For those that might have missed it, about two weeks back The Wall Street Journal published an excellent article providing an update on the $100 laptop scheme that was hatched by Nicholas Negroponte in 2005. The sub-title is indicative of the very interesting story that they tell: How a computer for the poor got stomped by the tech giants.” It is most definitely worth the read.

As the person who (I believe) coined the term Digital Divide over a decade ago, I find it very bizarre that big companies would put their short term parochial interests above the needs of the world’s children. It’s in everyone’s interests that we have an educated work force, motivated young people, social cohesion and all the other payoffs of a wonderful initiative like Negroponte’s. Shame.