One Tablet per Child

The philanthropic organization One Laptop per Child (OLPC) never quite managed to hit its price point for its "$100 laptop," but now the organization is sketching a concept for a $75 tablet computer that it hopes will further decrease power consumption and pioneer the first flexible LCD display.
"A tablet is simpler than a laptop, so it's easier to make a tablet cheaper," says Ed McNierney, OLPC's chief technology officer. But beyond that basic advantage, he says, the key to achieving super-low cost while also innovating is by working to establish common designs that can be broadly adopted and customized by other companies.

The project starts with processor technology from a commercial partner, Marvell, known for super-low power consumption--potentially as little as one watt, compared to the five watts consumed by OLPC's flagship machine, the XO. Marvell is already customizing tablet platforms for use in U.S. schools.

Building on this, OLPC wants to add a new screen technology. Starting with its existing LCD technology--which is itself pioneering in that its pixels both transmit backlight for indoor use and reflect ambient light, similar to e-books, for outdoor use--OLPC wants to take it one step further by replacing a glass layer with a rugged plastic layer capable of withstanding impacts and slight bending.