Designing a low cost educational handheld device for children

Abstract

In Latin America, the educational level differences between the high and low social classes are really appreciable, thus hindering social mobility. The need and urgency to reduce this educational gap is clearly recognized by everyone. Many efforts in educational policies (educational reforms, more specialized teachers, etc.) have been made. In addition, several studies show that the introduction of computers to the schools, and more specifically educational games, is a proven way to accelerate childrens' learning. The high cost of computers is, however, a good reason for poor schools to not to purchase them or only to purchase a few. On other hand, some researches using improvised educational handheld devices have shown an amazing improvement in learning when children used them. This paper shows how Motorola designed a new low-cost educational handheld platform and how this design went, in a short time, from a wire-wrap prototype to a complete product ready for production.