I think part of the reason for OLPC is that people are already being donated farming equipment and livestock through organizations like Oxfam, the Heifer Project and Church World Service. While I don’t think charity should be ruled by trends, the fact is that microloan programs are very big right now. And personally, I’ve given to Heifer and Unicef, but I think people need access to ideas and a means of self-expression as well as access to stuff.

In terms of giving things to third world countries, the emphasis is mostly on giving people stuff, not information. In the US, there are libraries with expensive databases and journal subscriptions most people couldn’t afford otherwise. People in developing nations often don’t have access to information.

Yes, it sometimes irks me to see the OLPC laptop touted in the blogosphere as this cool geek toy instead of something designed to aid in education. I’ve seen the laptop in person and it is equipped with a word processor, a webcam and other tools to help young people express themselves — tools they wouldn’t have otherwise. But I agree that the success of OLPC up to date has been as a good idea, a noble cause, and a design marvel you see displayed at MoMA and the San Francisco airport.

You have to remember though that the project is still pretty new and I think the goals are still a ways off — maybe even 20 years or so. I don’t think that means that the project should stop though, especially since in the developing world many kids don’t get past the fifth grade.