RE: [DDN] Missing the point .....
Tom Brough writes: I know I cant change your mindset on this (but I have to try). What troubles me is not necessarily proprietary software itself, but the business practices of companies like Microsoft SCO. Hi again Tom, Once again thanks for the thoughtful reply - I do understand, and to a degree empathise with your stance on the business practices of these few companies (plus of course a few others we could mention!). Yet just perhaps you might also agree that not all companies are deserving of such derision, hence my concern when OSS is associated with a condemnation of all proprietary software developments; when the reality of a few is portrayed as a fact of all. Not only is this not factual, it's also just not proper or right. Leading from this, my greatest concern (and reason for initial comment) is that of Open Source Software loosing respect in global society's and markets when a minority of proponents condemn too freely that which they do not like, or perhaps simply do not understand in the context of cooperative software developments. Too often I find those most vocal about OSS actually have very little involvement with the concept. My own involvement with OSS has taken me around the world - from Sri Lanka to New York; from the extremes of having a machine-gun pointed at my mid-rift following and assassination by the Tigers of Tamil, to the horrors of the Tsunami intermingled with the glorious splendour of a Thai Andaman Sea sunset, to the daunting halls, professors and other academics of Harvard University where only last month I promoted our OSS offerings to a global gathering of humanitarian aid and disaster experts - Believe me, for a boy from the Aussie bush who travelled little beyond my country prior to an involvement with OSS this is a truly amazing, if personally very expensive journey... Yet greater than all of this the knowledge that our little OSS software project; the software I am involved with and along with other developers share a distinct passion, is right now helping people in Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and other disaster stricken communities right around the world. In a very tangible sense we are using OSS to help people survive and return their lives to normality. So Tom when you state that I know I cant change your mindset on this but I have to try... Please be aware that my mindset is very supportive of OSS, but through experience in this world of practicalities I also acknowledge that OSS is only a tiny subset of a much greater humanitarian effort; an effort that to be successful relies just as strongly on understanding and acceptance of the altruism inherent in a lot of proprietary software developments. I guess for me the bottom line here is that whilst I acknowledge your singular ideology, unfortunately I don't have the luxury of being able to share it, and continue to fear the potential for damage in such a singular focus. Who knows, maybe given enough time and effort I might even change your mindset to one of understanding the bigger picture where OSS and proprietary code together offer benefits to humanity :-) Cheers, Don ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] google sketchup for the mac has been released
hi Digital Divide Network people - google sketchup (the free 3D drawing program) has been released for macs. http://sketchup.google.com although google's sketchup site says that a 400 Mhz G4 Mac (or better) is required, this app runs fine on my iBook G3 (700 Mhz.) also, the google sketchup site says that mac os 10.4 is required. the installer for sketchup says that mac os 10.3 is required. since we dream in 3D, sketchup is a tool that lets us represent our dreams. - phil if you're new to sketchup, you might find this article useful. http://learningmoreaboutsketchup.blogspot.com sketchup is easy enough for first graders to use (it's being used in some first grade classrooms in north carolina) and is powerful enough to be used by colleges of architecture. -- Phil Shapiro [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/pshapiro http://philsrssfeed.blogspot.com http://www.his.com/pshapiro/stories.menu.html Wisdom starts with wonder. - Socrates Learning happens through gentleness. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Missing the point .....
