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One Laptop per Child

Concept: Nicholas Negroponte
Designer: Yves Béhar, fuseproject (with Martin Schnitzer and Bret Recor), Design Continuum (prototype)
Human power: Squid Labs (engineering), Yves Béhar, fuseproject, with Martin Schnitzer (design)
Software: Red Hat
Processor: Advanced Micro Devices
Manufacturer: Quanta Computer, Inc., and OLPC
China, 2007
PC/ABS, rubber
Dimensions: 1.5” h x 9” w x 9.5” d
Anticipated launch countries: Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, Uruguay, Libya, Nigeria
Second-wave launch countries: Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Angola, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, Panama

The One Laptop per Child, or $100 laptop, is a laptop computer designed as an educational tool to bring learning, information, and communication to children in developing countries. OLPC is new experiment in socially responsible design, in which a nonprofit organization harnesses cutting-edge personal technologies and distributes them on an unprecedented scale. Governments purchase the laptops directly and distribute them to their schools. Nigeria, Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, Uruguay, and Libya are slated to order the first batch of five million units.

Out of Poverty

Cynthia E. Smith

International Development Enterprises’ founder Paul Polak has just released his much anticipated book Out of Poverty, What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail. Based on his 25 years of experience he tells why traditional poverty eradication programs have fallen short and how his alternative approach works…

Voûte Nubienne Affordable Housing

Cynthia E. Smith

In sub-Saharan Africa, traditional building techniques are no longer feasible; due to increased deforestation use of timber for roofing and posts is not viable. Adapting an ancient architectural technique used in Sudan and Asia to West Africa, provides an affordable alternative…

Panel Discussion Video

WATCH THE VIDEO – This panel highlights the growing trend in design to create affordable and socially responsible objects for the vast majority of the world’s population (90%) not traditionally serviced by designers. Contributors to the exhibition Design for the Other 90%...