NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Sorry for the late notice, but if you don’t have lunch plans today and are in or around Washington, try to swing over to DuPont Circle for what promises to be a fascinating talk. Jeffery Galinovsky (of Intel’s Emerging Markets Platform Group) will present World Ahead, an Intel program that will invest more than $1 billion over the next five years to speed access to uncompromised technology and education for people in developing communities.

I know Jeff, and I have seen the Classmate PC in action (there will be a demo today as well). If you’re at all interested in the One Laptop Per Child idea, stop by today to see how others are approaching this issue. The presentation will span a variety of interests, from education policy to technical design. Jeff is not only a successful platform manager at Intel, but he’s an electrical engineer by training, so he promises to make a great presentation.If you can’t make it today, keep an eye on NextBillion – I plan to attend and will blog on it later today or tomorrow.

What: Jeffery Galinovsky presents Intel’s World Ahead Program and demos Classmate PC
Where: International Resources Group, Suite 700, Conference Room, 1211 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC. Map
When: 12:00 – 2:00 today
Note: This is a brownbag lunch event, so bring your lunch.

Here are the full details, from the e-mail about today’s event:

The Development Information Working Group invites you to a discussion with Jeffery Galinovsky, who as a member of Intel’s Emerging Markets Platform Group is involved with Intel’s collaborations with the UN Global Alliance for ICT for Development (GAID). Mr. Galinovsky will discuss the World Ahead, an Intel program that will invest more than $1 billion over the next five years to speed access to uncompromised technology and education for people in developing communities. The program’s goal is not only to extend affordable PC access but to develop the right PCs tailored to local needs, drive connectivity, cultivate sustainable local capabilities, and provide the education needed to make a difference in people’s lives.

The World Ahead Program extends Intel’s existing initiatives for developing regions by driving progress in three areas:

• Accessibility: Creating opportunities for widespread ownership and use of PCs through affordability, access and content, including the development of fully featured, affordable PCs tailored to regional needs.
• Connectivity: Expanding wireless broadband Internet access by cultivating the required ecosystems and encouraging deployment, including the broad promotion of WiMAX trials and deployments.
• Education: Preparing students for success in the global economy through education programs and resources, including professional development for teachers worldwide.

Classmate, the low-cost computer prototyped by Intel, will be available for a demo after the presentation.