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V2. Moved to conversation layout.
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(2024-04-08)
*A draft of a discussion about the Dynabook with the aim of clarifying Hilaire's ideas. April 2024*

https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262537445/the-charisma-machine/
OLPC, 2005
# Hardware

## Hardware
### What hardware is envisaged?
**---JR**: What hardware is envisaged?

RISC V architecture. It is, to my knowledge, the hardware as close as
**---HF**: RISC V architecture. It is, to my knowledge, the hardware as close as
possible to free software. Nevertheless software should be portable to
any hardware platform GNU/Linux can operate on.

You will want the Dynabook hardware be assembled locally, to integrate
it to the local economy.
it the local economy.

**---JR**: Can you give more information about the idea of using RISC V hardware? I can sympathise with the idea of free hardware but using uncommon hardware without support of the main distros would make the initial situation much harder for everybody. Besides, the experience with (perceived as) substandard-quality hardware was one of the problems with OLPC and the Spanish initiatives. We would have to analyze the reasons why former experiences failed before starting a new one.

**---HF**:

**---JR**: In the [video of the presentation in Buenos Aires](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBjJrAZSEHs) you mention that a pen is essential. Is that a pedagogical point? Can you develop that?

**---HF**:

### How owns the devices?
**---JR**: Are you thinking of a device similar to Kay's idea? That's what I imagine from reading you.

TBD. My point of view is it should belong to the users, students and
teachers.
![](kays_dynabook.png)

### What if the student or the teacher chooses to use their own device?
**---JR**: Who owns the devices?

The Dynabook app will be portable but likely few hardware+software will match
**---HF**: TBD.

My point of view is it should belong to the users, students and
teacher.

**---JR**: What if the student or the teacher chooses to use their own device?

**---HF**: The dynabook app will be portable but no hardware+software will match
the expectation of the Dynabook. So unlikely. I don't bring my laptop
in my classrooms, I use what is there. No reason to be different.

You know, as a free software user, that existing devices are also
restraining the freedom of the user. [Alan Kay wrote an article in the Time magazine](https://techland.time.com/2013/04/02/an-interview-with-computing-pioneer-alan-kay/) about that,
it is worth reading.

Nevertheless, as the Dyanbook app is portable, teacher could use it at
home, in their own device if it fells more appropriate, for example to
create new dynamic knowledge model or to script existing one.

I wrote a sort of [step-by-step plan](https://github.com/hilaire/dynabook/tree/main/resources/doc/DynabookApp#a1-development-schedule) where the application is tested on existing school devices. In my school every classroom is equipped with GNU/Linux computer, screen tablet and beamer; it is then possible to test on daily usage the Dynabook App.
You know, as a free software user, that existing devices are also
restraining the freedom of the user. Alan Kay wrote a note about that,
it is worth reading it.

[An Interview with Computing Pioneer Alan Kay, April 02, 2013](https://techland.time.com/2013/04/02/an-interview-with-computing-pioneer-alan-kay/)

### Is this a continuation of the OLPC 2005 idea? What is different now?
**---JR**: Is this a continuation of the OLPC 2005 idea? What is different
now?

NO, it is not a continuation of OLPC. OLPC was intended for developing
countries, something I don't fell at ease with.
**---HF**: NO, it is not a continuation of OLPC. OLPC was intended for developing
countries, something I don't feel at ease with.

Dynabook is for **developed countries** which have different problematic
than developing ones. Take a look at the first paragraph at
https://github.com/hilaire/dynabook/blob/main/resources/doc/An%20ordinary%20back-to-school%20season.md
[An ordinary back-to-school season](https://github.com/hilaire/dynabook/blob/main/resources/doc/An%20ordinary%20back-to-school%20season.md).

Therefore, Dynabook intend is to replace all this paper materials, notebooks
Therefore, Dynabook intends to replace all this paper materials, notebooks
and textbooks, with a vehicle to represent knowledge in dynamic forms.

The device will operate differently than OLPC. It will not try to be a
mini-laptop, with the same kind of applications (logo, spreadsheet,
text writer, etc) and unease of use. The closest thing you can imagine is a paper
notebook where user writes document with an electronic pen and integrate in such a
document dynamic knowledge models (think a drgeo sketch).
text writer, etc). The closest thing you can imagine is a paper
notebook where the user writes a document with an electronic pen and integrates in such a document dynamic knowledge models (think a drgeo sketch).

It is a tool to represent knowledge -- as done with paper notebook and
textbook -- but with dynamic models.
Expand All @@ -67,58 +80,64 @@ In one aspect, thus existing and pre-developed models will be
parameterized or programmed with Smalltalk code (it is what Smalltak
was designed for). A user not interested in scripting will just use the library
of existing ones, a curious user will learn from existing scripts and
creates its own.
create their own.

One big difference with OLPC is it was targeting the learner. Dynabook
One big difference with OLPC is it was targetting the learner. Dynabook
is for both teacher and learner.

# Software

## Software

### Is it multiplatform? Does in run on Windows, Linux, Android, containers, usb drive...?
**---JR**: Is it multiplatform? Does in run on Windows, Linux, Android, containers, usb drive...?

Do we really care?
**---HF**: Do we really care?

### Who installs the Operating System in the device?
**---JR**: Who installs the Operating System in the device?

TBD. Depends on deployment policy I guess.
**---HF**: TBD. Depends on deployment policy I guess.

### Is the app integrated with the rest of the OS themes? (look, windows, dark/light modes..)
**---JR**: Is the app integrated with the rest of the OS themes? (look, windows, dark/light modes..)

TBD
**---HF**: TBD

### Is the app integrated with a learning environment?
**---JR**: Is the app integrated with a learning environment?

Sort of, but with gateway.
**---HF**: Sort of, but with a gateway.

**---JR**: Who pays for the development?

### Who pays for the development?

TBD. Ideally all public institutions, through subscriptions,
donations, delegations or what suite their own constraints. Should be
**---HF**: TBD. Ideally all public institutions, through subscriptions,
donations, delegations or what suites their own constraints. Should be
flexible so all can participate to such a free software and hardware
project.

**---JR**: Who installs and configures the app? Is the process automatic or the person needs to follow a tutorial?

**---HF**: TBD locally.

# Usage

**---JR**: What age are the students supposed to be?

### Who installs and configures the app? Is the process automatic or the person needs to follow a tutorial?
**---HF**: Late primary school and secondary I and II.

TBD locally.
**---JR**: What subjects (geometry...) can be explored with the app? Are activities available?

**---HF**: All taught subjects with dedicated dynamic knowledge model.

## Usage
**---JR**: Where do they use the app? (IT lab, classroom, home, all of them?)

### What age are the students supposed to be?
**---HF**: Classroom & home

Late primary school and secondary I and II.
**---JR**: What training do the teachers need to work with it? (use, develop tasks...) Who provides it?

### What subjects (geometry...) can be explored with the app? Are activities available?
**---HF**: TBD locally.

All taught subjects with dedicated dynamic knowledge model.
______________________________________________________________________

### Where do they use the app? (IT lab, classroom, home, all of them?)
# Some links

Classroom & home
[An Interview with Computing Pioneer Alan Kay](https://techland.time.com/2013/04/02/an-interview-with-computing-pioneer-alan-kay/)

### What training do the teachers need to work with it? (use, develop tasks...) Who provides it?
[The Charisma Machine](https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262537445/the-charisma-machine/) (an evaluation of the OLPC project)

TBD locally.
[The Dynabook app](https://github.com/hilaire/dynabook)

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