One Laptop Per child showing significant signs of Development

Exciting news for anyone eagerly anticipating the arrival of the sub $100 notebook computer. The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) foundation announced this week a major milestone successfully testing their dual mode display in the prototype model, an announcment that is staggering for its complete lack of fanfare. Let me tell you what they've done, they've produced a dual mode display that operates at higher resolutions than most current model laptops, giving the user the ability to use their laptop in the dark (with backlight), out in sunlight, and also in room level lighting without the backlight. In addition they've also managed to bring in savings in cost of manufacture (1/3rd) and power consumption (1/7th).

In a related announcement they have also released their first integrated software build allowing the laptop to function without the aid of external hard drives or flash cards.

Wow, guys are you steaming ahead or what? At this pace, OLPC are giving every impression of being on track to start manufacturing early next year, I just hope they have the orders, because this project is going to give kids in developing nations a competitive advantage allowing them to leapfrog into the 21st century. I'm not one for forcing my predictions down anyone else's throats but I can't wait to see how the world is going to look in 20-30 years. The generation that gets these laptops will grow up fully computer literate and will be able to springboard their countries and economies into first world status within a few years of entering the workforce.

EDIT: I thought I'd provide a link to freeplay, a company that produces human powered radios, lanterns, and chargers for various electrical devices.