An update on the One Laptop Per Child program I talked about a while ago:

The organization plans to drop the touchscreen computers from helicopters near remote villages in developing countries. The devices will then be abandoned and left for the villagers to find, distribute, support, and use on their own.

OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte is optimistic that the portable devices—which will be stocked with electronic books—will empower children to learn to read without any external support or instruction.

The full write-up has more information, but really, this seems like a bit of a waste of money, no?