A new version of a laptop
originally designed by Intel
for the developing world is
making its debut in the UK.
The newly designed
Classmate machine can be
converted from a traditional
laptop to a tablet PC to allow
children to write and draw
more naturally.
It will be available in the UK in
February, and will be sold
directly to schools as well as
via online retailer Amazon and high street store Argos.
But with a retail price of £349 the machine will not be cheap.
There are 1.3 billion school-age children around the world but only 5%
have access to a PC or the internet.
In 2007 Intel began to market its Classmate PC as a low-cost way of
getting technology into the most needy regions of the world with a
price tag of between $200 (£137) and $400 (£275).
So far Intel has sold "close to one million units" in the developing
world, and last year began to push the machine in more mature
markets.
'No conflict'
Initially it announced a deal in
Portugal which will see the device
distributed to 500,000 children
aged between six and 11 during the
course of 2009.
Gordon Graylish, deputy general
manger of Intel Europe, believes
there is no conflict between the two
markets.
"It doesn't matter whether the
children are in Mali, Vietnam, France or the US," he said.
"The research we did across both the developing and the developed
world showed that human beings are actually quite similar, with similar
needs, particularly if they are five years old."
Each of the 120 vendors signed up to sell the Classmate provides
localised software.
The main reason for Intel's push into western countries is down to the
renewed efforts governments are making to close digital divides.
Social deprivation
"Two years ago there was not a lot of interest from mature markets,
but that has changed and governments are saying they need to do
something to combat social deprivation," said Mr Graylish.
The UK government announced last year that it was to revive its Home
Access scheme by distributing one million PCs to the most needy
households.
"It is encouraging that the UK
government has publicly committed itself to driving higher
standards and better outcomes for
children by breaking down barriers
to achievement and tackling the
link between deprivation and low
educational attainment," said Mr
Graylish.
Intel is in talks with the UK
government about distributing
Classmate PCs under this scheme.
It will make the machine available
to schools at a reduced price of around £260.
The laptop comes preloaded with educational software, including
Algodoo, a 2D simulation environment designed to explain physics,
and the Easybits Magic Desktop, a simplified Windows-based interface.
Mr Graylish is convinced that laptops can play a vital role in
transforming education.
"Education through technology can have a profound effect on
children," he said.
"It's important that we are not cynical. Bear in mind that some of us
got excited when we got ballpoint pens."
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