The document discusses the Magellan Project in Portugal, which aimed to provide over 550,000 laptops to elementary school children loaded with the Caixa Mágica Linux distribution. It describes how the project deployed over 300,000 netbooks in a first wave and plans to deploy another 250,000 with enhanced hardware. It also discusses steps taken to ensure the Linux distribution was appealing and easy to use for children, such as developing a killer app called Supertux, focusing on simplicity, and testing versions with real students.

1. Open Source Energy
How to deploy 550,000 Linux
netbooks into the classroom
The Portuguese Magellan Project
Flávio Moringa flavio.moringa@caixamagica.pt
Caixa Mágica Linux distribution project leader

2. Open Source Energy
1. What is the Magellan Project?
 Government project with the aim of providing laptops to
elementary school children to improve their computer
literacy (Ages 6 to 12);
 Dual boot: MS Windows & Linux Caixa Mágica;
 Intel Classmate PC based;
 First deployment: 300,000 computers (MG1);
 Second deployment: ongoing, with enhanced hardware
(MG2), estimated 250,000 by the end of 2011.
Magellan MG2
Magellan MG1
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 2

3. Open Source Energy
2. What is Caixa Mágica?
 The main Portuguese Linux distribution;
 Free installation DVD's and Live CD's;
 KDE, Gnome and
other WM;
 Official phone and
e-mail support on
the paid version;
 USB version with read
and write support;
 Free user foruns;
 Shared base with
Mandriva;
 Etc...
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 3

4. Open Source Energy
3. Asking help from the right people
 Design and development:
– Nuno Pinheiro - KDE Oxygen Coordinator;
– Tomaz Canabrava – QT/KDE Developer.
 Language:
– Instituto de Formação e Investigação
da Língua Portuguesa (http://ifilp.org).
 Hardware support:
– Realtek (Wireless hostap support);
– Intel (Function keys and brightness sensor).
 QA:
– Ângulo Sólido (http://angulosolido.pt).
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 4

5. Open Source Energy
3. Asking help from the right people
 Usability:
– Human-Computer Interaction and Multimedia
Research Team (http://hcim.fc.ul.pt);
– Focus Group interaction;
– Usability reports.
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 5

6. Open Source Energy
4. Choose a killer app - Supertux
 What application will make kids boot into Linux? Supertux.
 Our own developments:
– Download and upload of levels through the game interface;
– Upload of highscores through
the game interface;
– Full Portuguese localization;
– Support web page.
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 6

7. Open Source Energy
5. The first Magellan version - MG1
 Superkaramba theme displaying the most common used
applications;
 300,000 deploys by
the end of 2010;
 Caixa Mágica 12;
 Standard KDE 3;
 Full hardware
support;
 Larger interface bar;
 Recovery system
from hdd;
 Easy to install new
software from web.
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 7

8. Open Source Energy
6. The second Magellan version - MG2
 Plasmoid displaying the most common used
applications;
 250,000 deploys by
the end of 2011;
 Caixa Mágica 14;
 Standard KDE 4;
 Full hardware
support, now
including light
sensor and hostAP;
 Installable in MG1;
 Graphical recovery
system from hdd.
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 8

9. Open Source Energy
7. Why boot into Caixa Mágica Linux not Windows?
 The great look & feel:
– The new multi-folderview plasmoid made by Tomaz
Canabrava (called “nunosview”) ;
– The clock widget made by Nuno Pinheiro;
– The “Caixinha” desktop theme made by Nuno Pinheiro;
– The KDE desktop efects enabled by default.
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 9

10. Open Source Energy
7. Why boot into Caixa Mágica Linux not Windows?
 One application per task;
 Great system mimetype handling;
 Great browser mimetype handling;
 Easy Parental controls for Internet
access control, application control
and time usage control;
 Great and simple games for children,
with a fully localized GCompris;
 Desktop lockdown;
 Good localization and
language consistency across menus.
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 10

11. Open Source Energy
7. Why boot into Caixa Mágica Linux not Windows?
 The pre-configured classroom environment applications:
– Easy way to configure the teacher's
computer as an access point;
– Pre-configured shared folder on
the teacher's computer;
– Pre-configured access to the
shared folder on the students
computers;
– Simple iTALC client and server
configuration;
– Classroom management software
pre-installed, and pre-configured;
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 11

12. Open Source Energy
8. Final Remarks
 So what are the main tips for this kind of deployment:
– Use a clean desktop... no cluttering;
– One application per task is essential;
– Look & feel is essential - first impression is a selling point;
– Simplify everything even if losing configuration options;
–
– But don't over simplify...
– Keep in mind that although it's designed for young children,
teachers and parents will use it too;
– Have at least one or two killer apps not found in the other OS;
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 12

13. Open Source Energy
8. Final Remarks
 And ultra-mega important:
– Have real kids, real parents and real teachers test your system
before releasing it, testing with focus groups, after all:
They know what they want... you can
only guess.
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 13

14. Open Source Energy
Thank You
Thanks for you attention.
Feel free to ask me more questions, either in person or
through:
flavio.moringa@caixamagica.pt
Useful links:
http://comunidade.magalhaes.caixamagica.pt/
http://www.caixamagica.pt
http://contribsoft.caixamagica.pt/trac/browser/packages/cm14/supertux
http://ftp.magalhaes.caixamagica.pt/mg2/SRPMS/eescolinha2/
FOSDEM - Brussels, Feb 05, 2011 How to deploy 550,000 Linux netbooks into the classroom 14