USING OLPC LAPTOP TECHNOLOGY AS A COMPUTER SCIENCE CASE STUDY TEACHING TOOL*

ABSTRACT The One Laptop Per Child project has succeeded in developing a novel computer that is tailored to the particular needs of the developing world. The use of this example of a modern computer systems design challenge can be a valuable case study as a teaching tool in computer science. The OLPC laptop is a multiple-purpose computer that is rugged, low-cost, low-power, mesh networked, and inexpensive. An overview of the technology in the laptops is given, as well as curricula suggestions for using the laptops in an undergraduate computer science curriculum.