MIT Media Lab cofounder Nicholas Negroponte showed off the latest prototype of the US$100 computer to a gathering of educators in San Diego Thursday.Telling the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) that “children are the main agents of change,” the author of the best-selling Being Digital said he expects millions of the low-cost laptops to be distributed to children in developing countries starting next year, according to a statement issued after the event.The focal point of Negroponte’s One Laptop Per Child initiative—which aims to produce a US$100 laptop computer for distribution to children in developing countries—features a hand crank that generates the two watts of power the machine needs to operate. It uses a Wi-Fi mesh to connect to the Internet, and runs open-source software. All of the components are chosen for low power usage and low cost to make the portable computers as inexpensive as possible.NECC members got an early look at one of the project’s most innovative developments: a dual mode display that can be easily viewed in natural and artificial light, which helps to reduce the machine’s power consumption. Despite these efforts, the price tag of each computer still comes in at $130 to $140, although Negroponte and others involved in the project believe the cost will drop as component prices decrease.More information about this effort to reduce the digital divide can be found online. -Steven Schwankert, IDG News Service (Beijing Bureau)Related Links: Bill Gates Blasts MIT’s $100 Laptop MIT’s Negroponte Shoots Down $100 Laptop CriticismCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content brandpost Sponsored by Zscaler How customers capture real economic value with zero trust Unleashing economic value: Zscaler's Zero Trust Exchange transforms security architecture while cutting costs. By Zscaler Nov 30, 2023 4 mins Security brandpost Sponsored by SAP A cloud-based solution to rescue millions from energy poverty Aware of the correlation between energy and financial poverty, Savannah Energy is helping to generate clean, competitively priced electricity across Africa by integrating its old systems into one cloud-based platform. By Keith E. Greenberg, SAP Contributor Nov 30, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation feature 8 change management questions every IT leader must answer Designed to speed adoption and achieve business outcomes, change management hasn’t historically been a strength of IT orgs. It’s time to flip that script by asking hard questions to hone change strategies. By Stephanie Overby Nov 30, 2023 10 mins Change Management IT Leadership feature CIO Darlene Taylor’s formula for success: Listen, drive, care This Motor City CIO says building and maintaining credibility starts with an empathy-driven approach, which has the potential to render you highly appealing to top talent. By Michael Bertha Nov 30, 2023 6 mins Automotive Industry IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe