Thinking at the Pyramid's Base

Submitted by SeanG on October 5, 2005 - 20:51.
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The recent Technology at the Edge posting by Al Hammond reminded me what amazing ideas can come about while re-imaging products and services for the poor. Hearing his descriptions of innovative technologies in Africa is thrilling. It reminded me of another article I had just read which discusses the recently re-announced sub $100 laptop by MIT.

See: Switched On: Cheapest laptop boasts rich innovation over at Engadget.Com. There the author outlines some of the innovative tech in this new PC and notes how useful it might be for the general market:

Much of the coverage of the $100 laptop has focused on its breakthrough price. However, the initiative, should it prove successful, would not only create a revolutionary learning tool for children in developing countries, but turn notebook design on its head.

This is what innovation on the edge is all about. Businesses often ask their employess to 'think outside the box' when developing innovative new ideas. They should also be asking them to 'think along the BOP'.
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From the bottom, trickle-up economics?
Submitted by Rob Katz on October 7, 2005 - 10:59.
I like what Sean has to say, and think that it goes beyond technology. Designing a stable, functional laptop for $100 means that Dell won't be able to charge me $1500 for my next computer - maybe they'll have to bring the price point down to compete with a start-up using the MIT folks' technology (anyone out there know of one?) But the same goes for any number of BOP initiatives - cheap cataract lenses, water filters, cell phone banking - all of these "BOP" technologies will (hopefully) trickle back UP from the base and make life more competitive (and cheaper) at the "TOP"
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