[kictanet] Laptops for 2014 class 1 entrants

Fri Apr 12 12:52:30 EAT 2013

Am happy we are entertaining tablets this is the way to go.

I believe we can do local assembly of these tablets further creating jobs
for thousands. In anyway if one has a market for over 1million users why
shouldn't they setup assembly operation locally?

Sent from my Windows Phone
------------------------------
From: robert yawe
Sent: 4/11/2013 6:07 PM
To: Paul Roy
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Laptops for 2014 class 1 entrants

Hi Brian,

It seems that we have a consensus that the traditional laptop is not the
way to go, touch is critical and rich multimedia.

I took the next step and searched for a sub $100 tablet and got very many
http://www.ainovo.com/elfii.html,
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/president-launches-low-cost-aakash-2-tablet-291330power
is a major issue but I am sure someone out there will offer a
workable solution preferably based on solar.  We do not need to try and
bring manufacturing in initially as the we still cannot get to the
economies of scale that China has achieved but KQ could offer free shipping.

The critical issue will be what will come pre-installed in device and how
do we make sure that the headmasters or teachers do not decide to keep them
in safe custody?  Definitely a very feature rich drawing and painting
program is essential with a photo editor.  I believe a local app-store will
be another essential component with local developers throwing out
applications in the thousands and then leave the rest to the children.

regards

Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
  ------------------------------
 *From:* Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe at gmail.com>
*To:* robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
*Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
*Sent:* Thursday, 11 April 2013, 11:01
*Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Laptops for 2014 class 1 entrants

Hi Edith,

"Failure" in the context of the OLPC project needs to be clearly defined. I
think that what the media have largely trumpeted as a failure was that the
goal of coming out with a sub $100 laptop was not achieved. The costs of
producing the OLPC devices is higher than $100 per piece.

However, the fact that these devices are designed *from the ground up* with
children (and learning) in mind has been a huge success in terms of
yielding devices that are more appropriately suited to the vagaries of
youth, both in terms of ruggedness as well as look and feel.

The examples I gave earlier where countries like Uruguay with a tiny
population of 3m have rolled out 500,000 over the past 5 years is a
resounding success to me.

Rather than reinvent the wheel - let us take one that works, modify it to
better suit us, and fit it into the right mix of complementary hardware,
software and systems to make the overall undertaking a success.

Best regards,

Brian

On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 11:47 PM, Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.ca> wrote:

 Brian,****
** **
It appears the “one laptop per child” program (OLPC) failed as widely
touted, so important to learn lessons from that failure. ****
** **
Edith ****
** **
*From:* kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=
idrc.ca at lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Brian Munyao Longwe
*Sent:* April 10, 2013 9:34 AM
*To:* Edith Adera

*Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
*Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Laptops for 2014 class 1 entrants****
** **
    Hi Robert,****
 Good points. We actually don't need to look very far. The "One Laptop per
Child" program has been on this issue for a while now and has a few  models
of laptop (including a tablet) that can be offer at a price of +/- $100.****
 The OLPC project has already delivered over 200,000 laptops in Rwanda and
over 500,000 in Uruguay via government driven programs. Considering these
are relatively small countries (7m and 3m total populations respectively).
The goal of 1 million laptops per year for std1 entrants is not
unnattainable.****
 As for content - this is where the opportunity lies. All of the current
education materials exist in soft form with the varioius printing presses,
it would not take much effort to process these into eBook format and push
them onto a digital library along with related material such as story
books, dictionaries, encyclopediae etc.****
 In addition to the above, there is a huge opportunity to create
educational games for all school going ages. Research has shown that
children learn much faster when the knowledge is conveyed in a "fun" way.***
*
 Kazi kwetu?****
 Brian****
 ** **
 On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 7:56 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:****
 Hi,

I like the confirmation by the President - sworn and his deputy on the
issue of laptops for class 1 students from next year, it is commendable and
quite easily achievable but as ICT experts are laptops the ideal items or
would low power touchscreen tablets be more practical and appropriate?
However .com that the two principles are I suspect that they might not be
up to speed on devices.

Here again for the umpteenth time the opportunity for us to become relevant
presents itself, shall we take action or sit back to carry out a forensic
analysis when only 80% of the students get the devices?

Regards

PS.  A new dispensation, a new dedication and new vigor ****
 ** **
  ****
 Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya****
 Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696****

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people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.

KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
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