Taran Rampersad asks: Perhaps you could tell us who insisted that some of your code be proprietary? Hi Taran, Great to hear from you again and I hope you are well - May I focus on your query separately to the main thread because the question is legitimate however I think something of a tangent... Just to offer mild correction, I did not state that anyone insisted that some of my code be proprietary, what I in fact wrote was: The formulae was itself proprietary and used with the permission of the authors. It was a condition placed on me that the formulae not be reverse-engineered - a not-so-subtle difference as I'm sure you will agree :-) The reasons for this, in fact the reasons for any code being made proprietary are just as demonstrative of the freedoms we all enjoy as OSS. We all have the freedom to disclose (OSS), we all have the freedom to with-hold (proprietary). I will never tell you about the pillow-talk between myself and my wife late at night :-) This is my freedom to with-hold; my freedom for proprietary content. A basic human right. OK, the example is a bit over the top... Nonetheless the point is valid. The formulae in question was a survivability model of the type used as an aid to decision-making by most senior emergency managers. It was developed by one of the worlds larger fire and rescue agencies and is one I have used during rescue scenarios several times. The concepts that underpin these formulae are impossible to detail in a single Email message, however by way of very brief summary... The decision to save a life or property; the decision that a life or property cannot be saved, is potentially so emotive as to be unworkable in a crisis emergency context. People make mistakes, place lives at risk, burn-out (or burn-up) trying to determine this simple bit of math... What are the odds that I may loose more lives in trying to save this single life - do I let them live, do I let them die? - Do I save the house or do I let it burn to the ground? - This is a fundamental question most senior rescue and emergency managers will face at some time or another. To help the process of answering this timeless, and timelessly difficult human question, we have a variety of formulae based on recognised models and modes of behaviour that include such aspects as the order of rescue (largest numbers at risk, groups etc.). The formulae itself is just a modelling calculation offering one of two potential answers based on a quick assessment of variables... Yes we take the risk, or, No, we do not take the risk. No big deal - just a bit of math. Enter the general public... Hero worship (rescuers post 911)... It is worth any risk to save a life (even at the loss of multiple lives)... Television images offering condemnation of firefighters standing by while a house burns (the ignorant masses unaware of an accumulation of explosive gasses)... A cop condemned for not drawing his/her weapon to shoot someone in the act of stealing a car (taking his pregnant wife to hospital?). A rescuer taking an extra minute to clothe in PPE so as to prevent a HIV infection. Most emergency agencies do not open these formulae to the general public for the simple reason of reactive media leading to unwarranted and ignorant condemnation. As this was the first time formulae of this type had been incorporated into software I was asked to make sure the formulae could not be reverse engineered. Just as with a great deal of other proprietary code, the reason had absolutely nothing to do with money or any other shareholder interests. Taran whether or not you agree with this reason is immaterial. You may argue that emergency services should make the formulae and underlying models public, or not... But such debate is beyond the scope of this thread. What matters is the way the software licensing model was driven by extraneous factors. It's not all a question of money. Trusting in your understanding - Don ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Membership of the UN Global Alliance governing bodies rejects/excludes the FOSS Movement from the overall process!
Fouad Riaz Bajwa wrote: I will not participate in such a biased forum and furthermore Civil Society FOSS movements should boycott such a biased meeting because we all know why this happens! The hidden political force that we are well aware of, buys out everyone in the process and right on time! I share your frustration, its yet another example of the daily struggle for recognition and survival that the free software community has to go through. However, traditionally the free software development model has involved collaboration rather than boycott as its main tool. Sometimes its hard to work with people who dont understand the model, structure, nature and benefits of the free software community, but we must lead by example and just keep trying. Lets concentrate on the positive aspects of our free software community: sharing, caring, collaboration, choice and innovation, to name but a few. On a positive note: both UNESCO and UNDP have collaborated with free software communities before. This is something worth celebrating. Tom. tom dot brough at blueyonder dot co dot uk ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Digitally Divided police departments
Hi all - I've been lurking here at DDN for some time and hve held back from contributing up until now, but I'll be throwing my hat into the ring from time to time from here on in. I've been working with VIA Technologies and various NGO's on PC proliferation for the BOP market and we're starting to reach some notable levels of success with various low-powerd solutions. The article I'd like to draw your attention towards here is unrelated to all of that, however, but is an interesting little article on the digital divide in Australian police departments, how it is affecting their ability to work, and how a simple web-savvy guy like myself had to do all of their police work for them. I'm hoping some of you will find it interesting and worthy of discussion. Intro: There is a reason they call the Internet the information super highway: because thats exactly what it is. Information is empowerment. Empowerment is something that one would expect a police department to have. But believe it or not, even in a developed country like Australia, Internet access is severely limited. And up until recently, for many stations it simply didnt exist. Many that do are limited to 56k dial up connections. And it most certainly prevents them from being able to do their work efficiently or at all. I found this out the hard way recently when my motorbike was stolen from my residence. As a result, have had to do a lot of my own police work. Thanks to the Internet, I have managed to nail down the offenders and have passed that information on the local police. In doing so, I inquired as to how they were unable to find the same sort of information that I had done and I was informed about their limited access to the web. Another reminder that the effects of the digital divide can be found everywhere. The following is a true story and you may well find it rather interesting. Full URL: http://www.viapc-1.com/index.php?option=com_contenttask=viewid=346Itemid=37 Best regards, Josh Holmes Managing Editor www.VIApc-1.com ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Teacher-proof ringtone hits the US
