Educational Software To Donate With Laptop?

SlartibartfastJunior writes "I will be sending my four-year-old laptop to a school in Uganda this fall. I plan to load up an older version of Windows (or something free), and I need suggestions - what should I load on it? I need suggestions for educational games, educational software, etc. that won't drain my battery too much (since the computer will only be able to recharge at night), won't require a CD (since my drive doesn't work 80% of the time), and won't be too America-centered (most of these children have never been more than ten miles out of their own villages, and wouldn't understand "Oregon Trail"). Also, any great ideas on where I can acquire copies of this software?"

Why a laptop?

[Samir Gupta]

Game consoles actually are making better and better educational platforms these days.

We've done a lot of research into uses of Nintendo consoles other than gaming, such as using it as a inexpensive terminal for Internet access, or more compellingly, education, and we have done preliminary work with various Chinese governmental bodies and NGOs to make games such as Super Marx Brothers and The Legend of Deng Xiaoping to teach Chinese youth in new and engaging dynamic ways.

Using older game consoles such as N64 and even SNES/SFC enables schools, particularly in rural areas, to immediately gain the benefits of technology without the cost and maintainence expense associated with traditional PC platforms. We look forward to seeing the results of this experiment in China, and will likely expand to other developing countries if it goes well.

Re:Older Versions of Windows

[chowdmouse]

Ironic. That's a pretty good pirate impression. Just throw in a "matey" and give it a little more gusto.

Fell for the spam, eh?

[Colonel Panic]

I will be sending my four-year-old laptop to a school in Uganda this fall

Dear Sir,

I am Umbumbo Bumbalilo of Uganda. PLease send your Laptop.

Thank you.
Umbumbo Bumbalilo

Re:Civ and SimCity type games

[Anonymous Coward]

You mean people in Africa don't live in cities which shoot out into space?

Educational games?

[exp(pi*sqrt(163))]

HAMURABI: I BEG TO REPORT TO YOU.

IN YEAR 1997, 97,234 PEOPLE STARVED, 0 CAME TO THE CITY.
POPULATION IS NOW 2,123,872
THE CITY NOW OWNS 543,213 ACRES
RATS ATE 1,234,612 BUSHELS
YOU NOW HAVE 5,190,212 BUSHELS IN STORE
YOU WERE DONATED 1 LAPTOP

YOU STARVED 97,234 PEOPLE IN ONE YEAR!!!!
DUE TO THIS EXTREME MANAGEMENT YOU HAVE NOT ONLY
BEEN IMPEACHED AND THROWN OUT OF OFFICE BUT YOU
HAVE ALSO BEEN DECLARED A NATIONAL FINK!!!!

SO LONG FOR NOW

Re:GB

[Anonymous Coward]

It's very big HD. Big as my uncle's fist. Send us up the software.

Re:Include a compiler or interpreter

[KevinKnSC]

Yeah, and in 15 years you'll be complaining about your job being outsourced to Uganda.

Re:Civ and SimCity type games

[jafiwam]

Yeah, until Godzilla shows up. Then everything I make looks like Tokyo.

Useful software

[Simonetta]

In all seriousness,

put 1 Gigabyte of JPG files of pretty California girls engaged in sexual activity.

They can erase it if they like with a simple:
Format c:\

Or, they can copy them to CDs and sell them. That way they can get enough money to buy several good PCs to go with the end-of-its-life donated PC that is being sent to them.
Label the files: 0001xyz.jpg; 0002xyz.jpg, ect...

Re:Older Versions of Windows

[Enonu]

Isn't it ironic that people who have so many other problems in their lives decide to gripe on others about minutae, such as the use of the word "ironic"?

LOGO

[NYCadAdept]

Depending on the target age; give them some appropriate programing tools like MSWLogo [softronix.com] or UCB Logo [berkeley.edu]. Let's make hackers of them all!

Oregon Trail

[Anonymous Coward]

I agree.. I played Oregon Trail at a Canadian school in Grade 4 and it left me thoroughly confused (nearing the point of emotionally scarred) until our school hired an interpreter.

Looking back, I now realize how infinitely patient and thoughtful she was as she helped make certain segments of the game culturally relevant. Whenever the wheel of the wagon broke on the trail, she would see my tears welling up and put out the fire by explaining "I know you don't understand what a broken wheel means, but just think of it in the way that you do when one of your father's sled dogs dies," and it would all make sense.

Same went with hunting rabbits. Since it is Winter 11 months of the year up here I could only appreciate it in terms of hunting deer. Again, she was a lifesaver.

If the local schools can afford such an interpreter, I feel the game might be worth considering. Otherwise, you're right, the emotional trauma could throw the entire country -- No, *continent* into disarray.

Seriously, though, I wouldn't worry about the cultural differences for a game like oregon trail. If it seems irrelevant to them they'll do what most kids do and move on to something else *quickly*. Why not install the game and let them decide?

Despite my sarcasm I still think it's an awesome thing that you're doing (far more than most of us do), I just think your kid gloves are a bit too thick.

ROTT

[Ratfactor]

I heartily recommend Rise of the Triad [3drealms.com].

It is very imporant for all of the children of the world to learn of the dangers of The Triad.