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[Mike Lee]

Hi everyone. If you feel so inclined, please introduce yourselves here and tell us what brought about your interest in OLPC. Feel free to post links to your blog or home page. I already posted my own introduction on the blog:

http://olpclearningclub.org/about-olpc-lcdc/pitching-in/

Mike

[Wayan Vota]

Um, yeah, so like I am a member of the OLPC LC-DC.  I am kinda involved with OLPC.  A fan I guess.  I think about One Laptop Per Child every so often too.

[ichabod]

Howdy, I'm Ick. I did the G1G1 because it reminded me of Computers 4 Kids, an charity I worked with in VA. You would teach a poor kid how to use a computer, and when they "graduated" from the program, they got a computer donated by a corp or person, and refurbished by another volunteer.

[tonytsheng]

Hi all,
My name is Tony Sheng.  I'm a database engineer by day and volunteer with students in my church as a hobby.  Part of my role is to help our students see the realities of the world and empower them to make a difference.  My experiences have included leading a high school team to Cameroon, reading _The End of Poverty_, and seeing that our students can be catalysts to change the future.  I got interested in the XO because it is such a tangible execution of empowerment, technology and investment in the developing world.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to the learning party on Tues.  Hope to see you all there.

http://tonytsheng.blogspot.com

[Bryan H]

Hi, I am Bryan.

Currently I manage the technical operations and web development for a small public radio news organization on Capitol Hill. Basically, we localize congress for public radio stations across the country. Locally, you can hear some of our content every Monday - Friday at 7:35 am on WAMU 88.5 FM.

I recently applied for a Fulbright to research how communities in the developing world are learning to use and socialize around digital media. Particularly, I want to know how community based wireless networks can be used with social networking applications to reinforce the local community instead of corrode them.

From that, you can get sense of why I am interested in the OLPC... but that is only part of the story. I'll have to get into the rest later.

I've been on the border of Columbia Heights and Petworth for around two and a half years, and I love every moment of it.

[lgarcia]

Hi everyone – I’m Laura from Walker, West Virginia. I teach online using open source software (Sakai & Interact) and thought it would be cool to use an open source laptop as well.

The “green” aspect of the OLPC,  as well as the “give one” part, were deciding factors for me over the Asus Eee, but what really clinched it were the reviews on the WiFi range.

When I visit my parents in Takoma Park – who have rotary telephones – I’m reduced to going up to Panera Bread in Silver Spring to check my classes and email. Now, I hope to go a few blocks over to Starbucks in Langley Park with my T-Mobile access, or perhaps even pick up that signal from my parents house.

I am really curious about whether I can pick up a WiFi signal out in the country where I live. I was glad to see there was a USB to Ethernet connector.

I’m going to end up ordering 3 by the time the G1G1 program ends for myself, daughter and husband. My husband destroys at least one cell phone a year, so the ruggedness of the OLPC is another plus.

[Mike Lee]

Looking forward to meeting you all at some point.

Laura, I grew up in Langley Park and my mom's house isn't far from that Starbucks! I'm in Wheaton now. You'll brighten up that strip mall with your little green and white laptop.

The XO has incredible range connectiong to other XOs, but only under the ideal conditions of totally clear line of sight, flat terrain and no other radio interference. But I'm sure you'll have some fun "war walking" around your neighborhood with your XO to see what wifi is there.

[laddieo]

Hey all,

My name is Laddie and I'm Multimedia Producer for the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), which is dedicated to distance education for the nontraditional student.  My XO-1 arrived on Friday.  I'm ecstatic!  Some problems, but some of it may just be user error moments.  Still getting used to Sugar.  Great to have this forum!

