David Weinberger has posted notes and photos from an early look at a working version of the long-anticipated $100 laptop, which it is hoped will improve access to education and social connections for children in poor countries

The screen is pretty bright and very clear. It twists from the usual clamshell into a tablet configuration. The integrated camera works nicely. The chiclet keyboard is small for my fingers, but the whole device is only about 8′ square. It’s got PlayStation controls on either side of the screen. (EthanZ points out that when the antenna ears are up, it acts as a mesh node, using very little power. When the ears are down, it’s asleep.’

Very impressive! This could potentially do so much for the recipients, but also for the rest of us, by introducing a much needed injection of real humanity into our networks. The project provides an inspiring counter-point to other depressing tales of globalisation, such as this account (and film) of Chinese ‘gold farmers’ who play games such as World of Warcraft for days on end in order to sell virtual objects and already developed in-game characters to lazy Westerners with too much time on their hands.