After playing around with the XO, Sugar and python I have managed to embed html into the application. Have a look at the first raw snapshots:

The user can choose available geomodules. Graphics for each plugin will follow..
These pictures were captured within the sugar emulator coming with Debian Linux Lenny. I’ll test it on an XO soon, to see, how it performs there.

Using openlayers in a gtk.widget as embedded html.
Sure, many functionality is still missing, but this will be a step-by-step process. First the basics, other tools and modules will follow iteratively. I appreciate any comments and ideas. Feel free to comment :).
I know that the XOs don’t necessarily have internet connections in rural areas. This is only a play-around, but most probably will become part of the geospace framework API. Besides that some offline raster georeferencing tools will also become part of the API.