Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why not just send him $100?
It's significantly cheaper to buy hardware in China.
Why would he buy hardware at all?
Teacher in Ghana has no computers so he draws Microsoft Word on the blackboard
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Re: Teacher in Ghana has no computers so he draws Microsoft Word on the blackboard
#42I understand the reason why Microsoft Word would be one of the things which would be taught, but somehow that makes this story that much more depressing.
Re: Teacher in Ghana has no computers so he draws Microsoft Word on the blackboard
#43I live in Shenzhen. Hardware is cheap here. Why not spec out a cheap system and we can send them a few together from HN? Taobao parts... Screen @ 248RMB (USD$40) https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.42.21a554932... Raspberry Pi 3B + case + heatsink + power supply @ 250RMB (USD$40) https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.16.79304af9s... (set 3) Keyboard/mouse @ 20RMB (USD$3) https://item.taobao.com/…
Don't forget 2-3X that for customs duties, bribes, man-hours running across town for paperwork, etc. And that assumes it arrives at the final destination unstolen. In my travels through poorer countries (and their aduanas) I've noticed an almost overt hostility to importing the very tools that might allow productivity to increase. They seem to perceive computers as luxury goods when assigning duties. It's hard to ima…
Yep. As I stated "I would actually be more worried about corrupt customs officials stealing the hardware." and "Someone who has a Facebook account (I don't) could ask the guy about shipping and customs issues in Ghana". It would probably make sense to expect some extra customs and shipping fees. That said, Ghana is definitely less screwy than many other countries in Africa.
Re: Teacher in Ghana has no computers so he draws Microsoft Word on the blackboard
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's significantly cheaper to buy hardware in China.
Why would he buy hardware at all?
Because he's a computer teacher and obviously enjoys it, and since his identity is known if he cuts and runs he's basically throwing away his livelihood and community good will for a small short term gain. Whereas, if he uses it well and posts images of kids learning, then there's a real chance he could become an ambassador for similar projects elsewhere and lead a fulfilling and respected life of meaning? I dunno, sometimes you can trust and help people instead of being a bitter internet troll and it works out well for everyone. Sometimes not, but I'd prefer to believe in people :)
Re: Teacher in Ghana has no computers so he draws Microsoft Word on the blackboard
#45So I’ve been to Kumasi before. Take this with a grain of salt - this was over 10 years ago and I was there on a two week voluntourism trip. Here are some of the reasons it’s hard to use real computers as a part of the ciriculum there. * Electricity. Blackouts and brownouts are a part of life in Ghana, especially Kumasi. On top of that, the quality of the electricity is low. This poses major challenges for computers i…
Most laptops and tablets run off of battery.
Re: Teacher in Ghana has no computers so he draws Microsoft Word on the blackboard
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
What do you think of http://one.laptop.org/ ?
africa doesn't need computers. it needs clean water, soap, anti-malarals, and nutritious food. cover those things and then worry about computers.
This is somewhat patronizing. Have you tried asking rural African schoolteachers what they most need?
Empirically, many people all over the developing world are prioritizing communication devices over those other things you listed.
Re: Teacher in Ghana has no computers so he draws Microsoft Word on the blackboard
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why would he buy hardware at all?
Because he's a computer teacher and obviously enjoys it, and since his identity is known if he cuts and runs he's basically throwing away his livelihood and community good will for a small short term gain. Whereas, if he uses it well and posts images of kids learning, then there's a real chance he could become an ambassador for similar projects elsewhere and lead a fulfilling and respected life of meaning? I dunno, s…
I'm not trolling at all. I'm not talking about cutting and running.
I'm saying it's arrogant and out of touch to think that if you're teaching Microsoft Word on a chalkboard the best use of $100 is buying a computer. Maybe he'd rather buy some medicine or a water purifier or even a lamp so he could teach at night as well.
Rigorous studies have demonstrated that direct giving is by far the best way to help someone in an impoverished environment.[1] Anything else is a declaration that you know better than they do and it enforces an idea that their situation is entirely their fault.
[1] https://academic.oup.com/qje/article-abstract/131/4/1973/246...
Re: Teacher in Ghana has no computers so he draws Microsoft Word on the blackboard
#48The specific requirements of dust protection, power capabilities and licensing means that this is a use case for an Android/Linux tablet + keyboard instead of a desktop running Windows+office.
There's a ycombinator startup that builds battery/mobile phone recharging stations in Africa - http://disrupt-africa.com/2017/10/senegalese-solar-startup-o...
Combine a sealed tablet with solar recharging and an OTG keyboard, you should have a much better system than a laptop/desktop. You can also protect the tablet using a shockproof case. A 10 inch octacore tablet with 4gb ram and LTE capability costs 80$ shipped on aliexpress to anywhere in the world.
Interestingly there's an app that replicates a desktop-y wordprocessor on an Android tablet and has specific compatibility for keyboards
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=softmaker.appl...
Re: Teacher in Ghana has no computers so he draws Microsoft Word on the blackboard
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
africa doesn't need computers. it needs clean water, soap, anti-malarals, and nutritious food. cover those things and then worry about computers.
This is somewhat patronizing. Have you tried asking rural African schoolteachers what they most need? Empirically, many people all over the developing world are prioritizing communication devices over those other things you listed.
>Have you tried asking rural African schoolteachers what they most need?
yes. many times.
Re: Teacher in Ghana has no computers so he draws Microsoft Word on the blackboard
#50I don't have the means nor the knowledge to solve their problem but I'm quite sure if we redirect the conversation towards how it could be solved - in the very least it would prove to be an interesting thought exercise.
He already mentioned that foreigners have shown interest in wanting to help but nothing has come out of it. We also have to keep in mind that it seems they don't have electricity.
What can be done?
Also, they are not the only ones with the same problem. How could we replicate it to other areas. Whether it be a kind of pay it forward system. I don't know. I'm just throwing ideas out there.