17. photo by Esthr
-100 million handsets in sub-Saharan Africa
- 2.5 billion worldwide, rising to 3.3 billion in 2010
- 97% of Tanzanians say they can access a phone
30. OLPC vision:
- One laptop computer per child
- Internet connectivity to every school, wifi mesh to share
connectivity with surrounding community
- Local educational content loaded onto computers
- Designed for self-directed, exploratory learning
- Creative, generative machines that allow students to express
themselves, write original software
31. Cost near $200, not $100
Equipping Nigerian children - 73% of government income, 13%
of government spending per year (Edward Cherlin)
Roughly 500,000 sold, far below projections
Dual boot Linux and Windows XP - responding to feedback
from education ministries
Strong pushback from local manufacturers
Inverted pyramid problem
32. Cranks might power laptops, but not VSAT
Until we solve power, OLPC is a middle-income solution
36. ...so, what’s Google doing?
1. Advertising ecosystem: Monetization for local content
2. Mobile search: SMS search
3. Infrastructure: Google Global Cache
4. Maps and Apps: e.g.: Kenya
46. Incremental infrastructure
- What types of infrastructure can we build with initial
investments of $500k - $5m?
- Can infrastructure beget other infrastructure - mobile phone
towers leading to power infrastructure?
- Can this approach work for larger public goods? Roads,
railroads, ports, airports... undersea communications cables?
