One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Q&A

AMD Statement of Support for OLPC

The One Laptop Per Child effort is an important initiative of which we are very happy to be part. We have no doubt that for educational purposes a $100 device is achievable sometime in the next 2 to 3 years.

Meeting the desired price point will be one of the challenging aspects of the project. For instance, the display requires a revolutionary approach to meet cost targets. Storage also requires a new approach to address cost and power issues. Therefore, the first generation will most likely not be a true $100 device, but will allow the learning process to begin on what is needed, and to help start building the hardware, software and manufacturing ecosystem around the project.

The OLPC project is one of many solutions currently being developed to address the critical issue of making computers and the Internet available to a larger portion of the world's population. Truly lasting change isn't going to happen overnight. The fact that more and more companies and institutions are getting off the sidelines to help solve the issue of global Internet and computing adoption is more important than any single "solution" being promoted.

We don't believe there is a quick fix or magic bullet, but the more people in the game the better. The bottom line is that products evolving from OLPC and similar initiatives will eventually serve as additional affordable, innovative tools that will help bring us closer to realizing our 50x15 vision of connecting 50 percent of the world’s people to the Internet by 2015.

What is AMD’s financial contribution to the One Laptop Per Child project (formerly known as the MIT $100 laptop project)?

AMD has agreed to contribute $2M to help fund development, R&D for future improvements, and grants to help ensure the OLPC laptop reaches those who need it most.

Can you provide any information on the type of AMD technology the OLPC laptop will contain?

OLPC laptops will contain an AMD Geode™ GX processor. The laptops will continue migrating to lower power, more highly integrated processors as they become available.

How much processing power do you envision?

The goal is to bring basic connectivity to students in high-growth markets. That can be accommodated by relatively modest capabilities. The most ambitious aspect is to allow playback of video over WLAN.

What is the expected timeframe that the laptop will become available?

We are targeting early 2007 for device availability. This will not be a true $100 device, but will allow the learning process to begin on what is needed, and to help start building the hardware, software and manufacturing ecosystem around the project.

Are AMD and MIT collaborating on any other projects?

Although this is the first project of this magnitude, AMD has enjoyed a long relationship with the MIT Media Lab.

What does AMD hope to gain from this project? Profit, new technologies, etc?

First and foremost is AMD’s 50x15 vision of providing 50 percent of the world’s population with Internet access by 2015. Such a level of technology penetration would serve to help educate children worldwide. Subsequent benefits to AMD might include a new high volume channel for low-power processor solutions, software maturation and development, and new innovations that arise during the development of the product.

How does this OLPC laptop project dovetail in any way with the Personal Internet Communicator, either in terms of the technology itself or the end use for it?

Both are aimed at addressing similar challenges. PIC is being offered through Telcos and other ISPs to enable Internet access for low income individuals and first-time technology users throughout the world. OLPC is enabling education with children and is purchased and distributed by education ministries or governments. Therefore it includes other aspects, like teacher education, content ecosystems, etc. The bottom line is that products evolving from OLPC and similar initiatives will eventually serve as additional affordable, innovative tools that will help bring us closer to realizing the 50x15 vision.

What do you envision as being the biggest challenge for this project to succeed?

Meeting the desired price point will be one of the challenging aspects of the project. The display requires a revolutionary approach to meet cost targets. Storage also requires a new approach to address cost and power issues.

OLPC Q&A from www.laptop.org Website

What is the $100 Laptop, really?

The proposed $100 machine will be a Linux-based, full-color, full-screen laptop that will use innovative power and will be able to do most everything except store huge amounts of data. These rugged laptops will be WiFi- and cell phone-enabled, and have USB ports galore. Its current specifications are: 366MHz, 1GB.

Why do children in developing nations need laptops?

Laptops are both a window and a tool: a window into the world and a tool with which to think. They are a wonderful way for all children to "learn learning" through independent interaction and exploration.

Why not a desktop computer, or—even better—a recycled desktop machine?

Desktops are cheaper, but mobility is important, especially with regard to taking the computer home at night. Kids in the developing world need the newest technology, especially really rugged hardware and innovative software. Recent work with schools in Maine has shown the huge value of using a laptop across all of one's studies, as well as for play. Bringing the laptop home engages the family. In one Cambodian village where we have been working, there is no electricity, thus the laptop is, among other things, the brightest light source in the home.

Finally, regarding recycled machines: if we estimate 100 million available used desktops, and each one requires only one hour of human attention to refurbish, reload, and handle, that is forty-five thousand work years. Thus, while we definitely encourage the recycling of used computers, it is not the solution for One Laptop per Child.

How is it possible to get the cost so low?

• First, by dramatically lowering the cost of the display. The first-generation machine may use a novel, dual-mode LCD display commonly found in inexpensive DVD players, but that can also be used in black and white, in bright sunlight, and at four times the normal resolution—all at a cost of approximately $35.
• Second, we will get the fat out of the systems. Today's laptops have become obese. Two-thirds of their software is used to manage the other third, which mostly does the same functions nine different ways.
• Third, we will market the laptops in very large numbers (millions), directly to ministries of education, which can distribute them like textbooks.

Why is it important for each child to have a computer? What's wrong with community-access centers?

One does not think of community pencils—kids have their own. They are tools to think with, sufficiently inexpensive to be used for work and play, drawing, writing, and mathematics. A computer can be the same, but far more powerful. Furthermore, there are many reasons it is important for a child to "own" something—like a football, doll, or book—not the least of which being that these belongings will be well-maintained through love and care.

What about connectivity? Aren't telecommunications services expensive in the developing world?

When these machines pop out of the box, they will make a mesh network of their own, peer-to-peer. This is something initially developed at MIT and the Media Lab. We are also exploring ways to connect them to the backbone of the Internet at very low cost.

What can a $1000 laptop do that the $100 version can't?

Not much. The plan is for the $100 Laptop to do almost everything. What it will not do is store a massive amount of data.

How will these be marketed?

The idea is to distribute the machines through those ministries of education willing to adopt a policy of "One Laptop per Child." Initial discussions have been held with China, Brazil, Thailand, and Egypt. Additional countries will be selected for beta testing. Initial orders will be limited to a minimum of one million units (with appropriate financing).

When do you anticipate these laptops reaching the market? What do you see as the biggest hurdles?

Our preliminary schedule is to have units ready for shipment by the end of 2006 or early 2007.

The biggest hurdle will be manufacturing 100 million of anything. This is not just a supply-chain problem, but also a design problem. The scale is daunting, but I find myself amazed at what some companies are proposing to us. It feels as though at least half the problems are being solved by mere resolve.

How will this initiative be structured?

The three principals at MIT are faculty members at the Media Lab: Nicholas Negroponte (a founder of the Lab), Joe Jacobson (serial entrepreneur, co-founder and director of E Ink), and Seymour Papert (one of the world's leading theorists on child learning). Additional researchers include: Mike Bove, Mary Lou Jepsen, Alan Kay, Tod Machover, Mitchel Resnick, and Ted Selker.

Organizationally, MIT will work with a small number of companies of complementary skills to develop a fully working and manufactured laptop (50,000 to 100,000 units) in fewer than 12 months, with an eye on building about 100 million to 200 million units by the following year. Five initial companies who have committed to this project are AMD, Brightstar, Google, News Corporation, and Red Hat. MIT will also work with the not-for-profit company One Laptop per Child (OLPC), as well as with the 2B1 Foundation.
September 2005