BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click Online | Kenya pilots Pocket PC education: "They are wi-fi enabled and run on licence-free open source software to keep costs down.
'The e-slates contain all the sorts of information you'd find in a textbook and a lot more,' said Eduvision co-founder Maciej Sudra.
'They contain textual information, visual information and questions. Within visual information we can have audio files, we can have video clips, we can have animations."
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Welcome to the Freedom Toaster Website | Freedom Toaster
Welcome to the Freedom Toaster Website | Freedom Toaster: "The Freedom Toaster is a conveniently located, self-contained ‘Bring 'n Burn' facility, where users bring their own blank discs and make copies of the open source software they require.
But why do we need this?
The Freedom Toaster project began as a means of overcoming the difficulty in obtaining Linux and Open Source software due to the restrictive telecommunications environment in South Africa, where the easy downloading of large pieces of software is just not possible."
But why do we need this?
The Freedom Toaster project began as a means of overcoming the difficulty in obtaining Linux and Open Source software due to the restrictive telecommunications environment in South Africa, where the easy downloading of large pieces of software is just not possible."
BBC NEWS | Technology | Opening up challenges to Microsoft
BBC NEWS | Technology | Opening up challenges to Microsoft: "But Microsoft is facing a much bigger problem than lack of interest in its new OS, a problem that cannot easily be solved by spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a marketing campaign or signing up a well-known band to promote it as the Rolling Stones did with Windows 95.
The problem is GNU/Linux, a beast they cannot destroy and cannot seem to tame, a beast that is encroaching on their markets by offering an alternative to the closed development and licensed software model that has made Microsoft rich."
The problem is GNU/Linux, a beast they cannot destroy and cannot seem to tame, a beast that is encroaching on their markets by offering an alternative to the closed development and licensed software model that has made Microsoft rich."
IEEE Spectrum : The African Hacker
Feature Article: "Why doesn't Soft write everything in Linux, the open-source language available for little or no cost? It would seem a no-brainer for a software entrepreneur in a desperately poor region of the world. Not so, and the reasons show why Chinery-Hesse is no ordinary third-world software tycoon. Linux is simply impractical for his purposes. 'It can't be used for serious business,' he says, because it would be too easy for employees of a business to learn to use—and abuse—the source code of essential programs.'"
So big European insurance companies, or Africas biggest bank or Munich and so on take a great risk with that the IT-managers will make bogus reports if they feel too disappointed with their wages? Or that there will be no software developers left in Norway if the Norwegian public sector plan "e-Norge 2005-2009" follows it planned path?
I dont think that open source developers in companies like Morgan Stanley will hesitate to sell their homegrown code, better to release it under GPL and get it back even better for the purpose of their core business in what they really earn money. If cannonical for example want to sell support to Ubuntu, they have to develop good code so that many people use it.
It seems to me as Chinery-Hesse is making an unrealistic assumption to talk about the needs for software as a finite space, but it helps for the purpose to convince people that closed source is the only serious way to make business. Busness want customized solutions, just as I want a personalized Firefox 100 times more than a one size fits all Internet Explorer. Then there will be an enormously need for software developers, that bring economic growth. Its like putting the Niger river into a hole in the desert because there is some Nigerian water sellers that want higher profit. I dont think one is making economic growth for other than the watersellers in this way.
Today I think the new microfinance software is making inroads into this banking system as a secure way to control the payback.
So big European insurance companies, or Africas biggest bank or Munich and so on take a great risk with that the IT-managers will make bogus reports if they feel too disappointed with their wages? Or that there will be no software developers left in Norway if the Norwegian public sector plan "e-Norge 2005-2009" follows it planned path?
I dont think that open source developers in companies like Morgan Stanley will hesitate to sell their homegrown code, better to release it under GPL and get it back even better for the purpose of their core business in what they really earn money. If cannonical for example want to sell support to Ubuntu, they have to develop good code so that many people use it.
It seems to me as Chinery-Hesse is making an unrealistic assumption to talk about the needs for software as a finite space, but it helps for the purpose to convince people that closed source is the only serious way to make business. Busness want customized solutions, just as I want a personalized Firefox 100 times more than a one size fits all Internet Explorer. Then there will be an enormously need for software developers, that bring economic growth. Its like putting the Niger river into a hole in the desert because there is some Nigerian water sellers that want higher profit. I dont think one is making economic growth for other than the watersellers in this way.
Today I think the new microfinance software is making inroads into this banking system as a secure way to control the payback.
Media Lab Asia -- Research RECOMMENDED READING!
Media Lab Asia -- Research: "Realizing Gandhi's vision of a sustainable village through culturally appropriate use of new technologies. Our goal is to create a sustainable digital ecology that maintains traditional values and community while opening economic and expressive opportunities. The twin themes of the Digital Village projects are tools that empower invention and expression, and advanced financial tools for rural markets."
MIT is doing a really really good job, and the 100 dollar laptop is a part of this too.
WHAT CAN THE RICH COUNTRIES DO? FIRST OF ALL, DONT STOP THE DEVELOPING WORLD IN WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
MIT is doing a really really good job, and the 100 dollar laptop is a part of this too.
WHAT CAN THE RICH COUNTRIES DO? FIRST OF ALL, DONT STOP THE DEVELOPING WORLD IN WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
MyADSL: Broadband Internet Community
MyADSL: Broadband Internet Community: "UniNet chief executive office David Jarvis told ITWeb at the African WiFi Summit 2005 in Cape Town yesterday that his company had signed a contract, worth an initial R2.5 million, with the Southern Cape town.
"
"
Friday, July 29, 2005
Why use Open Source when Microsoft products are so cheap...? | Webjunk
Why use Open Source when Microsoft products are so cheap...? | Webjunk: "Firstly, they need a copy of the software they use at school, obtainable in only two ways: Legally or illegally. Microsoft has cleverly made available an 'Educational Version' of their Office pack, obtainable for about 1/4 of the cost of the commercial package, for the students to do their homework. The price of this 1/4 pack is still prohitive for many users, who then choose to get a pirated copy or miss out on the computer based homework option. This 1/4 priced solution is also 'off-limits' for mum to do her business correspondance, even though she owns the computer it is installed on. She'll have to fork out the money for the full version (which, luckily enough, her kids can use for homework as well ;-)"
Audacity: About Audacity
Audacity: About Audacity: "Audacity is a free, easy-to-use audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. You can use Audacity to:
* Record live audio.
* Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
* Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV sound files.
* Cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together.
* Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
* And more! See the complete list of features."
* Record live audio.
* Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
* Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV sound files.
* Cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together.
* Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
* And more! See the complete list of features."
Codec specialist ports wide range of codecs to Linux
Codec specialist ports wide range of codecs to Linux: "MainConcept preparing to release a family of codecs that will support Linux, among other software platforms."
Dag Hammarskjöld - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dag Hammarskj�ld - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "On July 29, 2005, exactly 100 years after Hammarskj�ld's birth, the Norwegian Major General Bj�rn Egge gave an interview to the newspaper Aftenposten on the events surrounding his death. According to Egge, who was the first UN-officer to see the body, Hammarskj�ld had a hole in his forehead, and this hole was subsequently airbrushed from photos taken of the body. It appeared Hammarskj�ld had been thrown from the plane, and grass and leafs in his hands could indicate that he survived the crash, and had tried to scramble away from the wreckage. Egge’s statement confirms earlier speculations.[1]
Hammarskj�ld posthumously received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961."
I have one question: When a former President in Red Cross Norway, and General Major say something that he has seen by his own eyes, and one could not expect that anyone would push him to say this, then I think the truth in his testemony is more than 80 percent. People in Norway or Sweden (included myself), mostly believe that our politicians playing after the same rules international as domestic. Dont believe this to much, their evil capasity dont stand much behind the African dictators or anyone else. They still dont play Ludo internationally, look at Iraq.
Hammarskj�ld posthumously received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961."
I have one question: When a former President in Red Cross Norway, and General Major say something that he has seen by his own eyes, and one could not expect that anyone would push him to say this, then I think the truth in his testemony is more than 80 percent. People in Norway or Sweden (included myself), mostly believe that our politicians playing after the same rules international as domestic. Dont believe this to much, their evil capasity dont stand much behind the African dictators or anyone else. They still dont play Ludo internationally, look at Iraq.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
NANOTECHNOLOGY: Small Things and Big Changes in the Developing World -- Hassan 309 (5731): 65 -- Science
NANOTECHNOLOGY: Small Things and Big Changes in the Developing World -- Hassan 309 (5731): 65 -- Science: "Small Things and Big Changes in the Developing World"
Very optimistic article, but I believe it is very dangerous to be so optimistic. The rich world is defending their economical interests with starting wars when necessary, but they will try the "soft-power" methods first.
Very optimistic article, but I believe it is very dangerous to be so optimistic. The rich world is defending their economical interests with starting wars when necessary, but they will try the "soft-power" methods first.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Is IE 7 Really Firefox Lite?
Is IE 7 Really Firefox Lite?: "Previews of IE 7 available via the Vista (formerly Longhorn) beta show that what we can expect is primarily Firefox Lite. The newest version of IE takes some of Firefox's better features, but for now doesn't improve on them, or even always match them."
Techworld.com - Linux vendors cosy up to Debian to push into enterprise
Techworld.com - Linux vendors cosy up to Debian to push into enterprise: "Murdock believes the DCC faces lower hurdles in its own convergence project, because its members are already using Debian-based technology, which is already the second most widely used Linux distribution after Red Hat, by many counts."
With RedHat, Debian Core Consortium, Linux Core Consortium and Novell, the picture becomes more organized in the enterprise world. This seems to be a very "healthy" development because it gives choices to people. The Linux Standard Base that all major Linux distribution join secure the compatibility and low barriers to migrate between systems. Debian is the second biggest distribution, and unlike the others commited to the social contract to always be "free as in free speech" and "free as in free beer".
With RedHat, Debian Core Consortium, Linux Core Consortium and Novell, the picture becomes more organized in the enterprise world. This seems to be a very "healthy" development because it gives choices to people. The Linux Standard Base that all major Linux distribution join secure the compatibility and low barriers to migrate between systems. Debian is the second biggest distribution, and unlike the others commited to the social contract to always be "free as in free speech" and "free as in free beer".
BitTorrent - Introduction
BitTorrent - Introduction: "What is BitTorrent?
BitTorrent is a free speech tool.
BitTorrent gives you the same freedom to publish previously enjoyed by only a select few with special equipment and lots of money. ('Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one' -- journalist A.J. Liebling.)"
BitTorrent is a free speech tool.
BitTorrent gives you the same freedom to publish previously enjoyed by only a select few with special equipment and lots of money. ('Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one' -- journalist A.J. Liebling.)"
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb): "Visited by over 27 million movie lovers each month!
Welcome to the Internet Movie Database, the biggest, best, most award-winning movie site on the planet."
Welcome to the Internet Movie Database, the biggest, best, most award-winning movie site on the planet."
Nanotech’s “Second Nature” Patents: Implications for the Global South
“When you control the atoms, you control just about everything.” – Dr. Richard Smalley,1996 Nobel laureate for his discovery of fullerenes (buckyballs).2
“…patents will cast a larger shadow over nanotech than they have over any other modern science at acomparable stage of development.” – Mark A. Lemley, Stanford Law School
“Like biotechnology in the early 1980s, the IP landgrab mentality pays off for early pioneers. Don’t betthe jockey. Don’t bet the horse. Own the track.” – Lux Research, Inc.9
“…nanotechnology is raising fundamental questions as to what should, and should not, bepatentable.” – The European Commission, Communication from the Commission14
Read more of this horrible future here.
More of the same stuff here.
“…patents will cast a larger shadow over nanotech than they have over any other modern science at acomparable stage of development.” – Mark A. Lemley, Stanford Law School
“Like biotechnology in the early 1980s, the IP landgrab mentality pays off for early pioneers. Don’t betthe jockey. Don’t bet the horse. Own the track.” – Lux Research, Inc.9
“…nanotechnology is raising fundamental questions as to what should, and should not, bepatentable.” – The European Commission, Communication from the Commission14
Read more of this horrible future here.
