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Pedal-Powered OLPC Tested in Afghanistan: Free Power (and Killer Calves) For All
India Buys 250,000 OLPC Laptops After Own $10 Laptop Project Didn't Quite Work Out
OLPC Ad Goes For the Jugular With Child Laborers, Child Prostitutes, Child Warriors
Windows XP On OLPC Gets Slowly Tested
OLPC To Become Colombia's Finest Import
Windows XP on OLPC XO Laptop Now Official
Asustek To Build $249 Classmate PC

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Bokusatsu_Tenshi
10/13/09

In reply to Pedal-Powered OLPC Tested in Afghanistan: Free Power (and Killer Calves) For All
So, what happens when those kids finds out about porn?
HUGE HULK legs, that's what...
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Electp33
10/13/09

In reply to Pedal-Powered OLPC Tested in Afghanistan: Free Power (and Killer Calves) For All
Actually, we have GPRS in most major cities here in Afghanistan through at least 3 providers, so a tethered cell phone would get them 15kbps download speed for about $40 a month.
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Bertone77
10/13/09

In reply to Pedal-Powered OLPC Tested in Afghanistan: Free Power (and Killer Calves) For All
These guys need the help of a good engineer.

From what I can see it seems like they are only stepping down a small bit to increase the rotation of the top shaft making the pedaling somewhat more productive.

But if they added a few more steps they could probably get that top shaft wizzing fast enough to power two or more laptops.
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Curves
10/13/09

@Bullet77: I am not an engineer, but I am wondering why 2 foot pedals and not one pedal like on my grandmothers old sewing machine, which would seem easier, less shakey and can be powered (if needed) by one foot.
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GitEmSteveDave_OverSleptThisMorn
10/13/09

@Curves: The "treadle" is good for power, like driving the needle of a sewing machine, but it can also be very tiring. This set up requires minimal power vs. a treadle.
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met2art
10/13/09

@Curves: A treadle could be easily implemented, even with the pedal design. I would imagine that the design was based largely on available salvage. A treadle design would also be more difficult with a chain, as it would require a ratcheting sprocket design on the "up take" to avoid hitching (for those slow on the uptake), and possibly introduce more mechanical drag. A belt would work but introduce slippage and "wow" over time, as well as requiring a large flywheel to maintain the high speed necessary in the step-up (as the large iron flywheel on the side of the sewing machine did, or the large wooden wheel of treadle spinning wheels).
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MaQ
10/13/09

@Curves: I was planing, and still am, on doing just that, just for fun.

I got all I need so it's only the question of when I'll do it.
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Curves
10/13/09

@met2art: I love engineers......and whats so nice at Giz is that no matter what I ask, SOMEONE has the answer. Thank you.
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Curves
10/13/09

@MaQ: lol@ for fun. Will you salvage an old Singer or start from square 1?
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MaQ
10/15/09

@Curves: I'll start from a Singer and see if I could use it as is,

I aim to make it practical and disturb it as least as possible.

I'll post the results

^__^

The origin of the idea is from a while back, when I was considering how to keep my lifestyle in case of some horrific disaster, which would leave us without el. power for indefinite period of time.

Solar power is cool but this came up as the ultimate idea and totally practical, and as you said:
" seem easier, less shakey and can be powered (if needed) by one foot."

so you could take turns and keep it going.

It seams being practical has nothing to do with the engineering degree,
(:though I'm getting mine soon:)

:) #pedalpoweredolpcbeingtestedinafghanistan...
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appletoad
10/13/09

In reply to Pedal-Powered OLPC Tested in Afghanistan: Free Power (and Killer Calves) For All

OLPC would like to welcome its latest addition to the engineering team, "The Professor" Roy Hinkley, M.A., B.S., Ph.D!

His assistant Gilligan is seen on a prototype of the OLPC charger.
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GitEmSteveDave_GotOff2HoursEarly promoted this comment Edited by appletoad at 10/13/09 9:56 AM appletoad was starred appletoad was unstarred

GitEmSteveDave_OverSleptThisMorn
10/13/09

@appletoad: Did you know The Professor recieved a Purple Heart?
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appletoad
10/13/09

@GitEmSteveDave_GotOff2HoursEarly: I didn't know that.
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frigg
04/28/09

In reply to India Buys 250,000 OLPC Laptops After Own $10 Laptop Project Didn't Quite Work Out
OLPC seems like a well-intended program that has yet to achieve a meaningful success. And while 250,000 sounds like a lot, in a country with a population of 1,500,000,000, (without actually doing the math) I think that's around 1-10th of 1-10th of 1%.

Or put another way, 250,000 is also the number of stores in India set to sell the iPhone. An OLPC coup would be to similarly have 250,000 distribution points.
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Curves
04/28/09

In reply to India Buys 250,000 OLPC Laptops After Own $10 Laptop Project Didn't Quite Work Out
I would love to see these in US schools. If we hope to remain competitive in the future, the hope is our students.
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commentotron
12/16/08

In reply to OLPC Ad Goes For the Jugular With Child Laborers, Child Prostitutes, Child Warriors
So THAT'S how we solve these horrible problems: with laptops! Just what I'd expect from the shielded western techno-elite.

If only little suzie had a laptop she'd not have to get pimped out!
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1350ft.in.a.Concorde.blow*ng.up.balloons
12/16/08

@commentotron: It's not the laptops that will help solve the problem it's the power they will get from the knowledge they will receive by using the laptops and accessing the internet and the world. Maybe if Suzie knew how to use a computer and get some typing skills, take some online classes she could find a job. Tell me you haven't use the internet to find answers no one else knew. These children will be able to access news, weather for farming, even be able to order the things they need learn and live. We don't need to feed these people, they need to learn how to feed themselves and giving them the tools to so is better then just giving them rations and shoes.
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something_unique_and_descriptive
12/16/08

In reply to OLPC Ad Goes For the Jugular With Child Laborers, Child Prostitutes, Child Warriors
Exotic locales, high production values, this thing, and all their other advertising, could not have been cheap... here's an idea, how about putting the money they spent on this towards, you know, actually shipping the damn things.
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First
12/16/08

In reply to OLPC Ad Goes For the Jugular With Child Laborers, Child Prostitutes, Child Warriors
Well, what they need is an AK-47 for every child...Just like in the good old US of A
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ripfire
12/16/08

@winmac: Pfft. Here in the States, we use AR15.
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GitEmSteveDave_OverSleptThisMorn
12/16/08

@ripfire: Or an Armalite AR-10 carbine gas-powered semi-automatic weapon.
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