-Laddie

[pshapiro]

hi mike and others,

     my name is phil shapiro and i work as the public geek at the takoma park maryland library. i help run 28 linux stations that are available for the public to use. our computer center is open 7-days a week, with wifi, too.

     my supervisor, rebecca brown, who is the geek-in-chief, has bought an XO for her grandchildren.  we had a way good time using it in the computer center today -- with the children teaching the adults how to use it.

      my digital learning journey started in May, 1988, when i visited the Chevy Chase DC Regional Library and read in Ms magazine about a community computer center that was thriving in harlem, new york.  i visited that center a month later and saw a busy hive of activity as community members taught each other things.  (see http://www.his.com/~pshapiro/ptw.1992.html)

       along with working at the takoma park maryland library, i also blog for PCWorld.com


  see  http://tinyurl.com/3c8ajt    http://tinyurl.com/23m9do    http://tinyurl.com/2g34yb

            i'm a supporter of the FIRST robotics tournament (DC-area teams - DC Robotics)

             i adore MAKE magazine.   and i've fallen in love with the XO.

                   i used to run my own educational software design company back in the early 1990's.
i'd like to get back into programming -- as a hobby - using python and pygame.

                  i also like moodle.org and am wondering how OLPC Learning Club DC might use
moodle as a community organizing tool.

                in my spare time i enjoy writing children's stories and nonfiction reading passages.
http://www.his.com/pshapiro/stories.menu.html         i'd like to bring more of these in multimedia form (creative commons licensed) to the XO.

                        phil shapiro

track me down on facebook if you'd like to stay in touch.

[BJP]

I'm Jeff Price.  I work for Montgomery County Public Schools, buying energy, and helping with MCPS's Green Schools and Environmental Response energy conservation education programs.  My XO was on the door step Monday night.  Haven't had a lot of time to familiarize myself.  I love what I've seen.  No wireless access problems.  This forum was very helpful with XO to MS text translation suggestions.  Yes, the spastic touch pad is a little annoying, but regular application of the 4 Finger Salute keeps things moving.

I'm looking forward to using this machine in our school system, somehow.

[tpete]

I got mine about a week ago, but it's wrapped up now as a present for my two sons (7 and 9).  They surf the web and check emails already -- the oldest one plays fantasy sports, too.  I thought this would be a good little device for them to call their own.

I have some questions about it, though, and I can't experiment with it right now because it's wrapped up:  I wouldn't consider myself a real tech geek because I have no programming skills to speak of, but I am fairly tech savy from a consumer point of view.  I'd like to find somewhere with good information on all the software on the device.  For instance, I know it can chat OLPC-OLPC, but can my kids download and use different chat software so they can chat with Grandma in Chicago?  Does it have video chat capability?  I've checked out the official wiki, and there isn't a lot there right now.  Any advice on a good place to look?

Here's another question: How many of you in this group are real tech nerds (i.e., can write code) and how many are just nerds like me (i.e., love playing with shiny new things)?

Tim

[Wayan Vota]

Ted,

I am a geek. 

Nerds are generally smart people who may or may not be good with computers and may also have social issues.
Dorks just have social issues, smarts optional.
Geeks have computer smarts (all relative of course) and may or may not have social skills.

That being said, I'm not sure about chat.  I know it can be done - these kids love it:



And you can find more about XO chat if you post your request in this very forum: http://olpcnews.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0

[Wayan Vota]

Actually, I'll make a post asking about it - I want to know myself

[GregYohn]

Hi!

I am Greg and live next to Philadelphia, and made it to the Meet on Tues. night.

I graduated with an Economic Development Degree a long time ago! I have experience programming Excel and learned a few things about EToys. I have plans to use the Laptop for my family I am starting in Cali, Colombia. We call multiple times a day. Our plans for the machine is basically for our son being made as we speak. 

[elpezzz]

Hi, I'm Jenny.

I've been following the XO development, and when I saw a couple of the earlier versions being tested this fall decided it'd be a fun toy to play around with. I don't know much about linux, networking, or programming, but I'm hoping this will be a good chance to learn.  Just finished finals though, so all I've managed so far is a couple loops in turtleart.  I'm currently in College Park, but hopefully moving to Columbia Heights soon. I'll be at the next meetup!

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