Week+2


 * 1) The product that interests me the most is the AMD personal Internet communicator. The Cooper-Hewitt Museum describes this device as a mean to provide basic computing power, and more importantly, Internet access at affordable prices to 50% of the world’s population by 2015 (2010). At first, I was disinterested with this device, mostly due to its similarities to the One Laptop per Child program. However, the key difference is that AMD’s device focuses on Internet access, rather than computing power. I consider access to the Internet, and therefore access to information far more important than the rest of the functions found on a computer. While the rest of the devices found in the Design for the Other 90% exhibit are all important, I feel that with the information found on the Internet, impoverished nations might be able to use what resources they have in a more efficient and effective manner. Furthermore, I feel that the people of these nations need to have a better understanding of the world that surrounds them if they are to survive.
 * 2) I would be most interested in researching the Education category for my group project. This is one of the reasons I chose the AMD personal internet communicator as a product that interests me. I feel that education is the most important factor in aiding impoverished nations. Moreover, the method in which the education is done is equally important as the education itself. Traditional education systems will not work in countries that can’t afford the typical classroom. If we are to improve the education in these countries, we must use new and creative solutions, such as a classroom through the Internet. Only by giving access to proper education to the people of these nations will they improve.

References

Cooper-Hewitt (2010). //Design For the Other 90%//. Retrieved from http://other90.cooperhewitt.org/Design/amd-personal-internet-communicator