North Korean TV-Computer Lab
Playing Double Dragon in North Korea
Lev Manovich sent me this picture: a ‘computer lab’ in North Korea, where groups of children play 8-bit video games on the “MicroGenius” (a famicom clone). The devices used by these students don’t have keyboards–but the hardware is otherwise identical to the $12 Playpower platform.
I wish I knew more about what was going on here. This is North Korea, so I can’t exactly praise it. However…
I love the idea of large numbers of children in a room, playing video games and using 8-bit computers. There is immense potential for peer learning and problem solving in situations like this. Considering that a 15 station computer lab costs only $1000 ($200 for the computers and $750 for the TVs), this is a model that could provide early computer experience to millions of children. Look at how many children can use one computer… or chair, for that matter…!