$100 Laptop – almost there

Have you heard about the $100 laptop? Lots of people were talking about it while in the design phase, but now it is here! They were not able to hit the $100 mark just yet, but that does not undermine the accomplishment. It is a great example of what can happen with when systems thinking is applied to a problem.

The group that created it is called One Laptop Per Child and they want to empower children in the developing world to learn through computers and connectivity. It could make a huge difference to whole communities in developing countries. You can learn more (and even buy one for yourself and donate one to a child) at http://laptopgiving.org. The laptop and the thinking that went into it really is amazing.

What does this have to do with online marketing? I think it is a great example of how thinking beyond individual components and keeping the the larger goal in mind can create extraordinary solutions — whether it is giving children access to the resources they need to make a better life or making an online campaign much more than the sum of its parts.