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> If you remember the OLPC at all, you probably remember the hand crank. It was OLPC’s most striking technological innovation — and it was pure vaporware. Desig
by newsbinator 5y ago
> If you remember the OLPC at all, you probably remember the hand crank. It was OLPC’s most striking technological innovation — and it was pure vaporware. Designers dropped the feature almost immediately after Negroponte’s announcement, because the winding process put stress on the laptop’s body and demanded energy that kids in very poor areas couldn’t spare. Every OLPC computer shipped with a standard power adapter.
I think kids everywhere have the energy to turn a hand crank. I mean they usually have the energy to play football. Very malnourished kids who can't turn a handcrank probably don't have the mental clarity to use a laptop for long either.
Maybe if the mechanically-cranked power system were separate from the laptop body it could have worked better?
- emrah 5y ago> Maybe if the mechanically-cranked power system were separate from the laptop body it could have worked better? That makes a lot of sense but perhaps that would have been much more expensive than including a COTS power adapter.
- m-p-3 5y agoOffer it as an optional add-on, and those who really needs it at least have the option. And maybe some solar panels would be cheaper now?
- Nextgrid 5y agoI can't imagine a hand-crank actually providing enough energy to power a laptop for any practical period of time?
- imtringued 5y agoIncinerating the food probably generates more useful energy than eating it and turning a hand crank.