Can the XO Laptop Survive a typhoon?

Can the XO Laptop survive a typhoon?

The answer is YES! Ask Harv Viray, a faculty member of the University of the Philippines Diliman. His home in Pasig was flooded as Typhoon Ondoy battered Luzon. Although he made an attempt to save the XO laptop from the rising, murky waters, he was unsuccessful. A month later, the XO laptop still works - a testament to the ruggedness of the XO laptop.

Check out the pictures:

According to OLPC, the laptop keyboard has also been submerged under water for 10 minutes with no effect. It’s been tested in the rain. Here is the [video](http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/news/science_nature/video/135000/bb/135...). Now, we can boast that the XO laptop is an Ondoy (Ketsana) survivor.

Unfortunately, many schools across Luzon were not spared by the roaring typhoons. Recent assessments indicate that there are P551 million in school damages, and 1,009 public schools in need of repair. This does not include the countless number of destroyed books, crayons, pencils and computers. Check out these pictures of damaged books from a library at UP Integrated Elementary School.

I am a firm believer that the XO laptop can enhance educational opportunities for children across the Philippines, especially for those affected by the typhoon. While this is easier said than done, these bleak times give us the opportunity to innovate and use our creative juices to solve this challenge.

Hearing about the survival of the XO laptop was a pleasant and inspirational surprise, especially as news spread of exposed broken systems and the disheartening conditions that Filipinos endured. However, this particular survival story was a sign that the XO laptop has a future in the Philippines. Rebuilding after a tragedy is always difficult. However, I am confident that the XO laptop has a place in the sustainable rebuilding of the Philippines and its education system.