More of the same stuff here.
Canada Denies Visa for Africa's Top Biosafety Negotiator
"Canada Denies Visa for Africa's Top Biosafety Negotiator
Montreal's status as UN's biodiversity headquarters is jeopardized
In a breathtaking display of political interference, the Canadian government has blocked entry of Africa's chief negotiator for the Cartagena (biosafety) Protocol, who was scheduled to attend UN meetings beginning next week in Montreal. The Protocol is the United Nations treaty that governs the international movement of genetically modified (GM) organisms.
Dr. Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher, the Ethiopian government's chief scientist and its representative to the Montreal-based UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) had his passport returned without the requested Canadian visa yesterday, and without explanation.
The renowned scientist submitted his passport to the Canadian embassy on May 5 and had planned to fly to Oslo, Norway for inter-regional negotiations prior to attending the Montreal meetings that begin Wednesday, May 25. Because his passport was returned only May 17, Dr. Tewolde was forced to miss the Oslo meeting.
Labeled dangerous?
Officials at Foreign Affairs and Citizenship and Immigration have been unable to offer an explanation for rejecting the negotiator's visa. Dr. Tewolde has been to Canada often over the past decade, participating in intergovernmental negotiations on biodiversity and biosafety. Since the Rio Earth Summit of 1992, Dr. Tewolde has been one of the most well known leaders among African diplomats addressing environmental issues. However, his positions have not been popular with the Canadian government."
etc group
Montreal's status as UN's biodiversity headquarters is jeopardized
In a breathtaking display of political interference, the Canadian government has blocked entry of Africa's chief negotiator for the Cartagena (biosafety) Protocol, who was scheduled to attend UN meetings beginning next week in Montreal. The Protocol is the United Nations treaty that governs the international movement of genetically modified (GM) organisms.
Dr. Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher, the Ethiopian government's chief scientist and its representative to the Montreal-based UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) had his passport returned without the requested Canadian visa yesterday, and without explanation.
The renowned scientist submitted his passport to the Canadian embassy on May 5 and had planned to fly to Oslo, Norway for inter-regional negotiations prior to attending the Montreal meetings that begin Wednesday, May 25. Because his passport was returned only May 17, Dr. Tewolde was forced to miss the Oslo meeting.
Labeled dangerous?
Officials at Foreign Affairs and Citizenship and Immigration have been unable to offer an explanation for rejecting the negotiator's visa. Dr. Tewolde has been to Canada often over the past decade, participating in intergovernmental negotiations on biodiversity and biosafety. Since the Rio Earth Summit of 1992, Dr. Tewolde has been one of the most well known leaders among African diplomats addressing environmental issues. However, his positions have not been popular with the Canadian government."
etc group
What’s wrong with Africa
"Just don’t do it (times five)
I was delighted when Bob Geldof said he did not want western citizens’ money – only their support – because there are things the west can do for Africa apart from giving it money. Or rather there are damaging things the west can stop doing, barriers it can remove to give Africa a real chance to earn its living in the world and develop.
First, the west can fight to end two kinds of subsidies – the agricultural subsidies for farmers in Europe, America and Japan that keep world prices low and squeeze African commodities out of the global market, and the export subsidies that allow cheap food to be dumped in Africa, destroying African markets. High tariffs keeping out African goods need to be cut but African countries need a bit of time before reciprocating the removal of trade barriers as they have no safety-nets to protect workers who lose their jobs.
Second, the west should look closely at the “external” dimension of corruption in Africa. Britain has resisted signing the United Nations Convention on Corruption and British companies are fighting regulations that would make them responsible for corrupt practices by their agents as well as their own staff. London seems to be the favourite city for laundering African corruption money; although reporting regulations have been tightened, the Financial Services Authority pursues reports from banks about suspicious funds only when they are related to drugs or terrorism.
Third, the west must stop encouraging the brain drain from Africa. There are said to be more Malawian nurses in England’s second city of Birmingham than in Malawi itself, a country ravaged by HIV/Aids. The way forward is not to ban movement but to find ways of turning “people flow” and “skills flow” into a productive and mutually beneficial (win-win) process rather than a one-way (win-lose) street as it is at present.
Fourth, the arms and mines that kill in Africa’s wars may mostly be made in the former Soviet Union but the dealers are based mainly in London and the deals are made in its financial district. They are not licensed or regulated in any way. This should change.
Fifth, the west – and Britain in particular – must reform its immigration policy. Thousands of Africans living in Britain or trying to come here for study or to visit relatives are left with an impression of Britain somewhat at odds with Tony Blair’s passion for Africa. I spent a day and half trying to get a visa for a well-known Ugandan MP who was scheduled to speak at a meeting I was organising. Not even the intervention by the new minister for Africa, David Triesman, could move the Home Office to deliver it in time."
OpenDemocracy
I was delighted when Bob Geldof said he did not want western citizens’ money – only their support – because there are things the west can do for Africa apart from giving it money. Or rather there are damaging things the west can stop doing, barriers it can remove to give Africa a real chance to earn its living in the world and develop.
First, the west can fight to end two kinds of subsidies – the agricultural subsidies for farmers in Europe, America and Japan that keep world prices low and squeeze African commodities out of the global market, and the export subsidies that allow cheap food to be dumped in Africa, destroying African markets. High tariffs keeping out African goods need to be cut but African countries need a bit of time before reciprocating the removal of trade barriers as they have no safety-nets to protect workers who lose their jobs.
Second, the west should look closely at the “external” dimension of corruption in Africa. Britain has resisted signing the United Nations Convention on Corruption and British companies are fighting regulations that would make them responsible for corrupt practices by their agents as well as their own staff. London seems to be the favourite city for laundering African corruption money; although reporting regulations have been tightened, the Financial Services Authority pursues reports from banks about suspicious funds only when they are related to drugs or terrorism.
Third, the west must stop encouraging the brain drain from Africa. There are said to be more Malawian nurses in England’s second city of Birmingham than in Malawi itself, a country ravaged by HIV/Aids. The way forward is not to ban movement but to find ways of turning “people flow” and “skills flow” into a productive and mutually beneficial (win-win) process rather than a one-way (win-lose) street as it is at present.
