What’s the opposite of an iPad Pro? Presumably it would be an iPad con — and if a new scheme proposed by the U.K.’s Ministry of Justice comes to fruition, there could be a whole lot of them.
The proposed project aims to give prisoners taxpayer-funded iPads so that they can video chat with their families, while also improving their numeracy and literacy skills.
Couldn’t we at least pretend prison is designed as a punishment, and hand convicts cheap Android tablets as a deterrent instead?
“Prisoners spend a lot of time in cells, and we need to make that time more constructive,” said Sir Martin, former head of the prison service. “They should be meeting a tutor once a week, but doing work on literacy and numeracy on their own.”
Should this controversial idea (which, let’s face it, is completely barmy) come to fruition, the Ministry of Justice notes that it would need to take proper safeguards to stop prisoners contacting their former victims.
The plan is currently being considered by Dame Sally Coates, who is carrying out a review of education opportunities in prison. “If you haven’t got the skills to get a job, then you’re much more likely to reoffend,” she said.
Justice Minister Michael Gove will reportedly look over the proposals, although a final decision has not yet been made.
Source: Telegraph
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
