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About Playpower.org
8-bit Learning Games for Radically Affordable Computers

A Global Problem
Millions of children around the world are unable to afford even basic education. This dampens economic growth, reduces political freedom, increases disease, and propagates ignorance and war. Computer-Aided Learning (CAL) is one solution that can enhance educational opportunities worldwide. But even the cheapest modern computers cost over $200, which are unaffordable to the billions of people around the world who could most benefit from CAL.

An 8-Bit Solution
Playpower.org is using a 25 year old computer chip technology (currently in production for video games) as the basis for an ultra-affordable educational computer. What the press has described as "the $12 computer," is a keyboard, mouse, and processor that connects to a TV screen and takes 1980's era 8-bit Nintendo cartridges. Playpower's goal is to discover and develop effective learning games for these $12 computers, games that help build the basic skills that can dramatically enhance a person's economic opportunities. We've found that in countries like Ghana, even learning to type can mean the difference between making a $1 per day to a $1 per hour. And a child who learns computer programming skills, from any background and in any country, stands to have a world of opportunities available to them.Our initial research shows that an 8-bit computer is powerful enough to be engaging and effective at building basic skills in reading, writing, mathematics, science and other subjects like computer programming. With clever puzzles, traditional video games, and text-based simulations, 8-bit computers can even teach skills like creative problem solving, critical thinking, logic, and entrepreneurship. So let's go 8-bit!

Who we are:
Playpower.org is a non-profit organization composed of individuals from India, Ghana, Brazil, Canada and the USA. Our largest working group is based in San Diego, at the California Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technology, at UC San Diego. Playpower began at MIT, during the International Development Design Summit (IDDS) in the summer of 2008. Click here to see our team. More about the $12

Computer:
The Playpower platform is based on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), a 25 year old technology that is now largely in the public domain (since hardware patents expire after 20 years). Dozens of manufacturers currently produce clones of the NES that come with a mouse, game controllers and a full keyboard. To see the full specifications of the platform, please click here: [link]
These computers are commonly packaged with educational content such as BASIC programming, typing games, math games, and english language learning games. Cartridges may contain hundreds of software titles, and plug directly into the keyboard (which contains the processor and video card).

One of the major advantages of this platform is that it uses a TV as a screen. This dramatically reduces costs for families that already own a TV. Television sets are surprisingly common in countries like India, where more than half of the population owns a set (even though 2/3 of the country lives on less than a $1 per day (ref)). Using a TV for learning games also creates the potential for social learning experiences, centered around groups of friends and family.

Why?
At Playpower.org, we believe that education is vitally important for a prosperous and peaceful global society. Computer-aided learning holds a great deal of promise as a supplement to traditional teacher-based education. In many countries, public schools are in a very poor state--in India, researchers have found that the teacher attendence rate averages at 75%--meaning that public school teachers often don't even show up to school! Families are forced to pay for public schools or tutors, but this is often beyond the reach of many families. While great effort has been put into improving public schools, it is an effort that takes enormous amounts of funding and often, the schools have been resistant to change. Computer aided learning shows such promise as supplemental education because it can be scaled more effectively than training good teachers. Because there is already such a significant market for supplemental education, we simply hope to introduce a better product that can help parents ensure their children receives quality instruction.

Affordable, educational computers could provide significant value to millions of people around the world who currently have insufficient access to education. For instance, in Ghana, a relatively prosperous african nation, only 10% of 6th graders can perform basic math. In India, ... In many countries around the world (including the USA), public schools are not adequately educating their students. Market solutions can scale rapidly... and even for families making less than $5 a day can afford a $12 computer.


Research on the $12 TV Computer Project - International Development Design Summit 2008



Formerly, the Educational Home Computing Initiative