Fourth, the arms and mines that kill in Africa’s wars may mostly be made in the former Soviet Union but the dealers are based mainly in London and the deals are made in its financial district. They are not licensed or regulated in any way. This should change.
Fifth, the west – and Britain in particular – must reform its immigration policy. Thousands of Africans living in Britain or trying to come here for study or to visit relatives are left with an impression of Britain somewhat at odds with Tony Blair’s passion for Africa. I spent a day and half trying to get a visa for a well-known Ugandan MP who was scheduled to speak at a meeting I was organising. Not even the intervention by the new minister for Africa, David Triesman, could move the Home Office to deliver it in time."
OpenDemocracy
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
African agency vs the aid industry Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie - openDemocracy
African agency vs the aid industry Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie - openDemocracy: "Meanwhile, what others can do is respectfully support Africans in Africa as they determine and shape their own fate. We must keep the baby of international solidarity and throw out the dirty bathwater of paternalism and hypocrisy."
Foreign Policy: The Failed States Index
Foreign Policy: The Failed States Index: "About 2 billion people live in countries that are in danger of collapse. In the first annual Failed States Index, FOREIGN POLICY and the Fund for Peace rank the countries about to go over the brink."
NewsForge | Atomic Weapons Establishment having a blast with Linux Networx supercomputer
NewsForge | Atomic Weapons Establishment having a blast with Linux Networx supercomputer: "'Nowadays, a lot of high-performance computing vendors are moving toward Linux -- they all have Linux delivery in their branded software,' he says"
Norwegian Minister says that all public sectors need to make a plan for the use of Open Source by 2005
The Norwegian government is taking large steps in their software policy: everybody in the public sector has to develop a plan for use of open source solutions within 2006. The Norwegian Minister of Modernization, Morton A. Meyer, presented new plan for information technology in Norway called “eNorge – the digital leap", where one of the points concerned open standards and open source. The details are not yet finalized, but the plan stipulate these objectives for standardization and open source:
· Within 2009 all new ICT- and information systems in the public sector shall use open standards.
· Within 2006 a set of management/administrative standards for data and document exchange should be established
· Within 2006 all operations in the public sector should have introduced plans for how they will use open standards, service oriented architecture and open source.
· Within 2008 all data and document exchange in the public sector shall satisfy the management/administrative standards.
· Within 2008 all public forms shall be built on a common interface.
Meyer also said “Proprietary formats will no longer be acceptable in communication between citizens and government.” Exactly what formats will be used, and how the public sector will get out of the grip of the major players, is yet to be worked out and specified. The first expected result is by the end of 2005, by then it should be decided how the further work and development of the management/administrative standards in the public sector will be organized.
IDABC
· Within 2009 all new ICT- and information systems in the public sector shall use open standards.
· Within 2006 a set of management/administrative standards for data and document exchange should be established
· Within 2006 all operations in the public sector should have introduced plans for how they will use open standards, service oriented architecture and open source.
· Within 2008 all data and document exchange in the public sector shall satisfy the management/administrative standards.
· Within 2008 all public forms shall be built on a common interface.
Meyer also said “Proprietary formats will no longer be acceptable in communication between citizens and government.” Exactly what formats will be used, and how the public sector will get out of the grip of the major players, is yet to be worked out and specified. The first expected result is by the end of 2005, by then it should be decided how the further work and development of the management/administrative standards in the public sector will be organized.
IDABC
E-health hits South Africa
Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA), said using open-source software could save South Africa hundreds of millions of dollars compared with the cost of a commercial EHR system.
Read more at Government Health IT
Read more at Government Health IT
Video conferencing boosts tele-medicine
Hospitals are adopting video conferencing to enhance tele-medicine, says Atanu Kumar Das
The Financial Express
The Financial Express
VSAT
"Rapid Deploy solutions from VSAT Systems
VSAT Systems is proud to announce our newest offering for transportable satellite Internet solutions. The iNetVu 1.2 meter portable antenna paired with VSAT Systems indoor equipment, provides customers with the flexibility needed in remote or emergency areas where terrestrial connectivity is not an option."
VSAT Systems is proud to announce our newest offering for transportable satellite Internet solutions. The iNetVu 1.2 meter portable antenna paired with VSAT Systems indoor equipment, provides customers with the flexibility needed in remote or emergency areas where terrestrial connectivity is not an option."
Oregon mounts an open-source push
"Open source and Linux have been around for a long time, but have been a quiet area in software until about the last two years," said Scruggs. As OSDL has pushed the development of Linux, and others have promoted the use of other open-source technologies, plenty of people outside of Oregon have also taken notice of the opportunities that open source offers.
Read more at Portland Business Journal
Read more at Portland Business Journal
Monday, July 25, 2005
Open Source halts ICT brain drain - Soapbox - Opinion - Technology - smh.com.au
Open Source halts ICT brain drain - Soapbox - Opinion - Technology - smh.com.au: "The second catch with the centralised, proprietary development model is that it causes a brain-drain of local developers heading overseas to work for well funded US-based companies."
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Nigerian University Libraries
Nigerian University Libraries: "The main aim of this paper is to examine the importance, implications, and opportunities opened to Nigerian libraries in the current Information Age as related to the concept of globalization. This paper shall attempt to address possible areas of importance and advantages that can propel Nigerian universities and their libraries into being a respective player in the global IT revolution and enhance their status in what is now widely called as Global Village. This paper stresses the necessity for Nigerian universities to be part of the new and emerging technologies which are challenging the traditional process of teaching and learning and the way education is managed. Strategies of leap-frogging Nigerian libraries in to an enviable position of Information Technology will be carefully articulated in this paper."
