OLPC-toting Rwandan students flock to airport for free WiFi
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 23rd 2009 4:33PM
posted February 23rd 2009 4:33PM
OLPC may be facing some tough times as of late, but there's no denying that the little-laptop-that-could has made an impact where it's been distributed, as evidenced by this latest indication of the project's reach in Rwanda. Apparently, in addition to helping students with their schoolwork, the laptop is also teaching them the fine art of finding free WiFi, and this particular group seems to have quickly discovered that the Kigali International Airport is one of the best spots in town. And just what are they using the laptops to look up in their time outside the classroom? Bruce Lee and Jean-Claude Van Damme, who, coincidentally, also brings the world together in his own special way.
[Image courtesy Anna Koblanck / DN.se, thanks Jonas]
[Image courtesy Anna Koblanck / DN.se, thanks Jonas]
"put XP on those XO-1s, so that at least the kids can learn what actual computers do"
you disgust me.
I think I'm pissed/jealous that they get free wifi at the airport! It's usually a fee at most airports in the US for wifi!
That's just because data networks in the US are crap, because they didn't have the earlier infrastructure of wired connections, a lot of 3rd world countries now have far better wireless coverage than the US. Hooray for being early adopters?
The male brain is very creative when it comes to finding.... stuff these kids aren't supposed to watch yet.
And his screen says,
Hello Friend, I am a Rwandan Prince and I would like your help moving $50 Million dollars into the United States. You can keep %10 for your help. I only need your checking account numbers to send you this certified check for the money.
Beautiful. Nice to see the Internet being more available in the corners of the world.
Seek the Truth, Know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.
Probably trying to download Majestic Windows 7.
Greetzz
Genius kids. One kid plays games, the other holds the wifi adapter and the other one works the pedal to charge
Funny these same kids will grow up and scam CitiBank, Wachovia, Chase, and all the rest for $100 mil.
meanwhile you will either end up in jail for gang related violence, or just dead.
The next thing you know, these kids are gonna be walking down the runway trying to find the "best" signal. Not only pilots will have to dodge cows but kids as well.
where have all the witty engadget readers gone?....we did have them!
all we get is the most obvious weak joke you could apply to this photo...
(even after is already been posted a bunch of times already)
"email scams" HAHAHA LOLZ
What I find so funny, living in South Africa, is that people seem to think that basic infrastructure doesn't exist in Africa. To those thinking this - you do realise that the laptops are being distributed to the poorest of the poor, right? There are poor people in every country. It's not a third world thing in the least.
In fact, most third world countries tend to have better infrastructure due to its implementation being more recent. People seriously need to start getting their facts straight as ignorance is never a good thing. The current trend is to judge Africa by looking at its poor. If that was the case globally, we'd all be viewing the US through the likes of those living in the slums of New York and beyond. Not a much better existence, is it?
*zooms in*
Is that....KaZaA?????
roflahf
What no Chuck Norris search?
He's hiding behind the OLPC ready to deliver a bag of hurt.
Who knows maybe this is a pic of the next Rwanda president.
Internet Porn for the world....
Wow! The ignorant asses are coming out of the woodwork. America HAD a president who ran up record deficits, launched an illegal war, there are major corporations that have been scamming Americans for decades, yet there are idiots trying to link a person with dark skin to scams and future crimes. It's nice to know who the ignorant folks are.
Yeah, you! Lighten up.
And America now has a President breaking record deficits with stimulus packages that stand a 40-60 chance of actually working.
BTW Iraq is much better off than Rwanda... go figure.
You're telling ME, to lighten up? Yet, you provide this garbage... "And America now has a President breaking record deficits with stimulus packages that stand a 40-60 chance of actually working.
BTW Iraq is much better off than Rwanda."
*Pot-meet-kettle*
You're correct, "go figure."
Dear sir,
Hello, I am youre friend Mbeke. I have 1000 OPLC laptops redy to be handed out to many scoolkids, but need $10,000 Amarican to free them from the diktator's palace....
Angry old man:
"You kids get off the runway! Dang young 'uns these days. No respect, I tell ya. Why in my day, we stayed off the runways. We walked everywhere we went. And we liked it!"
well i'm still waiting for that 10 or 20 dollar laptop yo!
WHY SO MUCH ENVY??
they are kids and are playing with pc's cheaper than a EEE PC, and you know what is the BEST PART? eventually they will learn ways to use those little pc's in ways we can even conceive.. and even if not. THEY surely will get more satisfaction than most of --you-- US get from our 600$ - 1k$+ laptops..
btw I'm not black or African..
Your probably right about them enjoying it more than we enjoy our $1000 machines. That's how it begins.
Finally, they have unrestricted access to their swiss accounts, and can really set up a meaningful give and take with universities around the globe. I can't wait until our western universities can finally tap the unbridled intellectual prowess and research method that has been ongoing in rwanda. Soon globally, the entire world will know what secrets and proven research the rwandans have been sitting on. Why, our understanding of physics, science, humanity, and the earth itself cannot help but feel such a sudden influx of untapped knowledge now flooding the internet. It's an exciting time folks, I'm sure those rwandans will not disappoint in any way.
I'm tempted to comment on the irritating comments posted earlier, but since I originally wanted to point out how cute it was that those boys hang out and look at pictures of Bruce Lee and Jean Claude, I'll stick with that. But seriously, I laughed out loud when I read that article. There are some things that resonate with 13 year old boys everywhere, I guess!