's some work that's been done with
educational content, but far from enough and definitely not enough for
the Philippine context.

Ultimately, it's delivering educational content that's the point of
this. The XO-1 and Sugar is just a platform.

Here's a few ideas:
a) I hope we get buzz with and work with the top schools &
universities in the country and hopefully come up with something like
MIT's OpenCourseware (http://ocw.mit.edu/) that can be used by the
public.
b) Ideally too, we have a group that can get funding from foundations
& donors which can then fund people who can dedicate time to the
creation and editing of content instead of just having a group of
ragtag volunteers (aside from getting funding for the machines
themselves).
c) I suggest also getting the attention of the most prominent private
schools & universities who cater to the class A-B market as one of our
primary vectors. I think if we can capture the hearts & minds of the
faculty, students, and parents, the rest will follow. This particular
segment is one of the biggest lobbying groups in the country. And
imagine if we can sell the idea of give 1 get 1 to this segment.
d) For the developers like us at the Flash group, maybe we can come up
with engines (quiz games, etc) that content creators can populate with
data (word lists, questions & answers).

Okay, I'm going to meet up with the head of the department of computer
science at AdMU and my professor from whom I took up computer-adided
instruction next week (Wednesday or Thursday) regarding OLPC Ph.

Anything you guys would like me to tell them? What's our official
mission-vision-objective?

I'd like to get this straight otherwise I might tell them the wrong
stuff hahah :P

Regards,

-Naz

Carlos Nazareno
http://www.object404.com

interactive media specialist
zen graffiti studios
naz at zengraffiti.com