Ask Slashdot: Teaching Typing With Limited Electricity, Computers?

An anonymous reader writes "I am tasked with developing a service project to teach students in a Bangladeshi village how to type. The school has about 500 students, 12 computers donated to them in 2006, and a limited electricity supply. The students will be given job placement opportunities at a local firm in the city once they reach a certain proficiency. Therefore, we are trying to teach as many of them typing skills as possible. The problem: limited electricity, limited computers, many kids. I have some additional funding collected through donations. Instead of buying more computers, I am looking for a cost effective way that does not need a steady flow of electricity. I realize that to teach typing, I do not need a computer. I could achieve the same using a keyboard connected to a display. A solar powered calculator is a perfect example of a cheap device which has a numpad for input and an LCD for display. But so far I have not come across a device that has a qwerty keyboard and an LCD to display what's typed. I know there are some gaming keyboards that have LCDs built in but they are quite expensive. I am aiming to build a device that cost below USD 50. I considered using typewriters but they are in limited supply on the market. I also considered OLPC but it is double my anticipated budget. Do you have other suggestions?" Considering that (at least in China) sub-$50 Android tablets with capacitive screens are already here, I wish the Alphasmart line was cheaper, but apparently it currently starts at $169.

Comments

Typewriter

[Anonymous Coward]

What about an old fashioned typewriter?

Re:Typewriter

[MerlynEmrys67]

No - the point is to learn typing. Once you learn to type you can efficiently learn the technology of the limited computers. Frankly - the only class that has any value to me from high school was my freshman year typing class taught on an old IBM Selectric typewriter. Heck - the description in the summary is begging for a typewriter.

Technology for technology sake is never the answer - old school devices still rule, there is usually never a need for fancy modern devices, they just make thinks easier and more convenient if you happen to have money (and in this case electricity)

Here's an idea

[roc97007]

Mechanical typewriters. Paper. I bet there's a bunch of them already in India. You'll just have to look around.

Why does everything have to be electronic? Especially in remote or third-world conditions?

Re:Here's an idea

[dcollins]

From the summary -- "I considered using typewriters but they are in limited supply on the market."

Seriously, what is wrong with Slashdot people that you can't even read an 8-line summary, and mod something like the above to maximum value? Geez.

Re:"One laptop" program may be what you want

[cayenne8]

Err...do they not make mechanical typewriters any longer??

Seems like that would be the most straightforward answer to learning typing.

Hell, I learned mostly on the old IBM Selectric type writers...granted that was electric, but only really a couple of steps above full mechanical.

I assumed they still made mechanical typewriters....?

Re:"One laptop" program may be what you want

[luis_a_espinal]

Err...do they not make mechanical typewriters any longer??

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I learned with a mechanical typewriter when I lived south of the border. It is still far cheaper to get mechanical typewriters than to provide computers for each student (if the goal is to teach typing.)