Michal Marek Some time ago Apple pledged $100 million to the ConnectED project, which was initiated by the President of the United States, Barack Obama himself. The goal of this project is to improve the technological background of education in American schools, primarily by ensuring fast and reliable broadband Internet, which should reach 99% of all American schools as part of the project. Apple did not let its previous promise slip away, and the company published detailed information on the website about the direction of the money provided. Those from Cupertino will head to a total of 114 schools spread across 29 states.
Each student in the school involved in the project will receive their own iPad, and the teachers and other employees will also receive a MacBook and an Apple TV, which they will be able to use as part of school teaching, for example, to wirelessly project educational materials. Apple adds the following to its plans: “Lack of access to technology and information puts entire communities and segments of the student population at a disadvantage. We want to participate in changing this situation."
Apple described its participation in the project, which was unveiled by the White House in February, as an unprecedented commitment and an "important first step" to bring modern technologies to every classes. In addition, Tim Cook touched on the topic yesterday during his speech in Alabama, where he declared: "Education is the most basic human right."
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As part of that first step, Apple is focusing on schools that can't afford to provide students with the kind of technology that other students have access to. In the areas chosen by Apple, socially disadvantaged pupils study, 96% of whom are entitled to free or at least partially subsidized lunch. The company also notes that 92% of students at Apple's selected schools are Hispanic, Black, Native American, Inuit and Asian. "Despite economic challenges, these schools share an enthusiasm for imagining what kind of life their students could have with Apple technology."
It is nice that for Apple the project does not mean only the possibility to symbolically distribute a bunch of iPads and other devices around the United States. In Cupertino, they obviously got along well with ConnectED, and Apple's participation also includes a special team of trainers (Apple Education Team), which will be in charge of training teachers in each of the schools so that they are able to get the most out of the technologies that will be available to them. Other US technology companies will join the ConnectED project, including such giants as Adobe, Microsoft, Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.
Comrades from Apple certainly don't do it for free, so it's just controlled promotion of Apple by the government itself. Quite laughable, but it should rather be an article that celebrates the power of Apple's marketing and not their interest in improving conditions in schools. Although I'm a fan of Apple, sometimes I wouldn't celebrate them so much in my articles.
what's wrong with the state (USA) supporting education in cooperation with a domestic company? there is no way the state ever sold off everything in our country and now everything is bought from foreign companies. even if the USA buys the tablets etc., they will buy them in the USA and the VAT will remain at home.
In our country, nothing can be supported by domestic companies because there are no longer any.
Of course, there is nothing wrong when the state supports its own company... and do you think that a company as big as Apple could exist in our country? No way they would admit it see Nokia. Otherwise, paying taxes at Apple is not exactly the best argument, if it wasn't an American company, it would be sued all over the world for not paying taxes. As I wrote, I like their products, but it bothers me that everything they do is just for more profits, even though they talk about a better world with their products. It is a great hypocrisy on their part.
well, everything is pushed for profits. in my opinion, it was the planned "five-year" of apple. Jobs invented and introduced the iPhone and iPad to the world, creating a huge boom. lured people to really high-quality products. it took a few years for people to look forward to new fashion year after year and to be willing to spend considerable sums. but justifiably because the quality was there. and then suddenly, boom, break the end of innovation and it's time to make a profit. people don't even leave Apple because they're so used to it and no one really wants to buy a whole portfolio of products from another brand again
personally, I think exactly the same, the innovations are quite minimal and it seems that the products have already been "planned" before and accountant Cook can do the math and take care of it. But Apple has changed in the last 2 years, but from my point of view rather for the worse in terms of customers. Yes, they still produce beautiful, cool and above all quality products, but the cool is getting worse and worse. Well, we'll see how it goes in the future
Of course they do it (also) because it's advertising. But I don't see anything wrong with that. If it will be an advertisement for them, because they are thoughtfully (!) investing in the project (understand, give your products where they are really needed and not necessarily to schools that could afford it themselves, but they are visible, they will provide quality education to teachers, ...) , OK! Say, what's wrong with that? I think it's better than investing that money in TV ads that will serve them too but no one else.
Very good. Both from the point of view of socially weak students, who will have the opportunity to work with technologies that they normally do not have access to, and from the side of Apple, which will make great advertising and an investment in the future.
I don't think it's a bad thing. Advertising and marketing are always a part, even if it's a charity. Perhaps precisely at a time when multinational corporate concerns are able to generate billions and even have them liquid, they should participate in similar events in a fundamental way. As much as it illustrates the rule of the oligarchy and the banking giants… Because if there was ever a proper and well-thought-out government policy (not just in the US), maybe governments could provide it without the help of companies…