New Touch-Screen OLPC Design Boosts Future Viability vs. the iPhone
May 21 2008 / by Alvis Brigis
Category: Technology Year: 2010 Rating: 2 Hot
Billions of currently computer-less people will never interface
with a traditional keyboard. They will instead leapfrog to new
touch-screen interfaces on smaller devices such as the Apple
iPhone
or the new One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) design unveiled yesterday.
Sporting dual touch-screen panels connected by a hinge that allows the device to fold open like a book, the OLPC XO-2 is scheduled to hit the market in 2010. At an estimated $75 price point, this will make the device a vastly more viable competitor of a 3G iPhone than the current OLPC design.
Though the current OLPC will surely make some inroads as an educational device in under-developed countries, as suggested by johnfrink in this comment thread it’s reassuring to see that Negroponte and the OLPC design crew have their ducks in order when it comes to future viablity and marketability of their product. The new model will stand a much better chance of grabbing critical market share vs. the iPhone while also enabling a wider touch-screen keyboard interface than its main competitor.
That being said, the 3G iPhone will still have the edge when it comes to telephony, digital photography and portability. Plus I’m sure that Apple, with their cognizance of rapid product cycles, is already at work on something similar to the XO-2. (cont.)
Overall, the new OLPC design is very encouraging because I can now imagine two low-cost, useful and truly diffusable products with the potential to connect underdeveloped regions to the web, which according to Metcalfe’s Law should grow value for everyone who’s part of the network.
At the same time, expect us residing in more economically mature countries to benefit directly from the lower prices that will result as at least two quality products go head-to-head for a rapidly expanding worldwide market. Such a dynamic could have a major impact on our under-developed regions.
As a final note, it’s interesting and amusing to see my simulation of what’s likely to occur in underdeveloped and African markets change significantly in just 24 hours. I’ve got to give a nod to futurist Jack Uldrich for his piece on Unlearning the Future in which he points out that we should all be ready to quickly adjust as new data comes in.
Comment Thread (1 Response)
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Can’t wait to check out your worldview tomorrow ;)
Jack makes a good point we can all (un)learn from.
Ultimately, the winner of the market share battle that you describe may come down to politics as none of those price points are palatable to the severely disadvantaged and will require significant subsidy.
Posted by: Joe Meme May 21, 2008
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