A major criticism of the One Laptop Per Child project is that it was a solution in search of a problem. Not that lack of computer literacy in developing countries is not a problem, but it is far from the most pressing problem in the poorest places. However, I think I spy a new opening for OLPC. Apparently a big reason why the shiny new vote tallying system in Kenya failed is that most of the voting stations (often primary schools) lacked electric sockets with which to power the laptops which were intended to record and then remit to the central system all the votes cast.
Step forward OLPC’s wind up laptop:
(Image from: http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/100_laptop_unveiled)
Hat tip: Peter B
Bottom Up Thinking 