Hi Simon, I don't think its a big job initially. What I was talking about initially is just re-branding for political rather than any technical reason.
I also wouldn't use Ubuntu until it's clearer where that project is going. OpenSuse project has a much better tool for creating customised distros anyway. It could be created in a couple of hours once its decided how to brand it and what applications should go in it. Thanks Tim On 21 September 2011 23:27, Simon Vass <[email protected]> wrote: > Rocco, > > A lot of the functionality your describes to me sounds similar to the > objectives of the Suger Interface for OLPC. That could be a good place to > start. > > Hardware > > a) One the the craziest problems is currently although assembled computers > are tax free components are not. Surely that just encourages us to import > complete computers instead of building them in country. > > Second problem is to do it to scale requires a lot of effort and I am not > sure you can even compete against an OEM in china. > > b) There are lots of atom based board which consume little power and can be > run from Solar rigs. Problem is a solar rig still costs money, but cheap > 20-70W systems do exist, and are being touted by several firms in Ug. I would > suggest a partnership with one of these. > > c) Problem with portability is security, but roaming units does allow for > more coverage. > > Software > > a) That is just a case of time and work. Maybe a suggestion for the team > doing the Firefox project? It also requires you to have more connectivity > with Ubuntu, using their Wiki's and mailing lists. I have already set up the > Ubuntu Uganda Team, but never done anything with it, so it could be used as a > platform point. > > b) Personally I would give everyone a standard 10.x desktop probably avoid > Unity for now. I would not spend too much time making the GUI special. The > idea is to introduce people to the world of ICT. I have seen 65 year old > grandmothers take to a Ubuntu Netbook remix in 6 weeks well enough to train > others. The main thing is training and training materials. > > c) Lots of local content hosted by local institutions such as schools etc > might be a stop gap before people need to go full blown Internet. > > > I think the community has the knowledge, but the problem is time. What we are > proposing is a full time job for several people, at least initially. Some one > has to pay for that? > > Actually thinking instead of it being a not-for-profit, a for profit model > would be sustainable. > > > > > > > > > > > Simon Vass > Managing Director > E-Tech Uganda Ltd > > http://www.etech.ug > Tel: +256 (0) 312260620 or (0) 312260621 > email: [email protected] > skype: e-techservicedesk > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Rocco Radisch" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, 21 September, 2011 1:45:34 PM > Subject: Re: [LUG] Computers in Schools > > What we need is a distro which overcomes local challenges and is made to > appeal the local user. Mindsets are different, culture is different, > requirements and resources are different. That is a huge project if we > would take a few minutes and go into it a bit deeper. It also requires > to split the problem into hardware and software in my opinion. As it was > mentioned earlier here, new computers come in a package with > pre-installed software (usually). Especially, with bigger projects like > a few hundreds or thousands computers, MS makes sure to reduce prices > via Volume licenses, substitutions and funding. "They" know how to keep > them alive and what works for them should also work for FOSS (IMO). My > point is, the software has to be packaged with the hardware. > > If we look at hardware there are following issues to tackle: > a) cost - not everyone can afford computers. So, how we can we build and > assemble low cost units in Uganda. > b) power - how can those be powered in areas with little or no access to > power ( reduce energy consumption, solar? ). > c) Portability - given the low coverage of computers, they should be > portable/shareable -> laptops, smart phones ? > > Software: > > a) Language - steps have been taken, e.g. Firefox and Google in a few > local languages. What about a Ubuntu distro which can be switched into > different local languages. > b) User friendliness - a different mindsets means every user has a > different way how he wants to -USE- the computer and -EXPECTS- how the > computer (GUI) behaves and responds to his input. That is a problem in > UG because of ICT illiteracy, but also a blessing at the same time > because the user is not fixed to just one way (the MS Start button :-) ) > c) Connectivity. One of the major problems. Imagine, in urban areas or > in areas like Universities we might achieve a high coverage of computers > with standard wireless adapters but only very few will be able to afford > internet connectivity. > > Problem no 1) Mentioned a dozens of times here, there is little local > content. Facebook, Youtube and the like, what the user really wants to > use requires costly bandwidth to serve content/services from abroad. We > can't blame the user for that. We can't tell the user to only use the > computer for particular purposes. You buy a laptop for your kid as a > research tool for school/university, well, 50% Games, 30% Facebook, 10% > Youtube and 10% homework. The user steers the demand. Question is, would > users start to use other but similar services if access is free and have > a local touch? Or, would it just kill the coolness? > 2) Peer to peer / Mesh systems. Imagine, every re-mastered or customised > distro has a custom developed application stack. Think of games, social > media, video sharing, picture sharing, chat/IM, VoIP (calls), name it. > Now, imagine we have a high density of computers with wireless adapters > which can build upon detection a self healing and self connecting > network. The more computers with this ability, the more bandwidth and > stability (to a certain limit). The user can simply activate > applications or content he wants to use or share and invite "nearby" > friends. The result would be an incredible pool of possibilities, not > needing access to costly bandwidth and dependency of any service > provider to give access to these services. > > Creativity and possibilities are only limited by our minds. To build a > custom network driver into a UG re-mastered Distro is possible. I am not > saying its easy but it could reach its own status and coolness, and > usually with that its possible to reach masses. And what the users wants > is connectivity and communication services (for free). My point is, just > to re-master an Ubuntu distro with some favourite apps of one user, it > won't gain this coolness, it won't reach the masses in my opinion. > > What do you think? What is your opinion as community? Where are we at? > How strong can the community be to put things together? Do we have the > resources yet? > Rocco > > > On 21/09/2011 12:16 PM, Tim Schofield wrote: >> Politically (rather than technically or financially) the thing to do >> is to produce a respin that has Ugandan/East African branding on it. >> >> Politicians don't care about the technical benefits of Free software >> and if its cheap then that just means their cut from any