In a message dated 3/22/2005 12:16:08 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Are you familiar with Public Library of Science (www.plos.org)? They're > creating a collection of peer-reviewed, open access journals on a > variety of scientific topics. So far they have journals on biology, > computational biology, pathogens, genetics and a general science > journal. > > PLoS is putting the financial burden on the scientists who submit papers > for consideration; that way, the cost comes out of the scientists' > research budgets and it allows PLoS to publish the journals for free. > Over time I hope they'll have a wide range of disciplines covered, since > many of the major commercial journals simply won't allow their work to > be published under an open-access model because they don't think it's > financially viable. Hello everyone in the community, My name is Chad Washington and I am a new responder to the forum although long time list member. In response to the Open Access scenario, it is my opinion based on some factual data that non-profits can have an open access policy for just about every knowledge base and process. For example, Time Technical Institute www.tti-pgh.com has launch an ambitious effort to provide open access to a 6800 course library for beginner, intermediate and advanced distance learning in technology, business management, financial, marketing, HR, leadership, sales, project management, consumer behaviors, life skill, job readiness, IT certification test prep, etc. The content is co-developed by manufactures and universities i.e., Cisco, Microsoft, Linux, Unix, IBM, Wharton School of Business, GW University, Drexel and others. At present Harvard, Duquesne, Pittsburgh and East Stroudsburg University faculty are working in unison to with TTI to expand the content through the customization of there course. TTI use wireless and satellite Internet appliances as delivery vehicle for its applications, for very importanr reasons. The scope of service is to 1) aggregate the cost for voice, video, data and Internet through shared private networks, which will hopefully drive the cost down to $5 for broadband throughput, once it is all said and done; 2) provide a share platform for distance learning as a mechanism to bridge the DD, reduce the achievement gap between, and to offer a fast tract job-oriented window of opportunity (9mo - 3 yrs) for IT certification and employment through 24 x 7 x 365 access, which includes online teacher and mentors. We also include in the content a state approved high school diploma program (not GED) for over compulsory age and drug and alcohol and behaviorial health wrap around support, through state certified counselors working in a virtual environment with external site support. Additionally, TTI offers surplus computers to low income people through the Federal Surplus Computer program. Our goal is to put a computer in every household, classroom, childcare facility, community organization, and library and connect them via a share private network. Hopefully, TTI will acquire enough users to the network that the economy of scale will reduce the total cost of ownership of service. The challenge is getting there! Once we have significantly shared the content, broadband connectivity for voice, video, data and Internet, TTI hopes to add remote IT life cycle management through the same wireless and satellite links. This effort will help the nonprofit community get above the fray for IT engineers and the cost thereof. Services include Windows and UNIX computer network administration for desk tops and servers, software and patch upgrades, disaster recovery, network management, database management, web hosting and emails and live help desk services. These efforts will be fulfilled through community and university service learning programs with partnering universities and businesses and regular TTI staff and consultants. With everything being equal we should be able to charge $5 per pc and $10 per server for the full Monty. As a Public Foundation it is my hope as a member of the executive team that TTI can reduce the fees even further, if possible. Moreover, using satellite we have no line of sight issues to deal with so, we are working with the governments of Gambia, Kenya, Senegal, as well as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Indianapolis at present. There are of course commercial implications as well that would position us to leverage the infrastructure to provide business service, especially to developing countries. In conclusion, yes it can be done and I believe will be successful on a number of levels including economically, socially, technologically and most of all psychologically. Also, as a senior member of the team, I can say that we are interested in working with the DDN to share the infrastructure, if interested. Regards Chad Washington Vice President Operations Time Technical Institute 211 N. Whitfield Street, Suite 240 Pittsburgh, PA 15206-3004 Voice: 1.877.362.1225 x 13 Fax: 412.362.1220 http://www.tti-pgh.com _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [email protected] 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.