RECOMMENDED :Information and Communication Technologies and the Effects of Globalization: Twenty-First Century "Digital Slavery" for Developing Count
DDN Headline: Information and Communication Technologies and the Effects of Globalization: Twenty-First Century "Digital Slavery" for Developing Countries--Myth or Reality?: "The main goal of this paper is to examine the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) revolution and the concept of globalization as they effect developing countries. Globalization as one of the reasons for possible widening of the gap between the poor and the rich nations was examined and the emerging concept of 'digital slavery' was carefully evaluated. The wide gap in availability and use of ICTs across the world and the influences ICTs exert on globalization at the expense of developing countries were carefully examined and suggestions and necessary policies were offered for developing countries to leap-frog the industrialization stage and transform their economies into high value-added information economies that can compete with the advanced countries on the global market. This is why it is important for Africa, in general, and Nigeria, in particular, to be aware of the implications, prepare to avoid the most telling consequences and prepare to meet its challenges."
allAfrica.com: Rwanda: Rwanda Seeks ICT Growth to Overcome Poverty
allAfrica.com: Rwanda: Rwanda Seeks ICT Growth to Overcome Poverty: "Some of the ways to further ICT development which he mentioned include getting companies to assmeble computers locally. This, government believes would bring the cost of computers down. Also, the government is trying to extend its fibre optic link to the provinces."
Good idea! Buy inexpensive parts from China and put it together. It is not even necessary with an assembly line, many Norwegians is doing this in the living room in evenings. It has become very popular here in Norway. I read a story about a 12 year boy that build a computer from scratch in a few hour (ca. 3 hour).
Good idea! Buy inexpensive parts from China and put it together. It is not even necessary with an assembly line, many Norwegians is doing this in the living room in evenings. It has become very popular here in Norway. I read a story about a 12 year boy that build a computer from scratch in a few hour (ca. 3 hour).
Lawrence Lessig speaks on Microsoft, antitrust, telecomms
Lawrence Lessig speaks on Microsoft, antitrust, telecomms: "Q: MIT's Media Lab has recently recommended Brazil's government to use open-source software instead of proprietary software like MS windows on its low-cost computers offered to low income families. Do you agree with the idea of developing countries promoting their own open source development ecosystem?.
Lessig: Absolutely. Everyone should, but especially developing nations. The opportunity for spreading knowledge about technology through this is extremely important."
Lessig: Absolutely. Everyone should, but especially developing nations. The opportunity for spreading knowledge about technology through this is extremely important."
General News of Thursday, 21 July 2005
General News of Thursday, 21 July 2005: "Accra, July 21, GNA - For Ghana's Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) policy to succeed the country needs to build high-speed communication networks capable of supporting voice, video, images and data."
NewsForge | The Linux PC and The Linux DeskTop
NewsForge | The Linux PC and The Linux DeskTop: "Follow this link for greater detail, but the idea is to wire the world wirelessly at a price that the 3rd World can afford using a grab bag of Open Source, mesh networks, Skype and a purpose designed laptop."
LinuxWorld | Financial companies lead Linux charge
LinuxWorld | Financial companies lead Linux charge: "So LVM customized Linux to meet its needs. Finally tiring of maintaining the software, LVM is now planning to move 7,700 Linux clients to Red Hat Inc.'s supported desktop distribution, Strelow says."
Salon.com Technology | Buy Linux. It's the law
Salon.com Technology | Buy Linux. It's the law: "'If the state of California is saying [to Microsoft], you are a monopolist and you are hurting the people of California,' Pennington says, 'its purchasing policy should be in line with that.'"
Open-Source Investment Begins to Pay
Open-Source Investment Begins to Pay: "Opinion: Venture capitalists are giving open-source businesses a multimillion-dollar twirl; care to follow their lead?"
Friday, July 22, 2005
Blog This: � Is open source communication possible? | Open Source | ZDNet.com
Blog This: � Is open source communication possible? | Open Source | ZDNet.com
Is open source communication possible? by ZDNet's Dana Blankenhorn -- Our own George Ou has a long item up today questioning whether WiMax can deliver its promises of true open source communication.He will get no argument from me. It's very possible I've been laboring under great misapprehension, and that so have many WiFi advocates. If WiMax can't get frequencies cleared it can't fulfill its potential, [...]
NASA Ames Research Center OpenSource
NASA Ames Research Center OpenSource: "NASA conducts research and development in software and software technology as an essential response to the needs of NASA missions. Under the NASA Software Release policy, NASA has several options for the release of NASA developed software technologies. These options now include Open Source software release. This option is under the NASA Open Source Agreement 'NOSA'."
GnuCash - Open Source Accounting Software
GnuCash - Open Source Accounting Software: "If you've been looking for a way to manage your personal or business finances using Free Software, you've found it!"
Sun to Liberate (More) Source Code?
Sun to Liberate (More) Source Code?: "Last month, Sun Microsystems released the source code of its Solaris operating system to the general public in an attempt to increase community interest. Now they are at it again, with a far more ambitious plan. Sun COO Jonathan Schwartz has announced that the company plans to offer all of it's software for free."
HP Propelling Linux Into Truly 'Big' Time - Yahoo! News
HP Propelling Linux Into Truly 'Big' Time - Yahoo! News: "They include everything from how to potentially get Linux running on NonStop to taking the 200 open-source projects that run on NonStop and turning that into 2,000 open-source projects running on NonStop.
There's a variety of other activities we think are interesting and will bring a lot of enterprise-class credibility to Linux and open source."
There's a variety of other activities we think are interesting and will bring a lot of enterprise-class credibility to Linux and open source."
\'The future is open source\' - ZDNet UK News
\'The future is open source\' - ZDNet UK News: "In the next five to 10 years, the open source movement will transform the software business, according to several top industry executives speaking at the AO 2005 Innovation Summit at Stanford University."
Thursday, July 21, 2005
BBC NEWS | Business | What Myspace means to Murdoch
BBC NEWS | Business | What Myspace means to Murdoch: "But he had no doubt that radical change was coming, and that it was inevitable."
LaptopMission - Ubuntu UDU Wiki
LaptopMission - Ubuntu UDU Wiki: "In 2005 we want Ubuntu to have perfect support for all of the laptops currently on sale from the following manufacturers:
IBM, Toshiba, Dell, HP"
IBM, Toshiba, Dell, HP"
Copyright and the law | Rip. Mix. Burn. | Economist.com
Copyright and the law | Rip. Mix. Burn. | Economist.com: "A first, useful step would be a drastic reduction of copyright back to its original terms—14 years, renewable once."