Hi, For anyone following 'Mosquito' stories http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/06/12/ringtone_adults_cannot_hear/ Teacher-proof ringtone hits the US A noise designed to drive kids out of shopping malls has been re-engineered as a ringtone which parents and teachers cannot hear. A Welsh security company markets Mosquito - a loudspeaker which emits an irritating high-pitched sound designed to drive kids away. Because the ability to hear high-pitched sounds declines with age, the noise cannot be heard by older people. And more... Ella Smith International Teledemocracy Centre Napier University 10 Colinton Road Edinburgh, EH10 5DT Telephone: +44 (0) 131 455 2392 Fax: +44 (0) 131 455 2282 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://itc.napier.ac.uk http://www.highlandyouthvoice.org/home.asp This message is intended for the addressee(s) only and should not be read, copied or disclosed to anyone else outwith the University without the permission of the sender. It is your responsibility to ensure that this message and any attachments are scanned for viruses or other defects. Napier University does not accept liability for any loss or damage which may result from this email or any attachment, or for errors or omissions arising after it was sent. Email is not a secure medium. Email entering the University's system is subject to routine monitoring and filtering by the University. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Missing the point .....
Right now there is a huge stink around the MS anti-piracy software, euphemistically called Windows Genuine Advantage. Turns out that they've been using their critical update feature to download and test new versions of this DRM/validation software. The thing phones home, effectively making it spyware, and although the truth was in the EULA fine print, MS was not at all clear about what the true nature of this critical update was. Pretty dirty. And all in the name of preventing folks from stealing their property; Windows. Furthermore, has anyone here ever had to call India to try to get a new product code for XP because after a reformat and reinstall the old product key doesn't work? Not that I have anything against keeping people in Bangalore employed - must be an extremely boring job, reading long strings of numbers out over the phone all day - but the point is, all this is being done in the name of rip-off or piracy prevention. Really annoying to be treated like a thief for trying to reinstall some software that went pear-shaped because it is full of holes and gets infected easily. Without that profit motive - at least not one as strong and all-encompassing as Microsoft's - none of this silliness would be necessary. We can argue all we want about the advantages of proprietary or open source software, but there's something wrong with the [proprietary] model when one has to prove ownership OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I own a house - do I need to show my title to it every time someone asks me who owns it? I own a car. O need to show a cop my license when he stops me - that's proof of my right to drive - and my registration - proof I've paid tax on the car - but I don't ever remember being asked to prove I own the thing! A royal pain in the ass. Jesse Sinaiko - Chicago, IL ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Membership of the UN Global Alliance governing bodies rejects/excludes the FOSS Movement from the overall process!
[EMAIL PROTECTED] said: However, traditionally the free software development model has involved collaboration rather than boycott as its main tool. I will also note that as I go through the lists of the steering committee, the advisory committee, the High-level Panel of Advisors, and the list of participants I seem to see a relatively balanced set of attendees. Granted, while I see IBM and Microsoft on the advisory committee, and no one directly from FOSS there, I also see at least three groups in the attendee list that list themselves as FOSS. I agree with Tom. We need to work through those who are going with collaboration. FOSS has gotten to where it is by convincing people that it is the way to go, not just standing back and yelling at them. md -- Jon maddog Hall Executive Director Linux International(R) email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 80 Amherst St. Voice: +1.603.672.4557 Amherst, N.H. 03031-3032 U.S.A. WWW: http://www.li.org Board Member: Uniforum Association Board Member Emeritus: USENIX Association (2000-2006) (R)Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in several countries. (R)Linux International is a registered trademark in the USA used pursuant to a license from Linux Mark Institute, authorized licensor of Linus Torvalds, owner of the Linux trademark on a worldwide basis (R)UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the USA and other countries. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Anyone in Rwanda
Hi, I am headed to Rwanda for some work related to communications and agricultural sales -- is there anyone on this list working in Rwanda either in this field or in telecenters or something ICT/Development-related? I'd be interested in hooking up with people on the field and exchange ideas. Please write back to me if you're working in or have connections in Rwanda and would like to know more about what we're doing, and would like to hook up. Best wishes, Joyojeet Pal [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://tier.cs.berkeley.edu ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Missing the point .....
