I remember getting my first PC at the age of 10, and a feeling of empowerment it brought me. Be it writing my first program that did sometime substantial, or playing Prince of Persia ( and clearing those levels ); what was substantial was the feeling that I am in control of this machine, and I can add/mould things as I want it! This sense of empowerment ( and later the ability to make use of the technology ) was possible only due to the latent fun quotient associated whilst using it (and it is best unspoiled by lack of supervision/or other's deciding how I should use the technology ).
This is very pertinent in an Indian context, where most act for "empowerment of poor" is coupled with the assumption that "poor are incapable of making their own decision".
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A slightly related project is this one: http://www.hole-in-the-wall.com/
I remember getting my first PC at the age of 10, and a feeling of empowerment it brought me. Be it writing my first program that did sometime substantial, or playing Prince of Persia ( and clearing those levels ); what was substantial was the feeling that I am in control of this machine, and I can add/mould things as I want it! This sense of empowerment ( and later the ability to make use of the technology ) was possible only due to the latent fun quotient associated whilst using it (and it is best unspoiled by lack of supervision/or other's deciding how I should use the technology ).
This is very pertinent in an Indian context, where most act for "empowerment of poor" is coupled with the assumption that "poor are incapable of making their own decision".