I LIKE IT, and from The Economist too ;-)
I LIKE IT, and from The Economist too ;-)
TECTONIC: Kenyan university to offer Linux training
TECTONIC: Kenyan university to offer Linux training: "Kenyan company Circuits & Packets Communications (C&P) last week signed a deal with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to offer advanced GNU-Linux training at the university. The training will begin in August 2005. "
Schwarzenegger the new Torvalds? - Government & Law - Breaking Business and Technology News at silicon.com
Schwarzenegger the new Torvalds? - Government & Law - Breaking Business and Technology News at silicon.com: "The proposals appear in a lengthy report from the California Performance Review Commission, charged by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger with figuring out how to make state government work better and cheaper.
Among the ideas in the panel's $32bn cost-cutting recommendations: favouring open source software over proprietary alternatives for new IT purchases."
Among the ideas in the panel's $32bn cost-cutting recommendations: favouring open source software over proprietary alternatives for new IT purchases."
TECTONIC: Ugandan Linux guide to be used at Cape access points
TECTONIC: Ugandan Linux guide to be used at Cape access points: "'The book builds on our experiences at Uganda Martyrs University in Nkozi, Uganda,' says Van Reijswoud. 'This is the first university in Africa that had the courage to migrate its client desktops to free and open source software."
Congratulation Uganda!
Congratulation Uganda!
The VoIP Bicycle - Softpedia
The VoIP Bicycle - Softpedia: "The bicycle-powered system brings not just VoIP but also e-mail and Web browsing to remote areas, using a combination of Linux and the Asterisk open source PBX., and uses Wi-Fi networking to route traffic to a central hub with existing phone infrastructure, with a range as far as 100 miles."
Pedal Power For VoIP Minutes: A Third-World digital divide solution? | IP Telephony | ZDNet.com
Pedal Power For VoIP Minutes: A Third-World digital divide solution? by ZDNet's Russell Shaw -- There's a lot of buzz in the blogosphere about "VoIP on a Bike," a Linux-powered VoIP system that gives a user one hour of VoIP access time for every 15 minutes of pedalling power. The concept is, by pedaling, you generate enough power to run the digital devices you are accessing VoIP- or other Internet [...]
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
SCO: Fish or Cut Bait
SCO: Fish or Cut Bait: "Opinion: Recently unveiled memos suggest that there is no 'there' in SCO's Linux IP claims and make you wonder if SCO can survive suit by Red Hat. "
IMO: Possible the beginning on the end for SCO.
IMO: Possible the beginning on the end for SCO.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
The Linux Beacon--Debian Linux to Get Down to Business?
The Linux Beacon--Debian Linux to Get Down to Business?: "It is not a coincidence that the City of Munich in Germany has created its LiMux variant on Debian, and nor is it a coincidence that the city of Extremadura in Spain has created its own LinEx variant on Debian, either. Murdock is on to something, and that something is called mass customization."
MyADSL: Broadband Internet Community
MyADSL: Broadband Internet Community: "Satellite delivered WiMax and xMax are both possible options for rural areas in South Africa that currently struggle to get Internet access. Another more accessible means of broadband delivery to these areas is BPL (broadband over powerlines).
With all these new technologies and possibilities South Africa should in theory be able to have Internet access across the nation."
With all these new technologies and possibilities South Africa should in theory be able to have Internet access across the nation."
Optaros Opens European Headquarters in Switzerland; Open Source Software Consulting Firm to Share Expertise Globally; Frederic Weill to Manage Europea
Optaros Opens European Headquarters in Switzerland; Open Source Software Consulting Firm to Share Expertise Globally; Frederic Weill to Manage European Operations: "Weill said one of his first initiatives is to tap low-cost software engineering expertise from Eastern Europe and Asia. He will also help Optaros tap into the many 'communities' of software developers who collaborate on open source software projects, many of which are based in Europe."
Cost is key in choice of open source or Windows
Cost is key in choice of open source or Windows: "Gartner vice-president Andy Butler said that open source operating systems, such as enterprise Linux, offer users a strong alternative to Microsoft Windows, and will soon be on a par with it in terms of scalability and security.
Consolidation on open source products has attracted organisations as diverse as European financial services giant MLP Group and the UK's De Montfort University."
Consolidation on open source products has attracted organisations as diverse as European financial services giant MLP Group and the UK's De Montfort University."
IICD - International Institute for Communication and Development - Introduction
IICD - International Institute for Communication and Development - Introduction: "The International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) assists developing countries to realise locally owned sustainable development by harnessing the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs). IICD works with its partner organisations in selected countries, helping local stakeholders to assess the potential uses of ICTs in development. "
GreenNet - Networking for the Environment, Peace, Human Rights and Development
GreenNet - Networking for the Environment, Peace, Human Rights and Development: "GreenNet supports a progressive community working for Peace, the Environment, Gender Equality and Social Justice, through the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs)."
Fantsuam Foundation
header: "Poverty alleviation is our goal through a multi sectoral approach. Our basic objective is to empower women in rural areas of the country to work their ways out of poverty, promoting the use of ICT in support of traditional Governance in rural development, education, rural-urban-rural and rural-rural connectivity, eCommerce, IT transfer for the manufacture of tropical solar-powered computers in our rural areas, accessibility. These are just a few of what we do."
Balancing Act News Update - African internet developments
Balancing Act News Update - African internet developments: "A chip capable of delivering 45 mbps can be used at this layer and a new one is being built that could give 200 mbps'.
Although the test was attended by a number of people including Government, the regulator and Ghana Telecom, it was primarily designed to show the technology to the Electricity Corporation of Ghana."
Although the test was attended by a number of people including Government, the regulator and Ghana Telecom, it was primarily designed to show the technology to the Electricity Corporation of Ghana."
