While most people at eGames were focussing on the most high-def, high-spec boxes and gaming rigs, we managed to find something a little more interesting: a fellow representing Australian group CASE - Computing Assistance Support & Education, there showing off the XO laptop. Put in the spotlight as the machine behind the One Laptop Per Child program, these little green and white boxes are seriously impressive - more than just the childish learning tool they may appear.

With the video camera already set up, we took the opportunity to chat to CASE committee member Samuel McKeon about the XO laptop, what it is, how it works, and what you can do with it.

Download the Games On Net - eGames 08 One Laptop Per Child Interview

NEWSFLASH:
Since we filmed the video, where Sam explained that it was unlikely we would be able to purchase the XO 'off the shelf' in Australia, there's been an interesting development. We're now the latest country to be included in the Give 1, Get 1 scheme, where it does pretty much what it says - when you buy an XO for yourself, another one is donated to a child in a remote region of Australia, or an impoverished Pacific Island nation. Not bad, eh!

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Sam also mentioned that a trial was being run in Australia, to find out how these machines could be best implemented across this wide brown land. The first trial, which has now ended, featured three locations, taking specialist teachers in urban areas and connecting them to remote or rural communities in need of specific educational services - such as focussing on behavioural issues or literacy. The results of this trial (believed to be the first in the world to connect people between such remote locations), which was held in collaboration with Education partners and the Government will be released in February 2009, with further trials planned, to incorporate speech-to-text functionality to assist hearing-impaired students. If you were curious, we've tracked down the specs on just what was included with the machines that were included in these early trials. (These will likely be similar to those machines purchased through the G1G1 scheme.)

Each laptop (XO) has the following software (including version details) for the final deployment:

• 8.2 OS image – specifically build 767 with firmware version Q2E18
• Collaboration
  • Chat-47 – Chat application – no limit on participants
  • VideoChat-7 – for video chatting between laptops, locally or remotely
  • Connect-21 – Connect Four – between two laptops
  • Distance-13 – for measuring distance between two laptops (within hearing range)
  • Maze-5 – Solve the maze and optionally play with friends
• Content applications
  • WikiBrowse-9 – Mini wikipedia on the laptop for local use
  • Browse-98 – A fast streamlined web and content browser for children
  • Record-57 – For making video, audio or photos
  • Firefox-6 – A more feature rich browser for older children
  • Memorize-27 – card flipping game for memory and math. Create your own
  • Help-8 – Provides comprehensive user documentation about how to use the XO
  • License-4 – To learn about content licensing (basic) to encourage sharing
  • Gnash - the Open Source free Flash player. Note: doesn't play swf files directly, although it plays them fine if they are embedded in an html page
• Games
  • BlockParty-7 – Tetris
  • Implode-5 – Getting rid of groups of balls
  • JigsawPuzzle-3 – Solving Jigsaw puzzles, users can draw their own or use photos
  • Simcity-4 – Just like the original
• Miscellaneous Tools
  • Clock-2 – Digital or analog clock, you can also set an alarm
  • Calculate-23 – Calculator – includes scientific options
  • Read-51 – for reading PDF ebooks
  • Ruler-2 – measuring devices including rulers, compass and other tools
  • StopWatchActivity-1 – for timing
• Literacy
  • Speak-9 – basic app that reads aloud what it is instructed
  • Write-59 – basic application for individual or collaborative writing and tables
• Science
  • Physics-0.2 – for playing with shapes and gravity
  • x2o-5 – great extension to Physics, which sets specific challenges for students
  • Measure-19 – For measuring sound waves, or anything plugged into the microphone which doubles as a basic voltage meter – great for science experiments
• Creativity
  • Colors-3 – For drawing, and recording how to draw for sharing
  • Paint-23 – Basic painting application
  • CartoonBuilder-RC-1.7 – Basic animation tool for young children
  • FlipSticks-RC-1.4 – For basic animation of a stick figure
  • JokeMachine-8 – To build jokes and share with friends
  • TamTamEdit-49 – Music editor
  • TamTamJam-50 – Music player
  • TamTamMini-48 – Music player
  • TamTamSynthLab-50 – Music sound creator
• Development – games, animation, software
  • Scratch-9 – Great drag and drop development of games, animation and more
  • Pippy-26 – Python based development environment for children
  • TurtleArt-10 – graphical logo – for creating art with turtle instructions
  • Etoys-94 – animation and games development – for older children
• System tools
  • Analyze-5
  • Log-16
  • Terminal-17

So - as it's now looking like OLPC has Australia firmly in its sights, I think we can expect to see a lot more of the XO laptop in 2009. We'll be staying in touch with Sam, CASE and OLPC Friends, to bring you all the latest, including the results of the Australian trial, and whether or not the XO will be popping up in a school near you.

Sorry for the awkward still frame, Sam!