One Laptop Per Child XO Intel Classmate PC Pixel Qi

One Laptop Per Child Initiatives

One Laptop Per Child - OLPC - XO - Intel Classmate PC - Pixel Qi - Many Schools, Communities, Cities,
States and Nations are planning and budgeting to make this happen
-- and in many cases it's already happening.

This is NOT the website of the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child Association)
Please click her for the site associated with the OLPC Association

This site is Dedicated to the study of Computer Workstation Ergonomics as it Pertains to Children using Laptops
(We are working with Dr. Kathleen King at Fordham University to find grant money to fund this study)

Society has yet to see the long term effects of a child who has been hunching over a laptop, since the age of 5.

A quick look around any college campus, will show numerous examples of young bodies hunched over laptops in unsafe postures. Culminating repetitive stain injuries with every keystroke. They all look like Smeagol.

They say they don't feel the pain, but you know they will at 40.

And these young adults have only been on the laptop for a few years.

Are we crippling our children, even before they enter the workplace?

Dorm rooms with various, un-standardized desk heights and $40 wooden chairs. Classrooms with barely enough space to balance a notepad and pen, let alone a notebook computer.

One software company's idea of an Ergonomic Program for Students

Do you want your children to grow up with a posture similar to Smeagol from "The Lord of the Rings" Movie?

- OK, a little sarcasm here, the program they are selling in this computer store has nothing to do with ergonomics, it's just teaching kids how to use technology.

Parents should be outraged that they would suggest that a student use the laptop in this posture. OUCH!

Dr. Kathleen King Posts a Recommendation on the Dell IdeaStorm Site:

Ergonomics and One to One Computing- Ergo. Counts for Children

One to One Computing is a terrific advancement- we are accomplishing great strides and can discover much more as this happens...however......we need to swiftly address health issues that are clearly at stake.
With the tremendous number of laptops being rolled out across the USA and the globe in classrooms manufacturers need to seriously address the issues of ergonomics for children's use of laptops also.

I am a passionate proponent of ed tech in schools and lifelong learning, but we need to learn how to guide students into best practice.

While many adults need to seek pain relievers, physical therapy or surgery (carpal tunnel) to deal with computer use, we really don't know the impact yet of long term use on youngsters. LEAST of all the impact with laptops vs. desktops.

Keynamics and myself- Dr. Kathy King of Fordham University are seeking funding to study, document, test potential equipment, and develop possible solutions, recommendations.

Any ideas on this topic? Are you concerned?
share ideas here
or visit us at http://www.one-laptop-per-child.com/

If you are a funding agency, you can also request a brief prospectus of the study: gregbright@keynamics.com
http://www.one-laptop-per-child.com/Classroom_laptop_contacts.htm

Dr. Kathleen P. King, Professor
Director, Fordham RETC
Fordham University
Bronx, NY
Email: kpking@fordham.edu
"Lifelong Learning in a Digital Age"

http://www.kpking.com

http://www.bxmedia.net/kathleen-p-king.html

http://www.podcastforteachers.org