While I disagree with the opportunisism that Microsoft utilises to pry into my computer under the guise of giving me a critical update, I really don't have a problem with Microsoft jealously guarding their software. Why shouldn't it be proper to prove you own the software before you re-install it? Comparing it with ownership of a house is not the same thing. A house cannot be copied inexpensively to a CD. Why not compare it to counterfeit currency? We would be annoyed at counterfeit currency being handed to us in payment of a bill or as change from a shop principly because I work hard to be able to have genuine money, yet someone else lives off the rest of us and hands over worthless pieces of paper to pay the same bills that I have to pay with my hard-earned cash. I am not pro-Microsoft, but I am not anti-Microsoft either, other than them employing devious means as outlined by Jesse, and Microsoft should realise that such tactics don't help their public image problems. What I cannot accept is that Microsoft has no right to check for counterfeit software. They do have a right, and as a person with not a single item of unlicensed software on my system, I hope they put a stop to people getting software illegally fo rthe price of a CD when I and others have to pay for the privilege. And yes there are times we have to prove we own things. When my house was burgled I had to prove that the recovered items were mine before I could have them back. The burglar was not happy when I could do so because then it was proof that he was in my house! One of my clients was shocked to find that every computer on their suite had non-genuine copies of Windows installed. This was traced back to the hardware provider who in turn traced it back to an employee who had taken the money for the licenses but installed Windows on every machine from the one disk. Quite frankly, routing out this sort of thing will help clean up the industry And when on the subject, if we become annoyed at Microsoft checking out whether software is valid or not, we must remember that manufacturers of other items do exactly the same thing. It's illegal to copy books, CDs, patented designs and works of art. So let's not scream and shout too loudly at Microsoft and save our breath for those times we really want them to listen, otherwise our genuine grievances will get lost in the background. Ken Callaghan Digital Communities Belfast Project Manager This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the originator of the message. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender. This message has been scanned for viruses and spam by SurfControl RiskFilter - E-mail. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] What's the Fuss about FOSS, Part 2: A Chat with David Thornburg
Hi everyone, I've just posted the second part of my two-part essay, What's the Fuss About FOSS?, which explores the role of free and open source software (FOSS) in K-12 education. In the second installment, I interview author and edtech expert David Thornburg, who's just released a new book about FOSS and education. http://www.pbs.org/learningnow permalink: http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/learning.now/2006/06/whats_the_fuss_about_fosspart_1.html digg it: http://digg.com/software/What_s_the_Fuss_About_FOSS_Part_2:_A_Chat_with_David_Thornburg thanks, andy -- -- Andy Carvin acarvin (at) edc . org andycarvin (at) yahoo . com http://www.andycarvin.com http://www.digitaldivide.net http://www.pbs.org/learningnow -- ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Add yourself to the DDN world map!
Hi everyone, Just for kicks, I've created a new DDN member map on Frappr.com. Frappr uses Google Maps to let you create a map showing the locations of people affiliated to a community of interest. With the Frappr map, DDN members can pinpoint their location in the world and let others know where they're located. Please feel free to try it out here: http://www.frappr.com/digitaldividenetworkmembers Would be curious to hear from any regular Frappr users if they think the tool could be useful to DDN. thanks, andy -- -- Andy Carvin acarvin (at) edc . org andycarvin (at) yahoo . com http://www.andycarvin.com http://www.digitaldivide.net http://www.pbs.org/learningnow -- ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Add yourself to the DDN world map!
Hi everyone, I've just added a new DDN community for hosting a copy of the map: http://www.digitaldivide.net/community/map You can use this page to explore the map or add your on pin to the map. It's also a featured community, so there's a link to the community on the homepage, under the name DDN Member Map. andy Andy Carvin wrote: Hi everyone, Just for kicks, I've created a new DDN member map on Frappr.com. Frappr uses Google Maps to let you create a map showing the locations of people affiliated to a community of interest. With the Frappr map, DDN members can pinpoint their location in the world and let others know where they're located. Please feel free to try it out here: http://www.frappr.com/digitaldividenetworkmembers Would be curious to hear from any regular Frappr users if they think the tool could be useful to DDN. thanks, andy -- -- Andy Carvin acarvin (at) edc . org andycarvin (at) yahoo . com http://www.andycarvin.com http://www.digitaldivide.net http://www.pbs.org/learningnow -- ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
