In conjunction with the SolarLite announcement, SolarPC circulated details
regarding the Global Education Link (GEL) project, an initiative with the goal
of giving away a million SolarLite computers to schools in poor countries around
the world. The objective of the GEL project is to improve education in third world
countries and thereby encourage self-sufficiency and promote world harmony.
According to K-12 education specialist Dr. James Johnson, "The Global Education Link project has the potential to break down the barriers that prevent people in the developing world from getting a good education. The recent release of the FireFox Internet browser makes the timing of this announcement extremely auspicious. The open source FireFox browser provides a solid foundation for the development of non-proprietary educational software. It will facilitate the creation of thousands of educational programs that can be distributed to millions of students at no cost. This is a fantastic opportunity to leverage technology that will make the world a better place."
"This is the twenty first century equivalent of teaching people how to
fish," stated Gary Reynolds, spokesperson for SolarPC, "A standardized,
well designed, easy to maintain, low cost PC is the key to unlocking the educational
potential of the electronic age.
The SolarLite is a fully featured, book sized (9" x 7" x 1.75") machine that weighs approximately three pounds. It features a rugged no-moving-parts design that includes a Compact Flash drive loaded with dozens of software programs, plus links to free development software and educational programs.
The design and construction of the SolarLite is consistent with the goal of
an environmentally friendly computer. It uses a lightweight, recyclable, aluminum
case that has a 20-year warranty. Its VIA chipset based "long-life"
motherboard is a "green" lead free product. Like all SolarPC computers,
the SolarLite operates on 12 volt DC power and can be run from a solar panel,
car battery, or human powered (with a bicycle-based generator). The cool and
quiet SolarLite uses approximately 10 watts of energy, just a fraction of what
a standard PC consumes.
