Re: [seul-edu] 10,000 Linux-based FreePads to be given away to USschools

[tom poe <tompoe@ableweb.net>]

Hi:  What happens, is, students purchase to use computers each school
year.  At the end of the school year, information is deleted, and
students can buy new set next year.  No sharing of information from one
computer to another, etc., DRM at its finest.
http://www-916.ibm.com/press/prnews.nsf/jan/4E9762928EF3453B85256CD90075E698
Thanks,
Tom Poe
Open Studios
Reno, NV
http://www.studioforrecording.org/
On Wed, 2003-05-28 at 19:06, Ms. G wrote:
> I'm trying to read between the lines and get more info on this; the
> article is pretty weak on real info. I wish it was happening in Texas.
> 
> --[excerpted from: The Associated Press State & Local Wire]----
>                       May 15, 2003, Thursday, BC cycle
> 
> State and Regional Program to Bring Laptops to Rural Schools
> 
> By MELISSA NELSON, Associated Press Writer
> 
> LITTLE ROCK
> [...]
> 
> Free Pad computers developed by a Norwegian company are being distributed
> to Independence County's nearly 7,000 public school teachers and students
> through a pilot program to put technology in rural schools.
> 
> The computers will replace textbooks and library books used by kindergarten
> through 12th graders in the county's eight school districts.
> 
> Independence County will be the largest test site for the program, which
> will include 10,300 students and teachers in Arkansas, California, Hawaii,
> New York, Utah and Washington, D.C.
> 
> Bruce Lincoln of Columbia University's Institute for Learning Technology
> said the program represents a changing attitude about how to meld
> technology and public education. Lincoln said he believes the issue is as
> important to the nation's future as homeland security.
> 
> "It's sharing a knowledge base with people. This has been happening in some
> places for a long time but not in places like Independence County," he
> said.
> 
> The New York university plans to study the Arkansas project and help with
> its implementation. The three-year project will cost about $14 million and
> will be funded through corporate, private and nonprofit sponsorships, said
> Sandy Morgan, founder of Kidztel, the New Hampshire company coordinating
> the project.
> 
> Free Pads, developed by Screen Media of Oslo, Norway, weigh less than 2
> pounds and do not have hard drives. They are operated through a touch
> screen and include wireless Internet access.
> 
> Harald Grytten, CEO of Screen Media, said the computers were designed with
> children in mind.
> [...]
> 
> The companies will begin installing the system in mid-June and plan a
> community forum later in the month to answer questions about the project.
> 
> [...]
> 
> While kids have largely embraced the project, some teachers are concerned
> about the changes, he said.
> 
> "It can be intimidating for them, but they have to buy into the
> technological age," he said. "We are going to do whatever we have to do to
> make this work because it's a $14 million project and we aren't having to
> pay anything."
> 
> [...]
> 
> Arkansas is under a state Supreme Court mandate to overhaul a public
> education system that the court has declared inadequate and inequitable.
> Experts have estimated the cost of changes at $1 billion a year and some,
> including Gov. Mike Huckabee, have suggested finding the money through
> consolidating small school districts.
> 
> Santucci said the technology, which includes video conferencing, will allow
> school districts to share teachers in shortage subjects such as upper level
> math and science.
> 
> [...]
> Although the computers are composed of fragile circuitry, Santucci, Morgan
> and others said they aren't worried about the kids damaging the Free Pads.
> The computers, which cost about $450 each, are insured.
> 
> Grytten said his company designed the school Free Pads with a special
> casing to make them more durable.
> 
> [...]
> ------------
> 
> Info on the FreePad at:
> http://www.screenmedia.no/
> http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2655123453.html
> 
> 
> 
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> Doug Loss              All you need in this life is
> drloss@suscom.net      ignorance and confidence, 
>                        and then success is sure.
>                          Mark Twain
> 
> 
> 
> 
>