deal is >> reduced (oops I didn't really say that did I?), but if they can say >> they have done the patriotic thing by buying local then that is >> something they will be keen to get in the media. >> >> Maybe a centralised non-profit organisation can produce it so that >> then private companies can sell hardware with it on to the schools. >> Maybe? >> >> Tim >> >> >> On 20 September 2011 17:08, Reinier Battenberg >> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> I dont want to bid. I just want the kids to be free & use FLOSS. >>> >>> What if we did a petition? >>> >>>> Well in that case it would be ok. >>>> >>>> The question would therefore be to partner with a suitable hardware >>>> supplier >>> and produce a suitable build for users up country. Maybe even an experiment >>> where we install half with Windows have with Ubuntu and see which ares >>> better. >>> It does require some thought for example what additional hardware is >>> required >>> to work with the computers. Our box shifter friends tend to give up very >>> easily if they can not just install the Printer drivers. >>>> So the question might be to contact UCC. However they most likely will tell >>> you to tender along with everyone else. >>>> >>>> >>>> Simon Vass >>>> Managing Director >>>> E-Tech Uganda Ltd >>>> >>>> http://www.etech.ug >>>> Tel: +256 (0) 312260620 or (0) 312260621 >>>> email: [email protected] >>>> skype: e-techservicedesk >>>> >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Reinier Battenberg" <[email protected]> >>>> To: "Uganda Linux User Group" <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, 20 September, 2011 5:02:41 PM >>>> Subject: Re: [LUG] Computers in Schools >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> its funded by the Rural xx xx Fund (the extra tax on your airtime that is >>>> to >>>> make sure there is connectivity in non-urban areas too) >>>> >>>> so, its a pure UCC thing, it seems. >>>> >>>>> The biggest problem we face is the current curriculum is Windows only. >>>>> We would need to change that in order for the students to be able to >>>>> learn using FLOSS. >>>>> >>>>> Is this a UCC not a MoE deal? >>>>> >>>>> Simon >>>>> >>>>> On 20 September 2011 15:40, Reinier Battenberg >>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> Hi, >>>>>> >>>>>> Today there is a Bid Notice in the Monitor to supply 130 schools in >>> Uganda >>>>>> with computers. There is not much more information in the advertisement. >>>>>> >>>>>> For the interest of the students, I think it would be very benifitial if >>>> the >>>>>> computers would run FLOSS. There are a few arguments for that, which I >>>> think >>>>>> UCC should take into consideration when assigning the final bid. >>>>>> >>>>>> This being the LUG, i presume there are quite a number of people on this >>>> list >>>>>> that agree with me. >>>>>> >>>>>> What can we, as a community do, to get our point across to UCC and allow >>>> these >>>>>> 130 schools to run software that they can maintain, learn, translate and >>>>>> extend? >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> rgds, >>>>>> >>>>>> Reinier Battenberg >>>>>> Director >>>>>> Mountbatten Ltd. >>>>>> +256 758 801 749 >>>>>> www.mountbatten.net >>>>>> http://twitter.com/batje >>>>>> http://twitter.com/mapuganda >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >>>>>> >>>>>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >>>> [email protected] >>>>>> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>>>> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>>>>> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >>>>>> >>>>>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >>>> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>>>>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >>> any >>>> way. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Simon Vass >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >>>>> >>>>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >>> [email protected] >>>>> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>>> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>>>> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >>>>> >>>>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >>>> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>>>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >>> any >>>> way. >>>> -- >>>> rgds, >>>> >>>> Reinier Battenberg >>>> Director >>>> Mountbatten Ltd. >>>> +256 758 801 749 >>>> www.mountbatten.net >>>> http://twitter.com/batje >>>> http://twitter.com/mapuganda >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >>>> >>>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >>>> [email protected] >>>> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>>> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >>>> >>>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >>> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >>> any >>> way. >>>> -- >>>> This message has been scanned for viruses and >>>> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is >>>> believed to be clean. >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >>>> >>>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: >>>> [email protected] >>>> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>>> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >>>> >>>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >>> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >>> any >>> way. >>> -- >>> rgds, >>> >>> Reinier Battenberg >>> Director >>> Mountbatten Ltd. >>> +256 758 801 749 >>> www.mountbatten.net >>> http://twitter.com/batje >>> http://twitter.com/mapuganda >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug >>> >>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: [email protected] >>> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >>> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug >>> >>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: >>> http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >>> >>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in >>> any way. >>> >> >> > _______________________________________________ > The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug > > Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: [email protected] > Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug > To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug > > The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: > http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in any > way. > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > > _______________________________________________ > The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug > > Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: [email protected] > Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug > To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug > > The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: > http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in any > way. > -- WebERP Africa Ltd +447710427049 +256752963327 +255758554413 www.weberpafrica.com _______________________________________________ The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: [email protected] Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in any way.
