Although Ray Fisman makes a number of interesting points, among the kids for whom the XO is primarily intended the question would be, distractions from what? They are apt not to have a TV or any other electronic device at home. Electricity for any use, as well as running water and indoor plumbing likewise are novelties to them.

These children generally have no concept of college, either, until they get their hands on an XO. Their average school day might be two or three hours, if they go to school at all. A high percentage of them are illiterate. Their teachers are often poorly trained or incompetent.

The XO is also far different from the commercial computers the Romanian kids were given. Those machines did not feature a sunlight-readable

e-book to bring textbooks and other reading material into their lives for the first time. Nor did those laptops offer special software to enable the kids to form their own local electronic community – as well as join the global one for the first time – and to work and play collaboratively, as does the XO.

Stephen Michaud

Editorial Consultant

OLPC