[Rooftops] Re: [msgs] City of Boston WI-FI "summit" Thurs @ Museum of Science (9am - 1pm) (fwd)

[Thad E. Starner]

Folks-

>Where was someone to talk about Nicholas' $100 computer, which can do

Speaking of this, I'm writing a short article for IEEE Pervasive
Computing on the subject of how to create inexpensive networked
computers for the rest of the planet (~5 billion people or so).

I'm thinking of comparing NN's $100 laptop to the Simputer to
mobile phones.  One of my points will be that mobile phones
will soon be the equivalent of full featured desktops and the
interfaces will be sufficient for the task.  If anyone has
suggestions, can point me to the Simputer guys, or can help me provide
background info for the points below, I'd appreciate it!

1) Keyboards: (My) recent studies show that mini-QWERTY (thumb
keyboards) and the Twiddler allow the average user to achieve desktop
typing rates (~50-60wpm sustained on average).

2) Displays: Head-up displays or laser projection displays will give
mobile phones the resolution they need to use full desktop
environments.

3) Networking:  Do store and forward networking, leveraging wireless
communities - much like USENET did with 56kbaud lines in the 70s-80s.

4) Batteries:  These phones can use little enough power to be wind-up.
Big problem here is mechanical wear and battery lifetime

5) Interface:  This is hard.  MS Windows, Linux/X, etc. don't cut it.
They assume too much tacit knowledge.  But this area can have rapid
development.
 
6) $:  Need to create a "business model" where owning one of these
computers is profitable, so that the owner keeps it working.  Much
like the micro-loans program in Bangladesh for mobile phones.

					Thad