From PC Magazine:
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s plan to deliver low-cost laptop computers to children in developing nations and impoverished American students is moving forward, according to Nicholas Negroponte, chairman and co-founder of the school’s Media Lab.
Speaking at M.I.T.’s ongoing Emerging Technologies Conference, Negroponte confirmed that five countries—Brazil, China, Egypt, South Africa and Thailand—are already putting plans in place to distribute as many as 15 million of the devices.
With the falling price of technology I can easily see this becoming a reality. When laptops become standard issue in 3rd world countries we really will have a global network.
The falling price of computers is a great thing but it’s access to the Internet that makes that computer - and other devices - a useful tool and unfortunately, the competitive landscape in the US isn’t driving innovation for internet connectivity.