RESEARCHERS: Kenneth L. Kraemer, Jason Dedrick


This research examines the vision and reality of the $100 PC project using the technology-organization-environment model of innovation diffusion. It concludes that although the project has failed to achieve its original goal of placing 150 million low cost laptop computers in the hands of children in developing countries by the end of 2008, it has created an innovative hardware and software platform well-suited to use by children. The project is most important, however, for its indirect effect on the global PC industry more than for its direct effect on deploying laptops in developing countries. The OLPC project has stimulated the industry to develop, market and sell lower cost laptops to developing countries. This is a positive, though unintended outcome, as the industry has greater resources, support infrastructure and staying power to support developing countries than OLPC.