InternetNZ welcomes laptop initiative

InternetNZ (the Internet Society of New Zealand Inc) congratulates the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative for donating 500 low-cost laptop computers to the South Pacific island nation of Niue. It is part of a larger initiative in the Pacific and to developing countries globally.

This will provide a computer to every primary and secondary school age child and teacher on Niue, where there is already extensive free wireless access.

InternetNZ executive director Keith Davidson says the computers are also capable of mesh wireless networking, where they find each other and establish their own networks. This may, in effect, extend Niue’s wireless network.

“These will be a valuable educational tool for the children of Niue. OLPC are helping to bridge the digital divide and bring the internet to everyone.”

The laptops use the open source Linux operating system, include built in software, and can be recharged manually.