new media reader pp 301-375

When I stumbled across the chapter on Nicholas Negroponte, I was only familiar with his name from the One Laptop per Child campaign. This organization aimed to give children in developing countries low-cost, durable and wi-fi connected laptops. With this technology, these underprivileged children would be given an education previously unthinkable, and hopefully provide inspiration for them to better both themselves and their communities.

Reading the thirty year old article from the New Media Reader, I saw an underlying theme of user empowerment through software–a belief that ultimately led to the OLPC intiative. His architecture program made it possible for residents, not just the architects to have a say in the creative design and vision of the final structure. By adapting advanced procedural and often professional tasks to simple computer programs, it empowers the computer user (who is often self-taught) and makes it easier for individuals to achieve success and create change.