On Sat, 2006-07-22 at 23:03 +0100, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Their targeted audience is one I'd most expect to appreciate Free > Software, so I was hoping the ICT Hub would promote it. However, > from the outset (when they started publishing documents and > questionnaires in MSWord format) they have shown very little > appreciation of the issues. To get some idea of how confused some > of them are, just see the bewildering conclusion of this excerpt:
I agree there is a problem here :( > "[...] Word doesn't let me open (or at least not automatically) > something which has been saved in Open Office. I'm all for open > standards, but if someone is sending me documents which I know 95% > of my fellow users can't open unless they install some open source > software, how is that any more open?" > http://www.icthub.org.uk/cms/opencms/icthub/articles/Open_Source.htm > l There is an opportunity to mention that data locked into proprietary formats has a lifespan that is dictated by the vendor rather than the organisation that relies on that data. > They mention 'open source' a few other times on their website, but > sometimes they seem to be encouraging fear and doubt. Occasionally > they say things that are just wacky: > > "Open Source software is written using less powerful computers, > which don’t need to be upgraded as often as they promote and adhere > to common standards and formats." > http://www.icthub.org.uk/cms/opencms/icthub/how_we_can_help/opensour > ce_02.html How bizarre! They seem to be keen to pass on information about Free Software but a lot of it is very misguided - possibly deliberately so, but I think lack of understanding is the problem. > With their current stance, I think the ICT Hub could be detering > community-minded organisations from adopting or even investigating > Free Software! So, I think we should do something. Yes - I agree > > Perhaps we could start by writing to The ICT Hub, to politely ask > them to correct the most inaccurate/moronic/derisive statements on > their website, to acknowledge that Free Software has broader social > implications, and to provide open-format alternatives to the many > Word documents they offer for download. Fortunately, the current > ICT Hub website was only launched this month. Before that the site > was hideous and inaccessible, so very few people have probably read > it. At this early stage we may be able to convince them to revise > their content on 'open source' before much damage is done. > > If you are interested, please can you help me to critique their > site, and write a persuasive letter to them? First I think we need > to find their most fallacious and objectionable statements. We can > also collect good examples of self-contradictions in their content, > to show how confusing their advice can be. I'll write a draft letter tomorrow and we can knock it into shape. Do you have an idea who to address these concerns to? Thanks ~sm
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