For One Laptop Per Child, closing the technology gap has been the primary mission as it has provided tablets and laptops to kids in developing nations at low costs. However, as of July 16 OLPC enters new territory--Walmart--with the release of a new $150 kid-focused tablet, the XO.
The tablet focuses on kids and families as consumers, coming pre-loaded with over 100 kid friendly games and running a play-based interface on top of Android 4.2 OS. Kids start off by choosing one of several "dream" careers, and the tablet delivers content specific to that choice. The platform also provides a dashboard for parents that keeps track of how kids are using the tablet.
While the version of the XO tablet being sold in stores is targeted for home use, OLPC XO laptops have historically been used in classrooms and schools. Will there be a place for XO in U.S. schools alongside iPads and Chromebooks?