CATIA - Catalysing Access to ICT in Africa
CATIA - Welcome: "The Catalysing Access to ICT in Africa (CATIA) programme aims to enable poor people in Africa to gain maximum benefit from the opportunities offered by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and to act as a strong catalyst for reform"
PANOS LONDON New technology in satellite communication
PANOS LONDON > ONLINE - GLOBAL THEMES - Toolkit | Brief 2: "Now a cheap and easy way of receiving satellite signals could revolutionise communication in remote areas of Africa. So why aren’t African governments rushing to adopt this new VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminals) technology?
This briefing explains what’s behind VSAT, and the legal and policy changes that are needed to bring it to Africa’s poor and rural people. It aims to equip journalists with the information they need to question policymakers and to explain the issues to the public."
This briefing explains what’s behind VSAT, and the legal and policy changes that are needed to bring it to Africa’s poor and rural people. It aims to equip journalists with the information they need to question policymakers and to explain the issues to the public."
TECTONIC: IP, free software and patents in the African spotlight
TECTONIC: IP, free software and patents in the African spotlight: "An online discussion aimed at raising awareness of critical issues around intellectual property rights for Africa and to provide an overview of existing legal processes and tools will begin this week and run until August 21. On the agenda will be free software, copyleft alternatives to traditional property rights and pretecting indigenous knowledge, among others. "
California Researchers Offer Open-Source Platform To Speed Wireless Development
California Researchers Offer Open-Source Platform To Speed Wireless Development: "'It's important that students get hands-on experience,' said Ramesh Rao, Calit2's division director at UCSD. 'With CalRadio, they can try out all their wireless networking dreams and visions on a real working box that is software configurable.' "
UC taps Linux-friendly music/video download service to reduce copyright violations
UC taps Linux-friendly music/video download service to reduce copyright violations: "Hoping to stem the tide of students freely sharing copyrighted content over campus networks, the University of California (UC) system has selected a music and video service that supports Windows, Mac OS, and Linux to provide music and video downloads for its approximately 200,000 student population"
Monday, July 18, 2005
Linux in Government: Outside the US, People Get It | Linux Journal
Linux in Government: Outside the US, People Get It | Linux Journal: "With it, you can discover the simplicity of setting up assembly lines for inexpensive computer parts from China. You also will discover that Linux can make the job of manufacturing such systems even simpler."
Sunday, July 17, 2005
BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click Online | New life in Africa for old PCs
BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click Online | New life in Africa for old PCs: "We've reached the point where we've got more computers than we have organisations to distribute them to, so our priority is to identify new organisations in developing countries that can receive and distribute high volumes of computers."
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Friday, July 15, 2005
BBC NEWS | Technology | Co-opting the creative revolution
BBC NEWS | Technology | Co-opting the creative revolution: "Institutions will come under increasing degrees of pressures and the more rigid they are, the more pressures they will come under."
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Linux and Windows security neck and neck - vnunet.com
Linux and Windows security neck and neck - vnunet.com: "John Engates, chief technology officer at managed hosting company Rackspace, which offers both Linux and Windows hosted servers, said: 'If you think about where you get Linux talent it's in the younger generation.
'Linux has a slight advantage in that computer science students are learning it, but Microsoft has made life easier for non-techies, particularly with its improved patches.'"
'Linux has a slight advantage in that computer science students are learning it, but Microsoft has made life easier for non-techies, particularly with its improved patches.'"
NanoHorizons
NanoHorizons: "New photovoltaic devices utilizing NanoHorizons' technology can be manufactured with lower-quality materials on high-throughput production lines that use rollers and coating/spraying machines. "
Nano-graphite may store H2 gas
Nano-graphite may store H2 gas: "Graphite films only nanometers or billionths of a meter thick could help store hydrogen in an inexpensive, easily manufactured, lightweight and nontoxic manner, an international team of scientists told UPI's Nano World."
Jerusalem Post | Breaking News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World
Jerusalem Post | Breaking News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World: "'Our dream is that one day a family in Africa can walk into their corner store, buy a solar sheet and install a system that will give them electricity the same day,' Waimann emphasizes. 'When our technology works, it will allow access to clean, cheap electricity for the billion people who don't have it now.'"
PCWorld.com - Mobile Phone Fuel Cells Coming in 2007
PCWorld.com - Mobile Phone Fuel Cells Coming in 2007: "The Toshiba version is bigger, at 4.5 inches by 4.4 inches by 1 inch, and the prototype weighs 8.8 ounces, about twice the weight of a typical Japanese-model third-generation mobile phone. But size brings power in Toshiba's case: A 0.7-ounce vial of fuel can deliver 20 hours of power, he said."
Voice-to-Voice Translation Machine Perfects Bedside Manner
Voice-to-Voice Translation Machine Perfects Bedside Manner: "The Transonics system runs on a laptop computer using the Linux operating system. Doctor and patient both wear headphones with attached microphones. A small keypad connected to the computer speeds and simplifies certain routine commands - switching from doctor mode to patient mode, for example."
Fugleinfluensa
Dr�bervirus - 22.02. 2005
Det går an å skaffe medisin som kan vere greit å ha i tilfelle mutering. Då kan ein få hastverk og det kan verte trongt om plassen utanfor apoteka, kanskje smittefarleg også. Sjekk Reiseklinikken.no for å få den på resept i tilfelle du vil vere føre var.
Det går an å skaffe medisin som kan vere greit å ha i tilfelle mutering. Då kan ein få hastverk og det kan verte trongt om plassen utanfor apoteka, kanskje smittefarleg også. Sjekk Reiseklinikken.no for å få den på resept i tilfelle du vil vere føre var.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
The Ubuntu Foundation and Debian | Open Source | ZDNet.com
� The Ubuntu Foundation and Debian | Open Source | ZDNet.com: "In fact, as open source and Linux become more and more accepted in the mainstream, I think there will be a shift away from a vendor-controlled Linux distros like Red Hat and SUSE and towards a single standard. Debian seems ideally-suited to provide that standard, whether one wishes to use standard Debian, or another flavor of Linux based on Debian."
IMO: We already see this trend with Munich, Vienna and a county of Spain is migrating to Debian based distros because they dont want vendor lock-in.
