Computerworld (via Harvard Business Review), May 12

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) such as World of Warcraft, Eve and EverQuest may play an important role in the education of tomorrow’s business leaders. According to emerging academic research from Stanford, these games closely mirror the needs of the business world in the form of distributed decision-making, rapid response, risk assessment, and leadership through collaboration rather than authority. As a result, a number of high-tech companies are taking a closer look at how to integrate elements of these role-playing games into real-world business training sessions.

Companies have already commissioned studies to analyze collaboration and leadership in these massively multi-player online role-playing games. Realizing that many young people may have experience playing these games, companies are attempting to figure out what factors are shaping the next generation of workers and contributing to their expectations for software within the workplace. The studies found that leadership within these games has less to do with the special qualities of the person doing the leading and more with the environment itself. By learning more about leadership within games, organizations hope to learn more about productivity and worker loyalty.

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games can be useful simulators for modern business training. For example, leaders often have to make hundreds of strategic decisions during an hour of game play, preparing them for the rapid pace of the corporate work environment. In terms of risk-taking behavior, players feel free to test a variety of strategies. Most importantly, the temporary nature of many leadership roles allows people who tend to be real-world followers to try leadership opportunities and those who tend to be real-world leaders to get experience as followers. The gaming environment can also prepare future business leaders for recruiting, evaluating, retaining, persuading and compensating other employees. The decentralized nature of the games also means that players learn how to coordinate people rather than just commanding them.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=317260&source=NLT_CAR&nlid=5

The nonprofit One Laptop Per Child has just shown for the first time images of its next-generation touch-screen laptop that goes by the name XO-2. According to Nicholas Negroponte, chairman of OLPC, the laptop is under development and has a goal of costing $75. Negroponte showed off images of the XO-2 at an OLPC event here at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He says the first XO-2 is slated to be built by 2010.

The laptop is nearly half the size of current XO notebook and consists of two 16x9 touch-screen displays. The notebook does not include a keyboard, but instead will feature a software-based touch-sensitive keyboard.

More XO-2 Images

Negroponte explains that the XO-2 is meant to be shaped like a book and will be first promoted as an e-book to developing nations.

"The XO-2 will be a bit of a Trojan horse," he explained. He says the XO-2 will be pushed first as an e-book reader with the capacity of holding over 500 e-books. "Currently developing nations such as China and Brazil are spending $19 per student per year on books." Investing in the XO-2 at $75 should be an easy decision for these countries. But he points out, the XO-2 much more than a e-book and is a fully functional laptop.

Details were scant on how OLPC hoped to hit the $75 per XO-2 price point. Negroponte did however say substantial savings would be seen in the screen technology. That's because the 16x9 screens used for the XO-2 would take advantage of an anticipated high demand and low prices of portable DVD displays manufactured before and after 2010.

The current cost to manufacture one XO notebook is $188, according to OLPC.

"we are aggressively working to lower the cost, power, and size of the XO laptop so that it is more affordable and usable by the world's poorest children," Negroponte said.

Also high in hype and little in substance was information about the OLPC using a light version of Microsoft Windows operating system. Negroponte would only confirm that it is testing a version of Windows running on OLPCs and a dual-boot XO laptop is in the works.

When it comes to model building, the sky's the limit.

At least, it is with Lego – because the world's tallest tower of bricks has been built to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Standing nearly 30.5m (100ft) tall, it was built by Legoland vis­itors with 500,000 bricks and ­resembles a Viking longboat mast.

Over the bank holiday weekend, children each built 20cm (8in) sections, which were lifted into place by a crane.

'We are thrilled to bring the world record to Legoland Windsor,' said the park's special events manager, Penny Jenkins.

'After four days of hard work, not to mention nearly 500,000 bricks, it now stands at nearly 100ft.'

The previous record for the tallest Lego tower was 29.3m (96ft), set in Tor­onto last year.

But the one at Legoland in Windsor, Berkshire, will smash that – as soon as it is verified by officials.

Ms Jenkins added: 'It has been a great way to celebrate the 50th ann­iversary of Lego bricks.'