Neil Schneider wrote:
<snip>
If someone has a suggestion for a better community outreach project that we
can do, we welcome it. Josh Penix requested we come up with projects that the
SDCS can tackle as a group. The goal is to provide some camaraderie amongst
the SIGs and provide some reason d'etre for SDCS other than just being the
umbrella group for the SIGs.
So, as I understand what Neil is saying above this topic was brought up
at the last KPLUG meeting and its stated goal is to provide a reason for
the existence of the San Diego Computer Society (other than a forum for
people who love endless meetings and questionable politics) and to
foster camaraderie between the member SIG's of the SDCS.
Okay, so do an inventory of the available talent. Which SIGa have strong
PC/MAC hardware backgrounds? Which SIGs have strong interests in
programming? Which SIGs are really good with Operating Systems? Are
there any SIGs that are particularly talented in doing UI design and
configuration? Who on the Board of the SDCS is adept at organizing
diverse talent and building teams that can attack multiple level
problems within a project management framework? And do not forget that
anyone from any SIG who is a good communicator might play a role as a
front-line presenter and mentor to use the project resources.
George Geller suggested:
> For an SDCS charity project we could make Linux starter kits that
> would have a CD or DVD and some printed documentation. We could
> give/loan/sell them to libraries, churches, library friends clubs,
> senior centers, etc.
Neil Schneider suggested:
> Some members of KPLUG have worked to produce a document
> http://www.kernel-panic.org/Members/pacneil/beginner/ Perhaps
> we can add to this a little and make it part of the package
> that George is suggesting.
Carl Lowenstein added:
> Think about whether this is a project for the enhancement and greater
> glory of SDCS, or something private to KPLUG. I believe it is
> supposed to be the former.
Randall Shimizu asked:
> It would be helpful to distribute a set of CD's like Ubuntu with also
> a set of bookmarks or a browser to display a page with a list of help
> llnks. I am wondering if Fry's or stores like Best Buy would be
> willing to accept some Linux CD's for customers.? Or would they
> consider this a conflict with their existing packaged Linux sales.?
Rick Carlson made these observations:
1) Hardware is becoming more of an appliance than anything else.
a) Any library PC or School lab PC will usually have a hard drive
attached to it and those people who are responsible for it will
freak if you suggest installing anything to that hard disk.
b) But if that PC can boot off of a Live CD and become a Linux
machine for the duration it is booted under the Live CD, with the
ability to use an attached printer, the ability to write CD's for
storage, and network/Internet connectivity then it becomes just
another toaster that makes really neat toast.
c) Drop in to any Kinko's and look how they have their computers set
up to be rented. The only difference? Presumably there is no plan
to 'rent' the computers to the Users.
d) Remove the CD and reboot. Everything goes back to normal.
No harm, no foul.
2) If you are lucky you can standardize the hardware so that if
anything goes wrong it is simply a case of fixing the hardware with
on-hand parts, boot to Live CD and you were down for less than half
an hour. This is similar to the idea of an Operational Amplifier or
Op-AMP. It becomes a block diagram where you swap out the block that
failed.
a) Set up a spares plan and your Library or PC Lab staff can learn to
change out cards, power supplies, memory, keyboards, mice, and
monitors.
3) Get your programmers and UI specialists to work together to establish
a base set of Open Source Applications that will meet the majority of
the needs of your customers.
a) As the project develops and needs change you put together an
updated Live CD. The hardware doesn't change, the boot CD does.
b) If the project grows big enough you transition to a Live DVD
4) Once you have standardized the hardware, standardized the Live CD,
and recruited a cadre of trainers turn them loose to introduce the
machines and software to end users.
I realize that I posted an awful lot of info in my last post but I think
the info below bears repeating:
George asked:
> Will they actually get used?
They might if a cadre of Linux savy folks offered to hand-hold would-be
beginners. Linux has come a very long way from the days when you had to
knows refresh rates on your monitor just so you could configure
X-windows. And Ubuntu has made things as painless as they know how but
it is still daunting for beginners.
And, George asked:
> How can we get some assurance that the librarian won't just toss them?
Show that you are invested. Join Friends of the Library. Offer to help
out at the library. They need people who have time to invest in reading
programs for small children and tutoring/mentoring bright young kids who
might not have the resources you did when you were growing up.
Librarians serve the whole community with their library. Help them be
successful and they will champion what you are interested in.
Rick
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