The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project intends to create a $100 laptop for distribution to the worlds poorest children. The machine, called the OLPC or XO laptop, has a rubberized keyboard and an ultra-bright screen readable in daylight; when flipped, it converts to an electronic book reader. To keep the cost as low as possible (at $175, it is currently a bit more than the target), the computer has a host of free software and other tools to support learning opportunities. A special type of networking allows machines within 100 feet or so to communicate with each other and relays a single Internet connection for them to use (where the Internet is available). The XO is targeted at communities where power generation is unreliable or nonexistent; it gets its power via a hand crank, pull cord, or foot pedal.

1. How does the XO computer provide learning opportunities for children in poor regions of the world?
2. What issues could these children encounter if they have an XO laptop?
3. How will cloud computing play an important role in the XO laptop, especially in terms of keeping costs low and data safe?
4. What do you think the typical environment will be like where the XO laptop will be used?
5. What can the reators of the XO laptop do to ensure its functionality even in the most extreme environments?