Partner organization OLPC (“Laptop Per Child”) in the next two weeks plans to announce a modular laptop XO-infinity by analogy with modular smartphone Ara from the corporation Google.

Australian non-profit organization One Education, partner of the project OLPC (“Laptop Per Child”) over the last year has developed a modular mobile computer for school children, which she is going to introduce in the next two weeks, the resource Ink, Bits & Pixels.

One Education representative of Paul Cotton (Paul Cotton) confirmed the publication of this information in an email.

Structurally, the new computer is like a modular smartphone Ara by Google. It will have a frame to which are attached plug-in modules – a communication module, battery, computer unit (including the CPU, RAM and storage).

The basic idea is that a computer could be used for several years, gradually upgrading its hardware stuffing. This procedure is very simple, so it can cope with even a child. The computer will be called XO-infinity. The word “infinity” is translated from the English “infinity” – refers to the duration of use of the device.

How much will it cost and when the new model will go on sale, and which modules will be available to it, is still unknown.

Recall that the OLPC project was founded in 2005 by Nicholas Negroponte (Nicholas Negroponte). His aim was to create a cheap laptop for students in primary schools in developing countries.

Modular computer OLPC for school XO-infinity

OLPC originally planned to create a laptop costing no more than $ 100. Then its value was increased to nearly $ 200. At this price noutubuk were invited to buy educational institutions, and the price for ordinary users was twice as high. In the organization explained that half of the amount will go to charity. An increase in the price of the computer was grown due to production costs.

XO-infinity makes it easy to replace the main components that will extend the life of

The official announcement is expected in the next two weeks

Since then, the organization has updated several times XO. The latest generation of computer, XO-4, is almost identical to the original model, but has a 2-core processor, touch screen and support for HDMI. In 2009, introduced the concept of OLPC XO-3 tablet for $ 75, but it was never implemented.

Source: OLPC

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Just recently we told you about the upcoming modular smartphone from Google and about the upcoming April conference for developers. But while we are waiting for this event, Jason Calacanis, an American Internet entrepreneur and blogger, at their conference LAUNCH, dedicated to all sorts of start-ups, talk with representatives of the project development team Ara. And thanks to this conversation, we learned a lot of new items! What awaits us codenamed Ara?

The device is a framework and a set of different kinds of modules that the buyer chooses. The main advantage of the project is that any company can make a module for the device, whether the dynamics of the camera or even different antennas for consumers who spend a lot of time on the road between the two countries.

Each module is mounted to a metal “base” with a magnet, it can be placed on it as desired and may be of any size. This means that you can, for example, use two large batteries, or one large and one small, with a dozen or small, so if you want. And this, of course, applies not only batteries, but also any other module. In addition, there is a battery in the same “base” to maintain the efficiency of the device when replacing or permutation modules. With the “front” of the unit, in addition to the contacts screen, there is also the contact for the front of the module, whether the speaker, camera, or anything else. This opens up tremendous opportunities truly user customization!

Development of modules is free for developers, ie there are no licensing fees. Google will certify modules to ensure that they conform to its standards. But, just as in the case with the applications, the manufacturer is free to sell the modules store Google, the buyer directly.

Each module may be easily removed by the user from his “cover” and inserted into the other. And, of course, no one forbids manufacturers to produce simple cases without technical stuffing. Thus, the user can not only change the filling smartphone, based on their needs at the moment, but the appearance of the device according to your taste or mood.

Besides all this, Google has taken into account the fact that consumers are differentiated by size of prehensile organs, ie hands. Or, if you prefer, by partiality to the diagonal of the screen. So we have three options platforms for each of them: mini, standard and fablet.

The device is expected to cost about $ 50 for the minimum configuration, which includes the most important modules that it might work: Ara-platform, display, operating system, battery, Wi-Fi and low-productivity processor. But it is interesting, of course, not because of its affordable base price. People at all times happy to stand out from the crowd, and this was proved recently implemented service Motorola for customizing the appearance of the smartphone before buying – Moto Maker. Ara project makes another big step forward. And if a year ago, when it appeared on the first rumors, it seemed unrealizable fantasy, now before us is a working prototype! And next year, and all the apparatus, and more specifically its Circuits expected in retail. For this we love Google: it makes the future closer.

In the meantime, it’s time to prove to everyone in the comments that you have selected a set of modules – the coolest!

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