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Walmart's $150 tablet aimed at children is missing the point Walmart's $150 tablet aimed at children is missing the point
(2 months later)
It's not often you see a piece of Darwinian evolution occur before your eyes. Swimmers tend not to sprout webbed feet, nor typists extra fingers. But last week I think I saw the closest thing yet.It's not often you see a piece of Darwinian evolution occur before your eyes. Swimmers tend not to sprout webbed feet, nor typists extra fingers. But last week I think I saw the closest thing yet.
I watched a small toddler crawl determinedly across the room towards a television screen, reach up with his grubby paws, and attempt to stretch the picture with a pinch of his fingers. The cartoon wasn't big enough and he wanted to zoom in.I watched a small toddler crawl determinedly across the room towards a television screen, reach up with his grubby paws, and attempt to stretch the picture with a pinch of his fingers. The cartoon wasn't big enough and he wanted to zoom in.
The ubiquity of touchscreen tablets and phones has already led to a whole new generation more used to swiping, pinching and tapping their way through life, than clawing at the pages of analogue picture books. Parents woken with the cry of “want iPad!” will be all too familiar with the consequences: cracked screens, sticky fingerprints and bits of Ready Brek smeared into every socket.The ubiquity of touchscreen tablets and phones has already led to a whole new generation more used to swiping, pinching and tapping their way through life, than clawing at the pages of analogue picture books. Parents woken with the cry of “want iPad!” will be all too familiar with the consequences: cracked screens, sticky fingerprints and bits of Ready Brek smeared into every socket.
But help is at hand with the launch of the XO tablet, designed by Yves Behar for the non-profit organisation One Laptop Per Child – launched in Walmart this week for $150. Encased in a tough rubbery skin, complete with a handy carrying loop so they can swing it around to their heart's content, the tablet has been redesigned to make it more child-friendly both inside and out.But help is at hand with the launch of the XO tablet, designed by Yves Behar for the non-profit organisation One Laptop Per Child – launched in Walmart this week for $150. Encased in a tough rubbery skin, complete with a handy carrying loop so they can swing it around to their heart's content, the tablet has been redesigned to make it more child-friendly both inside and out.
It runs a basic version of Android 4.2, which has been specifically configured by Behar's studio, Fuseproject, to appeal to children. The main screen is organised by topic, rather than application, and the notion of files has been replaced by a journal-like structure centred – in a very American way – around aspirations and goals.It runs a basic version of Android 4.2, which has been specifically configured by Behar's studio, Fuseproject, to appeal to children. The main screen is organised by topic, rather than application, and the notion of files has been replaced by a journal-like structure centred – in a very American way – around aspirations and goals.
The tablet launches with the “I want to be a ...” screen, where a series of coloured circles provide options from artist and musician to engineer and programmer. Each then leads to further material on the topic. It also comes loaded with around 200 books, and features a front and rear camera – as well as parental controls and analytics “to help monitor use and understand their children's natural interests and computing habits”, for the ultimate micro-parenting experience.The tablet launches with the “I want to be a ...” screen, where a series of coloured circles provide options from artist and musician to engineer and programmer. Each then leads to further material on the topic. It also comes loaded with around 200 books, and features a front and rear camera – as well as parental controls and analytics “to help monitor use and understand their children's natural interests and computing habits”, for the ultimate micro-parenting experience.
This all sounds sensible enough, until you remember that the One Laptop Per Child initiative was established in 2005 to deliver low-cost laptops to children in developing countries – not relieve the tedium of life as a child in suburban America.This all sounds sensible enough, until you remember that the One Laptop Per Child initiative was established in 2005 to deliver low-cost laptops to children in developing countries – not relieve the tedium of life as a child in suburban America.
The first device developed by OLPC, the XO-1, was a small, low-powered Linux machine, complete with super-strong Wi-Fi antennae for connecting to distant or weak networks, and was to be delivered by the United Nations Development Programme. With a target cost of $100, it only just succeeded in breaking the $200 mark, and soon ran into distribution problems.The first device developed by OLPC, the XO-1, was a small, low-powered Linux machine, complete with super-strong Wi-Fi antennae for connecting to distant or weak networks, and was to be delivered by the United Nations Development Programme. With a target cost of $100, it only just succeeded in breaking the $200 mark, and soon ran into distribution problems.
Could the touch-screen XO be the solution? There is no mention in the company's announcement that the new device is ever intended to make it to developing nations – just promotional videos showing how well it will fit into life in your middle-class home.Could the touch-screen XO be the solution? There is no mention in the company's announcement that the new device is ever intended to make it to developing nations – just promotional videos showing how well it will fit into life in your middle-class home.
Walmart might not be known for reaching remote townships in Africa and India, but if they peddle enough of these devices to American families, One Laptop Per Child might just be able to return to its original intentions.Walmart might not be known for reaching remote townships in Africa and India, but if they peddle enough of these devices to American families, One Laptop Per Child might just be able to return to its original intentions.
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