Nicholas Negroponte, the founder of the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) program Announced the next generation of the XO, the XO-2. The little PC, designed for children in developing countries is currently priced at $188.

The plan is to launch the new OLPC by 2010. The new version has gotten rid of the green rubbery keyboard and comes in the form of a single square display with a hinge in the middle. Both screens are multi-touch (like the iPhone & iPod Touch) which makes it able to serve the functions of a book or a dual display keyboard. The new version also has its energy requirements cut down to one-watt compared to the current two-watt OLPC (General Laptops run on about 40watts).

The new design is a great way to bridge the gap in understanding of kids in developing countries as to what computers are and how they are used as well as blow them away with the touch-screen interface. It looks like a book but is interactive and educational in so many ways.

Added to this, the price tag which was originally aimed at $100 and is currently sitting at a swelled $188 will get a huge reduction as well with Negroponte putting the new OLPC at an amazing $75.

You can read more details about the project here.

This is an amazing development, and a giant step forward in terms of really giving the developing world an education upgrade.