XO: A small machine with a big mission.

Folowing up my last post about the way the internet (and therefore IT) is changing YOUR life. I want to talk to you about an intersting project that will probably change the next generation relationship with the machine.
In order to have access to the "Matrix", you need an interface, a machine. Thats where problems start! We're obviously not equal in terms of material and knowledge even in western countries.

What is XO: The Children's Machine
The XO is a potent learning tool designed and built especially for children in developing countries, living in some of the most remote environments. It’s about the size of a small textbook. It has built-in wireless and a unique screen that is readable under direct sunlight for children who go to school outdoors. It’s extremely durable, brilliantly functional, energy-efficient, and fun. 

The laptop was designed collaboratively by experts from both academia and industry, bringing to bear both extraordinary talent and many decades of collective field experience in every aspect of this non-profit humanitarian project.

 

 

XO Laptop Handout

The result is a unique harmony of form and function; a flexible, ultra low-cost, power-efficient, responsive, and durable machine with which nations of the emerging world can leapfrog decades of development—immediately transforming the content and quality of their children’s learning.

Free software

To enhance performance and reliability while containing costs, The laptop is not burdened by the bloat of excess code, the “feature-itis” that is responsible for much of the clumsiness, unreliability, and expense of many modern laptops. We intend for laptop to start up in an instant—faster than any commercial laptop now available—and move briskly through its operations.

The laptop is an open-source machine: free software gives children the opportunity to fully own the machine in every sense. While we don't expect every child to become a programmer, we don't want any ceiling imposed on those children who choose to modify their machines. We are using open document formats for much the same reason: transparency is empowering. The children—and their teachers—will have the freedom to reshape, reinvent, and reapply their software, hardware, and content.

http://laptop.org/en/vision

As always, feel free to leave a comment.



Last Updated on Friday, 19 March 2010 19:44

"How is the Internet changing the way YOU think?"

This is the question asked for 2010 on the website of the edge.org, (World Question Center)!
The question is asked to each of us, they specify on the website that not WE, but YOU.

172 essayists (an array of world-class scientists, artists, and creative thinkers) have created a 132,000 document. (Click here to go directly to the responses).

I found that intersting to step back a little bit and think about how this technology is affecting the way I think and wanted to write my feedback on my blog.
From my perspective, as a web consultant, dealing with ecommerce and internet project everyday, the way I think is certainly deeply affected by Internet, and here are my thoughts.

1. The time and space
internet is affecting my relationship with time and space, there is no more one time concept for me, living in Australia;  but I think "common time space". When I'm chatting with my friends or clients simultaneously in Cameroon, France and Japan, and sometime even USA,  the time doesn't exit anymore. Therefore when I'm back in the real "local" time, I feel restricted to one track! This could have direct consequence in terms of behaviors and what is possible for me or how I THINK the time in reeal worl.
The other way the web is affecting the way I think the time is how I shop online - there is no shopping time or business hours online, where ever I am, Brisbane or Sydney or anywhere else. Only the delivery address is important.
I shop online when I need not when the shop is open and expect my parcel to be delivered very quick, probably quicker than if I order something in a "real shop". The concept of time on the web is a machine time, processing time, downloading time, ADSL time...Because I can login anywhere and anytime, this is creating a habit of immediate result and immediate accessibility!

2. CTRL + Z, Copy/Paste
Control + Z for those who doesn't know is the short cut to cancel the last operation you've done.
I saw myself many time being a bit frustrated because I couldn't cancel something I've done and wanted to have the possibility to use CTRL + Z. I also often miss my  "copy / paste" in the real worl...because I think efficienty, shortcut.
I know this sounds funny but I think it reveals a lot about the impact of the machine on me.

3. Organising and using information.
The way I think and store information in my brain has dramatically changed with the Web, I litteraly THINK "search engine". All my logic is changed and the concept of "keyword" or anticipating the machine algorythm before doing a research has changed the way I think informations and the way I use my memory.

Conclusion:

Internet is a virtual place with no location and no time where we're building/shiffting our life: shopping online, entertainement, business, meeting people etc...

These 3 concepts of Time/space, Abstract world, and Information, are driving us to the concept of simultaneous world. Consequently, I think the major change in the way Internet is changing the way I think is creating the feeling that I can be multiple, and I can have simultaneous actions. The question is what is the real positive impact on MY reality?!....thats another topic :)

Please feel free to answer to this question by adding a comment...and share your vision of Internet for 2010.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 February 2010 14:02

Another google revolution that will affect eCommerce and web design wherever your are in Sydney, Paris or New York.

As always, google new features is every time a little revolution on the web.
Due to the fast growing Social network activity (WEB 2.0), the famous search engine is now reacting and adapting: google have launched real time search result.
Google real time search updates the results as they happen on the internet and especially on the social network. It includes live tweets, Yahoo answers, Blogs, News, Web Pages and Articles. Obviously it is also available for mobile devices as well e.g Android and iPhone.

Click here to test it online.

 

 

 

What would this mean for your business online (ecommerce or CMS)?

Well, from my perspective as a web consultant in Sydney specialised in eCommerce, online shopping activity is directly linked to search engine result. Thus to the popularity/visibility of a website.
But there is another factor that is constantly growing is the rating and review for product. So far, forums, blogs and shopping portal or tester where playing this role.
Internet user read product reviews before buying online and not only for the product itslef, it could be the review of the company, or the reseller on ebay. It used to be only for IT and multimedia product but the phenomenon is now extended to all goods.
This is nothing else than what happens in the real world it's a well known social reproduction process.
The web is simply developping the same tools online but we much more power!

I think we will quickly go to the point of the real time feedback and the power of the crowd will increase.
For the first time in the humanity, we can potentially be connected at the same "time". This means that exactly like a successful and popular product in a market or a fair, the crowd will be able to have the same effect in real time on a search engine…I remember few weeks ago when Goole launched the Nexus One, everyone was twitting about the even and all search engine was full of the topic. Same for Haiti at the moment.

This is seriously affecting the way we think the SEO process and how to promote a website.
In additional, I think this will increase the gap between online business owner Who understand the concept of web 2.0 or not in Australia and espacialy in Sydney where the competition is higher.
Change is happening again and again...faster and faster!

 

 

 

Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 January 2010 15:21

Merry New Year!

I wish all the best for you and you family ,

lots of LOVE, money and prosperity for 2010.
I also wish more peace in the world, may 2010 bring us more serenity and better life for EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE on the earth.