Topic: $12 computer?

[Nemesis]

Link to full article

“We see this as a model that could increase economic opportunities for people in developing countries,” said Lomas, part of a team that’s trying to develop a $12 computer at this month’s MIT International Development Design Summit. “If you just know how to type, that can be the difference between earning $1 an hour instead of $1 a day.”

Where they got the idea.

A $12 computer of sorts - a cheap keyboard and Nintendo-like console - already exists in India, where people hook the devices to home TVs to run simple games and programs.

Team members have already recruited Apple II enthusiasts to help with the programming.

The group has also contacted an Indian nonprofit that expressed interest in using the devices to train village “micro-loan” officers.

Also, the team’s foreign members - who hail from Brazil, Ghana and India - plan to do market research on the souped-up devices back home.

“We think we can develop a really good educational tool that could give kids exposure to keyboards, typing and mouse usage at an early age,” said Austin-Breneman, a 25-year-old MIT graduate and a mechanical engineer.

[GE-Raven]

I hope it can't run "WoW" or the "farmer" problem is about to get a lot worse :-p