XO Tablet native mesh networking added with Open Garden preload

The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project has paired with Open Garden to bring mesh-networking to the new XO Tablet, allowing users of the low-cost open source slate to get online via bridged connections with other owners. Part of what OLPC describes as its vision of “a network made of connected devices and internet access to everyone”, the new deal will see the XO Tablet – which hit retail back in July – preloaded with the Open Garden app, and able to create and join dynamically created mesh networks even if they’re far from the original access point.

So, if a whole classroom of students are using XO Tablets, the slates will all be interconnected and constantly figuring out the fastest path back to the router. That also extends range, since the tablets will work as bridges as well.