Negroponte has said that this technology could revolutionize how we educate the world's children. The $100 machine will be a full-color, full-screen laptop that is Linux-based and running on AMD processors. These rugged laptops will be WiFi and cell phone-enabled, and will be able to do almost everything, except store huge amounts of data.

Five corporate sponsors; the likes of Google, AMD and Red Hat, have contributed $2million each to the project.

Negroponte reportedly came up with the $100 laptop idea, after seeing children in a Cambodian village benefit from having notebook computers at school, which they could also take home and use.

Negroponte has said that the laptop is a cost-effective alternative to hiring additional teachers, and is aimed at helping children teach themselves.