Week 8

The social projects included in Design for the other 90% focuses on taking down the challenges faced by those who are disadvantaged. Their work and goal is to provide these people with low cost solutions to provide them with the basic necessities that they need. There are six main focuses of these projects: transportation, shelter, health, water, energy and education. The work that is being performed in each of these are aimed at creating a better life for people and providing them with the resources that will help them change their lives and situations.

The education focus of these projects is geared at providing the tools for social and economic movement through education. These projects understand that without an education the cycle of poverty will continue. One project that I found particularly interesting was “One Laptop Per Child.” The goal of this project is to provide those without computers with one. The computer that is mentioned in the project description is one that only costs $100 and “is designed as an educational tool to bring learning, information, and communication to children in developing countries.” These computers would be provided to the students by either the government or non-profit groups and they would be used to create students who were technologically savvy. This project focuses on the need for computer education for all students. Often, I think we are focused on the classic needs of disadvantaged students, math, reading, and writing but in today’s world those skills could be useless without technology education. In the last 20 years the world has become smaller through the use of computers and as we improve the lives of those who most need it, we need to make sure that we are providing them with the tools that they need to succeed in the 21^st century. This program if executed correctly could be the solution for many students by putting laptops in their hands and giving them first hand experience with the technology they are required to know in today’s world.

http://other90.cooperhewitt.org/Design/one-laptop-per-child