Open source fans might also be interested in OSS Watch - a new Open Source Software advisory service set up by the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC).
http://www.oss-watch.ac.uk/ John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Simon Yuill" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2003 10:09 AM Subject: <ambit> Fw: Summer Open Source Camp on Vis Island (Croatia) > > > On Thursday, July 10, 2003, at 01:27 AM, geert lovink wrote: > > http://www.tacticaltech.org/summersource/ > > > The non-profit sector (often called Non Governmental Organizations or > NGO's) has heard much about free and open source software (F/OSS) in the > past few years. Many who have looked into software for their organizations > are aware of the arguments for choosing an open source route. However, > most of us are still using Microsoft products, and other proprietary > solutions. A critical barrier in this transition is the lack of > information about practical implementations, coupled with a lack of > connection between implementers of open source solutions and the F/OSS > developers with whom they need to work. > > Summer Source will address these issues in an eight-day series of > workshops, skillshares, and structured discussions in which implementers > and developers are brought together to learn and share. The camp will > foster the practical skills needed in both groups to bring open source > solutions to fruition in the non-profit environment, while offering a > space in which this nascent, regional community can firmly take hold. > > Tactical Tech Amsterdam, Multimedia Institute Croatia and the Open Society > Institute's Information Program have pooled resources to take the summer > camp forward. We are approaching this as the first of a series of regional > events that will build the local F/OSS capacity. > > Summer Source will focus on open source education for two distinct > technology-savvy groups: developers, who create the software, and > implementers, who guide non-profit organizations through technology > strategizing. During the camp, developers and implementers will attend > separate, tailored workshops as well as numerous shared sessions. > > Implementers will emerge with hands-on experience in standard open-source > desktop software, coupled with a greater appreciation for the challenges > and opportunities in helping non-profits select a practical set of open > source tools. For these participants, the camp will create a practical > awareness of F/OSS choices; they will leave understanding clearly what > works, what doesn't, and how they can help their organizations to make > informed choices. Upon completion of camp, implementers will possess the > requisite skills to set up a small NGO office entirely using open source > solutions, while also knowing who they can call for assistance. > > Developers at Summer Source will learn how they can apply their skills and > knowledge to make a significant impact in the work of NGO's, and be > encouraged to inspire others to do the same. Sessions will address > funding issues, marketplace models, and relevant legal and policy issues > as well as strategic processes and models for F/OSS development. > Particular attention will be paid to development models that focus on > end-users and the support of sustainable developer communities. And of > course, developers will get to show each other the latest and greatest in > F/OSS technology and trends, in a setting designed to maximize discussion > and networking opportunities. > > A substantial portion of the gathering will be devoted to shared sessions > bringing implementers and developers together for discussion, > brainstorming, alliance building and visioning for the future. > > The sessions and content will evolve based on the input of participants > and facilitators in the weeks leading up to camp as we strive to create > the most effective and valuable of all possible gatherings. However, all > changes will continue to reflect the intended outcomes of the camp's > agenda. > > Summer Source is jointly organized by Tactical Technology Collective > Amsterdam and Multimedia Institute Croatia. It is funded by the > Information Program of the Open Society Institute. > > About the Tactical Technology Collective > > Tactical Tech stands at the crossroads of the NGO and technology sectors. > Through building links between them, we aim to help establish an > accessible baseline of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) > needed by all NGOs (i.e. if applicable computers, internet access, e-mail, > mobile communications, etc.) and their integration beyond rudimentary > usage into an integrated strategic tool for planning, advocacy & > campaigning. > > > We do this through promoting the use of low-cost and "no-cost" technology, > free and open-source software, community based expertise and consultancy > to strengthen civil-society organizations and networks. Through our work > we hope to show how ICTs can mobilize and activate people divided by > geography, economical status and divisive histories. Through our past > experiences there are three significant areas through which new > technologies can most appropriately address some of the major problems > faced by the non-profit sector. Our work, therefore, primarily focusses on > these interrelated areas: the local NGO technology sector, the development > of tools and materials, and the application of these within transnational > issue networks. > > Multimedia Institute (www.mi2.hr) > > Multimedia Institute - mi2 is a citizen association, non-profit, > non-governmental organization founded in mid 1999 as a spin-off project of > Open Society Institute Croatia (actually it's former Internet program), > with the aim to promote and educate in new technologies and new media > culture, working predominantly in the fields of new media culture, digital > technology R&D&D (research/development/deployment), social activism, > cultural management (policy, advocacy and networking). > > In response to the present needs and interests of its members, mi2 > transformed from a narrow educational/service project into an organisation > that carries out a wide range of independent projects and programs based > (mostly) at the location of net.culture club "mama" (from May 2000) and > mi2lab (from spring 2002). > > Through the concept of net.culture, mi2 promotes different approaches to > the issues raised by new technologies, media and contemporary culture, by > bringing together civil (activists), tactical media and art scene. Through > the project of networking with similar cyber caffes, independent cultural > centers and public initiatives that reflect on these issues, we want to > promote new cultural policy that makes use of the amplifying effect > imbodied in information technologies and new media, but also human > resources into efficient networking. > > During the year 2000 and especially after the opening of the "mama" club, > Multimedia Institute brought together a 6 full-time members team (6 > full-time employed, 5 person on honoraria) and approx. 10 part-time > associates. The increased number of active members and collaborators leads > to an increased number of activities and creation of new projects for > which we hope to spin-off in the future. > > "These guys are on top of all things cool, and your first second inside > will tell you this is true. The music is delirious, and a young and hip > crowd of eclectic and curious characters display faces that appear > especially insightful. Expect interesting conversation, great music, > internet, drinks and multi-media showings that will get that brain of > yours tuned into a larger terrain of consideration. Phenomenal." > > Those wishing to attend Summer Source are asked to complete an application > form. These applications will help us in selecting a diverse and > passionate group of people working on F/OSS solutions for NGO's. > > Deadline for applications is 17th July, 2003 > > > Applications may be submitted via email > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > The application form can be downloaded in three formats: > > application.rtf (RTF Format) > application.txt (UNIX/LINUX text format) > application_ms-dos.txt(Windows text format) > > For general information please contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > The fee for each participant is EUR 150. > > ------------------------------------------------- > a m b i t : networking media arts in scotland > post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > archive: http://www.mediascot.org/ambit > info: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > and write "info ambit" in the message body > ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- a m b i t : networking media arts in scotland post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] archive: http://www.mediascot.org/ambit info: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and write "info ambit" in the message body -------------------------------------------------
