It's a revolutionary new kind of computer made for a project to get one laptop to every child in the developing world - that's two billion children. Some members of the European Parliament are now trying to get EU-wide support for this ambitious campaign.

This remarkable laptop has had members of the European Parliament cooing and jostling for a closer look. "It's better than my own laptop!," cries British Conservative member of the European Parliament Nirj Deva, who has launched the initiative to bring one laptop to every child that does not have access to education: "The idea is to allow children in the developing world who do not even have access to electricity to connect to the global learning resources we have on the internet," he explains.

"Each laptop holds over 1000 books and can connect to the internet, so children can learn, write essays and even make music together."

One laptop per child
The move is part of the global 'One laptop per child' campaign which targets six- to 12-year-olds who grow up without access to education. The scheme also provides communities with a satellite dish to enable children to go online.

Tens of thousands of children from Sri Lanka to Peru are already using them. "We are close to half a million," says Mr Deva. "Everyday there are more children logging on."

Childproof
These remarkable machines have been developed by the Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT) for the emerging world, both in their design and content. A simple, visual menu guides children to a vast range of activities in any number of languages.

The entire laptop is very lightweight yet able to withstand the roughest treatment. To prove the point, Nirj Deva takes one in his hand and throws it down on the table with a great bang: "You can drop it or put into water, it doesn't break." He then proceeds to type in words in various languages that are then spoken by the computer.

Concrete results
Maria Martens, a Dutch member of the European Parliament, is likewise hooked on the laptops and is pushing for the Parliament's Budget Committee to allocate part of the aid fund for the campaign:

"People complain that EU aid is not being used properly and here we have a project with very concrete results and that gives children a chance."

Source: By Radio Netherlands