Will OLPC's 'Sugar' Have an Effect on Other OSes?

g8orade wonders: "As a recent article notes: for the OLPC, the software is more important than the hardware. A generation or more of children in developing countries will learn about computers using a computer that doesn't use a desktop from either Apple or Microsoft. Will the OLPC software finally be the license-less tool, the uncharged-for value add that raises the bar for other OS makers to compete, given the same hardware?"

Comments

The OLPC will have influence

[MathFox]

Firstly, all of the discussion about the machine influences the minds of hardware and software developers; I expect to see more low-power / long battery life laptops this year; some of the OLPC hardware innovations (LCD display) will be available in next years models.

The software will cause a rethinking on how schoolkids could work with computers, but I don't see a quick adoption in PC operating systems. Applications for collaboration may pick up some of the sugar features; PDAs may pick up features quicker than PCs.
Sugar is such a radical design that it is safe to predict that it won't be adopted for 100%... On the other hand it is safe to predict that some elements will be adopted. Without an in depth review it's hard to tell which features are "good" and likely to be picked up and which are bad and likely to be avoided.

It doesn't matter

[DavidR1991]

It doesn't matter what interface or OS-type is given to these children. Everything changes constantly anyway - even if you gave them an Apple or MS, 5 years from now, the next MS/Apple release will probably be completely different, and possibly unrecognisable. As long as the OLPC teaches the concepts of basic computer usage, above the actual manipulation of the UI, this PC will be valuable no matter what OS or UI is preloaded onto it. My two pence

Is Wikipedia really that bad?

[tepples]

Networking the OLPC will open a child's mind into a world of impeccable and unimpeachable sources of knowledge such as Slashdot, Wikipedia, and Democratunderground. I detect a hint of sarcasm, as if the $100 traditional textbooks were significantly more accurate, more comprehensive, and less biased on average than Wikipedia.

Re:Is Wikipedia really that bad?

[WilliamSChips]

He sounds like an arch-conservative lamenting that his biased textbooks won't be the cornerstone of people learning history anymore.

Re:OLPC sucks

[marcosdumay]

Here at Brazil it is on the major press, but they call it the US$100 laptop, instead of OLPC. Maybe you didn't listen about it because it is not aimed to your area.

Re:The more I hear about this project...

[hughk]

Good summaey. One of the characteristrics of lesser developed countries was that information = power. In one country that I was in, one of the greatest secrets was the world price of cotton which was a large multiple of that the statte was paying the farmers. Controlled information made it easy to rig markets as well as elections. Telephone lines tended to be limited and there was frequently an elaborate system of corruption around getting a line. The cell towers jumped over the corruption (mind you many of the companies had to pay $$$ to the politicians to get their licenses approved).

Yes, the OLPC should further improve markets as well as finance for small farmers.

Re:The more I hear about this project...

[lawpoop]

"I think you're bang on when you say that the OLPC has similar possibilities to change the way people do things in these developing nations, however, I also think it's going to very strongly matter HOW they are used."

Well, unless they are going to be total Nazis about it, teachers really won't be able to control how the kids use it. It's like hiding a comic inside the textbook you're pretending to read. The moment the teacher turns their back, the kids will be IMing each other. There will be some nerd in the class who will hurry and finish all of the assignments so he can continue working on his own little program. They will quickly learn how to multi tasks and pay attention to the teacher and the screen.

I think we both agree that this activity -- children's uncontrolled, creative play and usage -- will really be where the revolution comes from.

"If these computers are used how I suspect they will be, mostly in an institutionalized setting, sitting on desks in schools, I don't think they'll have the desired effect. If the children are allowed, or even encouraged, to take them home, to use them as they were their machines, we will soon see a generation of children who have learned how to exploit this disruptive technology to their own benefit."

Your concern is obviously valid. I got the impression that the "One Laptop Per Child" meant that the laptop would belong to the child. But I really don't know.

I think the real concern would be adults taking the laptops from the children and selling them on the black market. Not every parent is entirely consumed with seeing their child succeed. And there might be relatives or others in the village or wherever who are willing to take advantage of a child in such a way. Maybe it would be safer to keep them at the school.