Non-profit organisation, One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Australia, continues to roll out budget laptops to primary school children in the Northern Territory with 200 devices being delivered to the remote town of Yirrkala.
Globally the organisation has shipped 1 million of its purpose-built budget XO laptops over the past 24 months in 31 countries to disadvantaged children. It began its Australian rollout in May 2009 and is aiming to deliver 15,000 devices domestically in 2010.
The Linux-based user interface which runs on the XO laptop, Sugar, is currently developed by the open source community.
The XO laptop is designed for use by school children in developing countries, featuring the ability to run on solar power. The laptop has also been praised for its innovative hardware features and environmentally friendly design.
In a statement, Minister for Employment Participation, Mark Arbib, noted the support given to the ambitious project by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Telstra and News Limited.
“The support of Australia’s corporate community is vital in closing the gap in education and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians, who are represented strongly in remote communities,” Arbib said.
Check out the One Laptop Per Child Flickr photostream for some truly inspiring images.