The Playpower Foundation (playpower.org) seeks to produce radically affordable, effective and fun Computer-Aided Learning (CAL) Games on ultra-low cost computers. A $12 computer is bound to be met with some skepticism. But $12 computers are already for sale in India and China. They come with a full keyboard, mouse, game controllers, and two game cartridges. They connect to a TV as a display– eliminating the cost of a screen. Importantly, these computers are based upon hardware that is now in the public domain, due to expired patents. These computers can teach BASIC programming and typing–these two skills alone can make a $12 computer an economically transformative product. Playpower is developing a wide range of other 8-bit learning games to help improve educational access around the world. That’s right, 8-bit. Remember the Apple II? NES? The 6502 is coming right back at ya. This talk will describe the history and future of the Playpower Foundation and the “radically affordable” $12 computer.
More from BIL 2009
- "Material Social Change" How a fabric company is transforming lives in local communities globally — Eve Blossom
- 10 Lessons I Learned from Starting Companies in a Downturn — Francine Hardaway
- 15 minutes with an evil genius — Whurley
- A Garage-Level Biomedical Research Effort is Taking on Death — John Schloendorn
More on Education & Learning
- Any learning is playable, from 3rd world Bootstraps to Primerist Polymath — Alex Peake
- Code is Literacy — Alex Peake ▶ video
- Commoditizing Education: How future schools are going to be built with one click! — Steli Efti
- Dare to be wise! - Reclaiming Philosophy from the Anatomists of Thought — Alexandros Pagidas