hi-tech

School’s cool

How about carrying your laptop to school? You could, actually, if the UN has its way. Imagine looking at swanky laptop screens instead of dull, monochrome blackboards. Well, about 1.2 million schoolchildren in Libya will have access to their own laptops by 2008. The One Laptop Per Child project is supported by the United Nations, which is planning to give laptops to children all over the world, for US $100 each. The laptops will be distributed on a trial basis in November. When this project comes through, Libya could be the first country ever to have all its schoolchildren connect to the Internet. The machines will also have footpedals to avoid heavy power consumption and to enable children to use them even if electricity is inaccessible. Rest assured school will never be the same again.

toon time

Be a creator

Cartoons are real fun. But don’t you think it would be more exciting if we could actually see our own creations on TV? Well, here’s your chance. Cartoon Network invites original ideas — by December 31, 2006 — that can be developed into animation for kids. Ten entries will finally make it to the shortlist. Each of these will then be developed into complete episodes and aired exclusively on Cartoon Network across Asia. For more information, look up www.SNAPTOONS.org.