Tue 15 Apr 2008
Wayan Vota of OLPC News - Someone you should know
Posted by Dave Kaufman under Mobile , Software , Published Article , Reader Emails , Blogs , Video , Business NetworkingNo Comments


While writing a recent article, on the OLPC XO Laptop, one of the all time most popular articles on Techlife, we got to meet Wayan Vota the founder of OLPC News. Wayan’s a strong, independent voice in the community of OLPC and the XO Laptop. He was featured on 60 Minutes for his work. (see 7:06 mark on Techlife TV for Wayan) I appreciated his grasp of both technology and non-profits and how the two mesh, so we sat down with him to learn more about what makes Wayan tick (tick, tick.) (unabashed 60 Minute pun for the OLPCNews readers who know me.)
Lesley Stahl discusses the 60 Minutes piece on the OLPC on Techlife TV.
Techlife: Wayan Vota. Interesting name, what are the origins?
Wayan Vota: Born on Bali to hippie folks. Got a local name in the process.
TL: Why did you start OLPC News?
WV: In the summer of 2006 I noticed there was much hype around OLPC, but little thoughtful analysis of its proposed methods and assumed impacts. I wanted to explore the details of OLPC’s implementation plan - how it expected to actually get laptops in the hands of children worldwide - in public form of open commentary and discussion. With ~5,000 daily readers, over a dozen writers, and too many contributors to count, I feel that OLPC News is successful beyond my wildest dreams.
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