OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) founder Nicholas Negroponte revealed the second generation of the OLPC XO laptop at OLPC's Global Country Workshop in Cambridge, Mass. which was held on May 20. The new design is about half the size of the first model and goes for a foldable e-book form factor with two touch-sensitive displays.
“The next generation laptop should be a book,†Negroponte said.
The design transforms between three modes: a standard book mode with right and left page in vertical format, a hinged laptop in horizontal format (with one of the displays serving as a full touch keyboard), and a flat, two-screen continuous surface for use in tablet mode. The dual touchscreen displays, which work both indoor and outdoors, were developed by former OLPC CTO Mary Lou Jepsen.
The press release reads, “Younger children will be able to use simple keyboards to get going, and older children will be able to switch between keyboards customized for applications as well as for multiple languages. The device will also reduce power consumption to 1 watt.â€
Book Shaped Notebooks
2nd Generation OLPC XO Laptop
Trend Themes
1. Flexible Screens - The development of foldable and touch-sensitive screens opens up new possibilities for devices that can transform between different modes.
2. Multimodal Computing - The creation of devices that can switch between different modes (e.g., laptop, book, tablet) suggests a future where computing is more adaptable to different use cases and needs.
3. Energy-efficient Computing - The reduction of power consumption to 1 watt in the OLPC XO laptop suggests a trend towards more energy-efficient computing devices that can operate in low-power environments.
Industry Implications
1. Consumer Electronics - Advancements in flexible screens and multimodal computing offer opportunities for consumer electronics companies to create new products that can better adapt to users' needs.
2. Education Technology - The OLPC XO laptop is specifically designed for use in educational settings, and its multimodal nature could offer new ways of learning and interacting with technology in the classroom.
3. Sustainable Technology - The energy-efficient design of the OLPC XO laptop suggests a trend towards more sustainable computing devices that can work in low-power environments, which could benefit industries focused on renewable energy and environmental sustainability.