Laplet Design Evolution

The XO Laptop display was initially conceived using LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) projection. Nicholas Negroponte demonstrated this concept in early 2005 with sliding optical prototypes illustrating its foldable nature.

In mid-2005, CTO Mary Lou Jepsen introduced the concept of a dual-mode display — a color LED laptop screen combined with a sunlight-readable e-book mode. This dual design was ideal for learning in open-air environments and significantly reduced the need for printed textbooks.

By July 2005, Design Continuum proposed an array of innovative prototypes, culminating in November 2005 with the unveiling of the iconic green “XO” model — the “green machine” — presented by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis.

The original yellow hand-crank, while symbolic, was later replaced by external power solutions. The laptop’s transformation hinge design simplified its usability, evolving into a hybrid learning device adaptable for both play and study. Quanta Computer contributed to optimizing the final structure for mass production.

In spring 2006, industrial designer Yves Behar refined the XO’s Generation-One model — recognized for its clean aesthetics and child-friendly design — marking a new era in accessible computing for education.

The first test units, the B1 (Beta1), rolled out from Quanta’s Shanghai facility in late 2006. Strengthened prototypes (B2 and B3) followed in early 2007, with mass shipment (B4) commencing by mid-2007 — setting the foundation for OLPC’s global educational impact.