One Laptop Per Child (OLPC): A Novel Computerization Movement?

Abstract

This study applies concepts about computerization movements (CMs) to a case study of the diffusion of innovation in the developing world and thereby to draw lessons for undertaking similar technology projects.We identify the key characteristics of a computerization movement in the scholarly literature and then review the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Project in terms of each, identifying where OLPC adds new understanding about CMs. The OLPC project is an example of a computerization movement that has launched a new generation of low-cost computers in the developing world, while failing in its own ambitious goals. The OLPC project provides insights into the nature of computerization movements, in particular the process of mobilization, the diffusion of innovations in the developing world, and the overlap of multiple movements. OLPC's limited success to date illustrates the importance of having: (1) financial resources beyond deployment for economic sustainability, (2) local skills, infrastructure and deployment capability for operational sustainability, and (3) a replicable and scalable deployment model for ease of implementation across many sites.

ICTs and Hope for Development: A Theoretical Framework

“…Later analyses of OLPC (e.g. Kraemer et al, 2011;Cristia et al, 2012) point to the importance of contextual factors in determining project outcomes, and we can reflect that our models of hope so far are relatively structure-less and implicitly individualised. A fuller understanding of hope would incorporate context; for example, the way in which formal and informal institutions impact the formation and enactment of hope.…”

“…Therefore, we do not here discuss in any detail the hopes of other stakeholders such OLPC founders, producers, education policy makers, etc. ; at least some of whom had strong hopes for the developmental impact of the project (Kraemer et al, 2011). We will return to these limitations again in our conclusions.…”

“…The OLPC mission statement itself has been considered a "utopian" vision; a vision of a transformative "education project not a laptop project" (Buchele and Owusu-Aning, 2007;Kraemer et al, 2011). But closer to the field and to use of the laptops, that utopian hope transitions into much more instrumental and incremental and practical hopes of the type just described.…”

What's Next?

“…With access to the [Internet], children were more vulnerable to disorientation from their cultural beliefs and to migration towards a more westernized culture." 15 The children's curiosity also expanded to their cultural beliefs, and a lot of them questioned their customs and adopted Western standards. In conservative nations, which are the developing countries targeted by OLPC, culture is very important to the people, and the introduction of this new technology threatens to deteriorate that among the children.…”

Facebook's "Free Basics" and Implications for Development: IT Identity and Social Capital

“…For example, in Uruguay, 25% of the laptops deployed within the country were "not used by the schools because of malfunctioning and lack of technical support" [31] which meant money lost for the country which could have been spent in other meaningful ways. Also, concerns have been raised regarding the consequences of children being more exposed to Western values and norms through the use of internet and its possible implications on local cultures [31], [32] (recited from [31]). These implied societal costs to the developing nations in the form of confusion among users.…”