Sugar is a great little OS for little learners around the world. Its the way an OS and laptop should be introduced to children. Engineered for Children…what a concept.
Tags: OLPC, Sugar Labs, Amazon, XO, open source, globalization, trends
Category: Technology
I have begun reading a really good book called Bangalore Tiger and have become very impressed with the closing of the fifth chapter and second section called People Principals to Lead By.
This book is about Wipro, one of India’s great IT companies. This chapter concluded with an overview to their companies’ social responsibility initiatives and volunteer efforts in India called Wipro Cares:
The education program provides training for teachers, administrators, and parents –with the goal of fostering more creative and analytical curricula in pubic schools, rather than rote learning. In an effort that targets underprivileged children, Wipro volunteers spend two hour every Saturday tutoring and encouraging these kids…..The Azin Premji Foundation is an attempt to help transform Indian society through improving public education. Premiji established the foundation in 2000 and it became operational in 2001. To date [Azim Premji] has contributed $125 million in Wipro stock –and has pledged to keep replenishing as money is spent.
The main focus is on convincing education that they need to retool their approach to education and on giving them the tools to do it. So far, one Indian sate has agreed to switch to analytical learning……”What we’re focused on is quality education,” says Dileep Ranjekar, a former head of HR who is now CEO of the Azim Premji Foundation. Premji’s charity. Unless India fundamentally addressed the quality issue and the shifts from rote learning to analytical learning, it can’t realize its dream of becoming one of the world economic superpowers.”
There’s obviously a crucial side benefit for Wipro. Unless the Indian public education system improves dramatically, Wipro won’t be able to fulfill what it sees as its destiny – becoming one of the world’s great companies by offering up India’s brainpower to the world.
America needs this type of innovative company that can lead change in our education system. As Intel’s CEO has stated many times America will continue to graduate more masseuses than engineers. At some point this will catch up with us. And by the looks of it when that time arrives India will be prepared to step in.
Tags: India, Wipro, Bangalore Tiger, globalization, education, technology, reading, trends
As reported by the BBC and others, Amazon has announced it will begin selling OLPC’s XO unit this fall. The new unit will support dual boot to SugarOS or WindowsXP. OLPC’s first GiveOneGetOne (G1G1) program struggled late last year.
Many canceled their orders when shipping glitches and production delays hit the first XO laptop. This new unit is expected to begin in November. Pricing has not yet been announced.
Tags: OLPC, Sugar Labs, Amazon, XO, open source, globalization, trends
Categories
Whats the point ?
Well I’m not sure its THAT important to know what type of coffee I’m drinking. If I stood in line, then I know what I bought….overkill
I found myself fascinated by China Shakes the World: A Titan’s Rise and Troubled Future – and the Challenge for America by James Kynge. Yet most of the time I was also infuriated over how America has fallen asleep regarding China’s threat to our economy. Kynge has written an excellent book that should be read by every school teacher, mayor and businessman.
It was my goal to finish this book before the end of the summer Olympic games. But I needed time to finish Randy Pauch‘s one of a king book The Last Lecture (review is here) so this week was plenty of time to complete this book.
Infuriating? Yes Kynge shares a startling story about how the Chinese almost secured the assets to the American company that produces stealth coating to the B-2 bomber. Yes THAT Stealth Bomber. Now are you interested in what Hynge has to say? It was Financial Time’s Book of the Year.
So how does America’s secret stealth technology (a skin made with highly specialized thermoplastics and composites which are radar-absorbent) come within arms reach of the communist Chinese? Did they try to steal it? No, they almost purchased the technology outright.
What about pirating and corporate espionage? China plays this game very well too. And based upon the communist’s approach to banking, well lets just say their idea of business as usual includes very loose, corrupt accounting…kinda reminds me of Enron.
If you are frustrated with the RIAA’s music lawsuits against college kids encourage the RIAA to go to source in this matter: China. The Chinese have truly become the world’s leading Pirate Nation. A word of note to the music and movie industry: Do you really believe your lawsuits against college kids is making a dent in your attempt to stop pirating? Go to China.
The Chinese impact
It’s not on the gold medal stand in women’s gymnastics. As the saying goes … if your not cheating, your not winning. Regardless, it was the American gymnast Sacromone who fell of the beam and floor exercise that cost the team gold medal. I know the Olympics bring out national pride. We all feel good about cheering for our athletes during the 16 days of competition. But what about the other 349 days of 2008?