In partnership with South Carolina's governor and the local community, Apple will be taking part in a $6 million investment to build eight open access Mac computer labs across the state.
Governor Henry McMaster announced the education initiative at a press conference on Tuesday, saying that the expanded access to broadband and computers will "bolster South Carolina's premier workforce training efforts by giving our communities and people access to resources they need to expand participation in our state's growing economy."
Building on previously announced projects, Apple will work with HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), the South Carolina Technical College System, and the local community directly to strategically build the new labs in places accessible to as many people as possible.
Susan Prescott, Apple's VP of worldwide developer relations and enterprise, says that Apple is a firm believer in education and that equal access to technology is a great equalizer for communities.
"At Apple, we believe education is the great equalizer, and that access to technology is key to learning and workforce opportunities today. We are proud that Apple products and curriculum have been selected by the University of South Carolina and Benedict College for their new education labs. Together, we aim to ensure all South Carolinians have the opportunity to learn, code, create, and grow in new ways."
Specifics on what Macs will be included in the labs are unknown; however, it will be open for use by staff, students, and community members regularly at no cost.
I haven't lived in South Carolina since 1996, but here in the Central Ohio area it seems to be common to provide computers in libraries for public access to people who don't have a computer or internet access from home, or find it more convenient (too many people at home or lot of distraction) to use a computer at a library.
Yes, it would be nice to expand broadband access to homes that don't have it, but that doesn't reduce the value of having publicly / freely accessible computers. One doesn't prevent the other from happening.
Sounds kind of like an Internet cafe (I guess?), which you don't really hear about anymore. A little confusing what this will do. People need help paying for broadband more than computers IMO.
Yes, it would be nice to expand broadband access to homes that don't have it, but that doesn't reduce the value of having publicly / freely accessible computers. One doesn't prevent the other from happening.
Wednesday January 13, 2021 4:08 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple today announced a set of new projects as part of its $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) to help dismantle systemic barriers to opportunity and combat injustices faced by communities of color. Rendering of the Propel Center The projects include the Propel Center, a global innovation and learning hub for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), an Apple ...
Apple's all-online Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starts today with the traditional keynote kicking things off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
We're expecting to see a number of announcements, including iOS 15, macOS 12, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15, but it's unclear what else we'll be seeing at the event. While there had been some claims of redesigned MacBook Pro models making an appearance...
Apple today reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to create jobs and opportunities in the United States by announcing a $430 billion investment over the next five years.
The new investment will help create more than 20,000 new jobs across the country and beats its previous investment of $350 billion announced in 2018. The new round of job creation will focus on innovations from 5G,...
Apple is continuing to prepare for the WWDC keynote thats set to take place on Monday, June 7, and has today updated its Developer app with new features ahead of the event.
The update adds details on all of the pavilions, session videos, 1-on-1 labs, and coding and design challenges available as part of WWDC 2021, plus it introduces sign ups for the WWDC 2021 labs.
There are also a series ...
Thursday February 25, 2021 6:00 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple today announced that it is teaming up with Encircle LGBTQ+ Family and Youth Center to fund a new "$8 million, 8 Houses" initiative that will allow Encircle to build new community centers that provide support, mental health services, and community to LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
Apple is donating $1 million and Apple products like iPads that promote digital connection, creativity,...
Wednesday April 7, 2021 4:29 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
All school pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland, between the ages of 10 and 18 are set receive an iPad as part of the capital's "Edinburgh Learns for Life" program, the city's council has announced. The initiative, which begins in September and runs through to the end of 2022, will see the local government issue 27,000 new iPads to pupils and staff, and 12,000 refreshed iPads for pupils and staff.
...
Apple is teaming up with the University of Nevada, Reno to develop a program that will offer a common learning platform and deliver equal access to technology. As part of the "Digital Wolf Pack initiative," all incoming freshmen that will be attending the university in Fall 2021 will receive an iPad Air, an Apple Pencil, and the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio at no cost.
Along with an iPad Air,...
Apple has hired Stella Low as its new vice president of worldwide corporate communications, reports BuzzFeed News. Low was the former communications chief at Cisco, and will report directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
The role that Low is taking on at Apple has been empty for the last two years after PR chief Steve Dowling departed the company. Apple Fellow Phil Schiller has been handling the PR...
Thursday April 22, 2021 7:02 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today shared a trailer for the whale documentary "Fathom" on YouTube ahead of its worldwide debut on Apple TV+ on June 25. See our original coverage below for more details about the film.
Apple earlier this month announced that it purchased the rights to "Fathom," a documentary that follows two scientists as they attempt to communicate with humpback whales and unravel the mystery of...
Registration is now open for WWDC's "Digital Lounges," a digital space where developers can join Apple engineers throughout the entirety of the conference to ask questions, conduct activities, and take deep dives into a range of developer tools such as SwiftUI, machine learning, and accessibility.
This year will be the second all-digital Worldwide Developers Conference, and alongside improvin...
Top Rated Comments
Yes, it would be nice to expand broadband access to homes that don't have it, but that doesn't reduce the value of having publicly / freely accessible computers. One doesn't prevent the other from happening.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/03/att-lobbies-against-nationwide-fiber-says-10mbps-uploads-are-good-enough/