Pi in "the Third World"

[russ wall]

Myself, and a couple of others collect kids books, box them up and send them from the UK to the Philippines creating libraries to get kids in “less fortunate” districts reading. The possibility of IT support has been dismissed as unachievable due to costs and more crucially … terrible electricity supply. Sometimes days go by before the current switches on for the 2 allotted hours.

And so if the pi, the display and input devices can eventually be solar, battery or maybe even clockwork powered which seems to be on the cards from some of the posts I’ve seen, put me down for lots.

Forgetting any idea of internet connections for the time being, I simply want machines that can support basic literacy teaching, by volunteers etc, to kids from ages of 0-15yrs

Question 1           Pi A or B?

Question 2           What software?

Any ideas?

[mgmt_idiot]

I’m thinking of making up a bundle to send to a friend of the family in Mozambique, when I can get my hands on more than one Raspberry Pi. I’m thinking it will be:

Raspberry Pi Model B

Charger http://www.maplin.co.uk/usb-mp.....ply-224194

A cable http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon.....038;sr=1-1

 

3 SD cards http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sandis.....038;sr=8-1

One SD ready to boot to LXDE with office productivity software

One SD ready to boot to LAMP services

One SD with a basic image ready for programming

Obviously can only boot one at once. I may follow up with more equipment if it proves to be a a success with him.

 

Some conformal USB sticks for storage http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDis.....038;sr=1-1

I would put some key images on one to save precious bandwidth

 

Keyboard

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Super-.....038;sr=1-9

And a small USB mouse.

I’m still thinking about the keyboard/mouse situation. I’d like a keyboard like that listed, but as a wireless USB with mouse, so that only one port is used, and the other USB port can be used for storage. The keyboard has to be physically small for transportation 8000 miles.

 

An HDMI cable and an RCA cable.

An Ethernet cable.

 

I’m aiming to fit the whole thing in a 4 litre really useful box

http://www.reallyusefulproduct.....etails.php

http://www.reallyusefulproduct.....0litre.php

 

And then get a friend in ZA to do the transport from UK to MOZ.

 

Probably quite a price tag in the end, but still should be cheap overall for the capability. And I may be able to ssh in to help with any problems.

 

Thoughts, suggestions from everyone welcomed.

[mgmt_idiot]

Forgetting any idea of internet connections for the time being, I simply want machines that can support basic literacy teaching, by volunteers etc, to kids from ages of 0-15yrs

Question 1           Pi A or B?

Question 2           What software?

Any ideas?


I think the idea of getting some machines out into the third world is great, having lived there as a child. At times my parents really didn't know where the next meal was coming from.

I'm a little skeptical of using technology to teach basic literacy, some fantastic results have been obtained for basic literacy and numeracy using some burnt cassava root instead of chalk, and sitting the class under a baobab tree (Adansonia digitata), if everyone is sufficiently committed. I've also seen plenty of well resourced disasters in the UK.

But I still think getting technology out to third world environments to improve technology skills and access to information is an excellent thing to do.

As to the choices, I would suggest the Model B, not just because it's what will be available, but also it provides scope for connectivity later.

As an aside, I'm really hoping the Model B will go down in history alongside the Willys MB US Army Jeep, the T-34, the AK-47, the DC-3 Dakota and other similar products where huge production of simple standard designs has had a serious impact on the world.

As for software, I suggest getting your own RasPi, and getting it to the state you want, i.e. test your ideas, before deciding. Since it's a capable linux system, there'll be plenty of stuff available.

I would then take your prototype out on its own to see what reaction is before trying to deploy lots. You wouldn't believe how much govt money is wasted delivering capabilities to support somebody's grand idea without really checking that it's useful to and useable by the people who are supposed to put hands on keyboards.

[russ wall]

mgmt_idiot said:


I would then take your prototype out on its own to see what reaction is before trying to deploy lots. You wouldn't believe how much govt money is wasted delivering capabilities to support somebody's grand idea without really checking that it's useful to and useable by the people who are supposed to put hands on keyboards.


The Pi and our little library ventures have one thing in common from what I can make out. Absolutely no Gov input. We get things done!

Shameless Plug for latest Library

Fully agree with pretty well everything you say. It will be an interesting few months, once we get our grubby little hands on the Pi's seeing what is developed and for me personally, looking at ways in which the Pi can compliment the basic thrust of our mission. "If the kids can't read, how will they know whats on the TV" (Peter Griffin) I suppose, in time we might have to change TV to PI!

1+1=?

[mgmt_idiot]

russ wall said:


1+1=?


1+1=10 of course !

From the classic "There are 10 types of people that understand binary, those that do and those that don't".

It's good that there's no govt money. I think the definition of a charity should be no govt money.

Wow 11 + 12 a new high score for me

[mgmt_idiot]

I'm thinking maybe this for the keyboard / trackpad combo.

http://logitech-en-emea.custhe.....ons%20k400

I'd prefer it in portuguese, but the user will adapt to touch typing with a portuguese keyboard map on a UK keyboard - he's very adaptable.

And put it all in a 6.5litre Really Useful Box

http://www.reallyusefulproduct.....5litre.php

[dukla2000]

mgmt_idiot said:

I’m still thinking about the keyboard/mouse situation. I’d like a keyboard like that listed, but as a wireless USB with mouse, so that only one port is used, and the other USB port can be used for storage. The keyboard has to be physically small for transportation 8000 miles.
I got one of these, precisely to use 1 USB on my RasPi and also to save power. The downside for the 3rd world is a need for AAA batteries.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pro.....8;v=glance

The USB/micro USB cable you link to seems very fancy - there are some on Amazon for 95p and on fleaBay for 99p.

[Dinoking]

Well for a keyboard there's this http://www.amazon.com/LOGITECH.....B005X72UKI but it cost a bundle

[mgmt_idiot]

dukla2000 said:


I got one of these, precisely to use 1 USB on my RasPi and also to save power. The downside for the 3rd world is a need for AAA batteries.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pro.....8;v=glance

The USB/micro USB cable you link to seems very fancy - there are some on Amazon for 95p and on fleaBay for 99p.


Thanks for the link, it looks good for my purposes.

The need for AAA batteries should be fine. It's a capital city, rather than rural, in this instance.

Dinokings keyboard has lots of advantages, I like the solar, but the main downside for my purpose is physical size and therefore difficulty with shipping.

To an extent, I'm trying to keep the quality level up for resilience, and I've heard bad things elsewhere in the forum about skimping on quality, especially where the PSU is involved.

[evil twin]

Somehow I can't imagine having to feed a keyboard with an AAA battery on a monthly basis is a good idea in such circumstances - they aren't cheap, especially considering the user is someone who can't afford a proper computer. And it needs to be an alkaline battery to even last a month. Wouldn't a small, wired USB keyboard, a USB mouse and a passive USB hub serve the purpose better? Considering the current state of the world's affairs such rural places might easily become impossible to find ANY batteries for a long time.

[navpar]

Taking nothing away from the Raspberry Pi team, maybe something like this might be better suited? I do not know anyone who has this tablet and so, no first hand feedback.

It depends on what you would like to do I guess. If you want the kids to be introduced to programming, then Pi is the answer. However, if you want to provide educational resources, then this might be a good option?