Low Cost School Computing Set to Take Off

Ray Jashembowski
EDLA615 Language Arts and Technology
11/11/07
Current Issue #4

Title: Low Cost School Computing Set to Take Off
Publisher: ESchool News
Date of Publication: Oct 1, 2007
Author: Robert L. Jacobson, Senior editor
Summary:

Are we ready for a $40 computer? Stephen Dukker, the chairman of NComputing states that by 2009, many schools will be offering computers to their students at low cost. The estimate put mobile computers at approximately $100/each, and non-mobile computers around $30-$40/each. The Republic of Macedonia will be the first nation to provide elementary and secondary students this technology. Macedonia’s Ministry of Education and Science selected NComputing and will use their “multi-user virtual desktop software”. They have already installed 770 stations in three high schools back in August. There are 100,000 more scheduled to be installed by the end of the year and 80,000 additional by the end of 2008. The package comes to a total cost of $220/per seat. NComputing’s idea is to produce special memory cards and stations for the students to use one pc’s processing ability instead of selling separate desktops and laptops. They estimate up to seven users can work at the same time. This project which is being called “Computing for Every Child”, is concurrent with the non-profit One Laptop per Child (OLPC), has plans to distribute inexpensive laptops in developing nations. There have been at least half-dozen projects in South American and African countries along with other parts of the world. There has been competition among the current chip provider, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) which uses a slow processor and Intel. Intel has been seeking to put their own chips in the OLPC devices. This initiave, is still a long way off, but has potential to benefit not only children from poor countries but also American school districts who can’t provide for their own.
The idea of really inexpensive computers for students raises some concerns. The quality of these machines, compatibility to other devices and technology, and whether or not the use of this by students will benefit learning are the major concerns I have. Another question that I have, asks is this new technology or adaptation of current technology? If this is adapting to what we already have, why are school districts spending/wasting all the money on current technology that will be outdated by the time the students graduate anyway? If this is new technology that provides the student with current information and processes at a low cost, sign us up.