Nortel is in talks with the Egyptian Government over plans to extend the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative in the country.
The OLPC initiative aims to provide cheap laptops to children in countries where there is little, or no, communications infrastructure.
“We hope that we can play a very real role in extending this initiative to the Middle East, initially through Egypt,” said Ramin Attari, vice president of Nortel Middle East.
“We think it is potentially an important step forward, one of many, in addressing the need to build our connected communities throughout the region,” he went on to say.
The aim of the OLPC is to develop a fully functioning and connected laptop for under US$100 then distribute it to children, particularly in developing countries, so that they can use it for learning and independent interaction.
Currently in the early stages of development, the laptop is designed to be the size of the average school notebook, and will use wireless networking capabilities to allow children to interact with each other and access the internet and community resources.
It is expected to leverage built-in wireless capabilities that support WiFi and VoIP(voice over internet protocol).
It can be used as a conventional computer tool, electronic book, handheld games console and even a TV.
“The goal of the OLPC is to actively engage children in their own education,” said Nich-olas Negrponte, chairman of the OLPC.
“The US$100 laptop will belong to each child and be part of his or her life, in and out of school, for study and for play,” he continued.
“By providing internet access and tools to think with, a child has the opportunity to learn about thinking itself. By virtue of all children in a school having their own laptops a connected community emerges,” he added.
Currently governments in Argentina, Nigeria, Brazil, Thailand, China, Egypt and India are in talks with the OLPC about taking part in the scheme.
“Nortel has a firm belief in the power of communications technology to enhance the lives of people around the world,” said Martha Bejar, president, Caribbean and Latin America and emerging markets solutions, Nortel.
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