The Linux based One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) collaborated with several leading designers on the XO Laptop, which Thailand committed to buy for their schoolchildren, and the first laptops will roll of the assembly lines in October wins International Design Award (INDEX) in Copenhagen, Denmark on August 24, 2007.
The Linux based One Laptop Per Child (OPLC) was presented an INDEX: AWARD for winning the Community category.The INDEX: AWARD is presented every other year, and in addition to the glory, each award comes with a €100 000 prizes. INDEX: AWARD operates with five categories, which refer to the context for which the designs are intended: body, home, work, play and community.
The XO Laptop is about the size of a textbook and lighter than a lunchbox, making it easy for children to carry. XO Laptop is designed to be used in parts of the world where many classes are taught outside, and therefore it is sunlight-readable as well as shock and moisture resistant.
In order for students to interact, a mobile ad-hoc network allows many machines to gain internet access from one connection and a maze-network connects all the laptops within reach. The XO Laptop can be hand-powered and comes with at least two of three options: A crank, a pedal, or a pull-cord. Plus, it features enhanced battery management for an extended recharge-cycle lifetime.
The One Laptop per Child (OLPC) foundation aims to provide every child in developing countries with a laptop, but given the resources that developing countries can reasonably allocate to education, the design team behind the XO, also known as the $100 laptop, had to create an affordable, yet technically advanced solution.
Nicholas Negroponte, OLPC Chairman was pleased to have been recognized for emphasizing design in parallel with low cost. “There are two ways to make an inexpensive anything. One is to take cheap components, cheap labor, plus cheap design, to make a “cheap” product. The other is to use advanced manufacturing, large scale integration, very big quantities, plus good design, to make a low cost, high quality device. We focused exclusively on the latter and deeply appreciate being awarded the prize for it,” said Negroponte. Prices currently start at $135-175 USD, and the goal is to reach the $100 USD mark in 2008.