Debian has almost 16 000 readied software packages easy to install for free, plus the important social contract just like Debian based Ubuntu. Mandriva, TurboLinux and Progency is now working on a Debian based entreprise Linux too. Anyway, Linux is Linux is Linux, the Linux kernel is what ensure the compatibility anyway.
IMO: We already see this trend with Munich, Vienna and a county of Spain is migrating to Debian based distros because they dont want vendor lock-in.
Debian has almost 16 000 readied software packages easy to install for free, plus the important social contract just like Debian based Ubuntu. Mandriva, TurboLinux and Progency is now working on a Debian based entreprise Linux too. Anyway, Linux is Linux is Linux, the Linux kernel is what ensure the compatibility anyway.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Meraka Institute - Wireless Africa
Meraka Institute - Wireless Africa: "The challenge faced by many African countries is how to harness the power of ICTs in order to fight poverty and improve the quality of life of all people. Many initiatives have been implemented but failed due to lack of or poor connectivity.
The FM/FI project seeks to address this shortcoming by innovating different ways of providing connectivity to the user (First Mile) and streamlining the interface between the user and the computer (First Inch). This will include a range of First mile technologies including WiFi, power line communications (PLCs) and mesh networks and Fist Inch technologies such as IVR, Voice messaging and HLT."
The FM/FI project seeks to address this shortcoming by innovating different ways of providing connectivity to the user (First Mile) and streamlining the interface between the user and the computer (First Inch). This will include a range of First mile technologies including WiFi, power line communications (PLCs) and mesh networks and Fist Inch technologies such as IVR, Voice messaging and HLT."
Meraka Institute - Wireless Africa
Meraka Institute - Wireless Africa: "Small, self-constructed antennas made from locally available material and connected to a low-cost WiFi card plugged into a computer. The innovative “home-brew” antenna, which uses a coffee tin and a section of bicycle spoke soldered into a special connector, can connect to anther point with a similar antenna 10km away. This allows local connectivity comparable to that of commercially available antennas."
Meraka Institute - Digital Doorway
Meraka Institute - Digital Doorway: "MIE differs fundamentally from other ICT provision interventions in that it holds that everyone has the inherent cognitive ability to teach themselves, provided computers can be made easily accessible to potential learners and an environment can be created in which they can learn through experimenting."
The "hole in the wall project" in India has showed that children in the slum learn by themselves to browse with a computer within 24 hours without any adult intervention.
The "hole in the wall project" in India has showed that children in the slum learn by themselves to browse with a computer within 24 hours without any adult intervention.
TECTONIC: Scientists go back to school to learn about free software
TECTONIC: Scientists go back to school to learn about free software: "Our aim is for Africa to become a respected and sought-after source of contributors to free and open source software, and a living example of extreme progress on account of the associated culture of collaboration and sharing for the common good.'"
Sunday, July 10, 2005
PCWorld.com - Computing Without Windows
PCWorld.com - Computing Without Windows: "You don't have to run Microsoft's omnipresent OS--it just seems that way. What's in it for you if you try an alternative?"
Teknoseier til forbrukerne- Aftenposten.no
Teknoseier til forbrukerne- Aftenposten.no: "SAKEN GRIPER RETT INN i en av v�r tids vanskeligste - og vesentligste - teknopolitiske saker. Det handler om hvem skal ha retten til grunnleggende programvare som med tiden vil brukes av verdens befolkning p�daglig basis."
Friday, July 08, 2005
Shuttleworth, Canonical launch US$10m Ubuntu Foundation
Tectonic -- Linux and open source news: "'It's important for us to distinguish the philanthropic and non-commercial work that is at the heart of the Ubuntu project, from the commercial support and certification programs that are the focus of Canonical,' said Mark Shuttleworth, who is founder of the project and is making the initial $10m commitment to the Foundation. "
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Opera and Trolltech Enter Strategic Partnership: New ZTE Smartphone Built on Qtopia/Linux Platform with Opera Web Browser
Opera and Trolltech Enter Strategic Partnership: New ZTE Smartphone Built on Qtopia/Linux Platform with Opera Web Browser: "Opera and Trolltech Enter Strategic Partnership: New ZTE Smartphone Built on Qtopia/Linux Platform with Opera Web Browser"
Eyeing an Opening for Open-Source - Computerworld
Eyeing an Opening for Open-Source - Computerworld: "But on one recent Monday, I snapped to attention when my boss, the IT chief for our agency, said that he had informed the agency's administrator that we would be going the open-source route on a number of fronts to increase efficiency, productivity and cost savings."
Author of Linux Patent Study Says Ballmer Got It Wrong
Author of Linux Patent Study Says Ballmer Got It Wrong: "'Consider this—not a single open-source software program has ever been sued for patent infringement, much less been found to infringe. On the contrary, proprietary software, like Windows, is sued and found guilty of patent infringement quite frequently.'"
Author of Linux Patent Study Says Ballmer Got It Wrong
Author of Linux Patent Study Says Ballmer Got It Wrong: "'Microsoft is up to its usual FUD [fear, uncertainty and doubt],' said Dan Ravicher, author of the study Microsoft cites, who is an attorney and executive director of PUBPAT (the Public Patent Foundation)."
EU Rejects Controversial Software Patents Proposal
EU Rejects Controversial Software Patents Proposal: "Florian Mueller, a software developer and one of the most outspoken campaigners against the directive, said the rejection was a relief. 'What I'm most angry about is the fact that the Commission and most country governments lied to the people of Europe about the purpose of this directive,' he told eWEEK.com."
Unfortunately, the EU-politicians and EU-buraucrats LIES to their own people, just like BUSH LIES about weapon of mass destruction. I would go so far as to say that EU has become a banana republic just like the USA, who support creationism and anti-homosexual propaganda for little school children to dumb down people.
Unfortunately, the EU-politicians and EU-buraucrats LIES to their own people, just like BUSH LIES about weapon of mass destruction. I would go so far as to say that EU has become a banana republic just like the USA, who support creationism and anti-homosexual propaganda for little school children to dumb down people.
Software patent directive rejected - ZDNet UK News
Software patent directive rejected - ZDNet UK News: "'This result clearly shows that thorough analysis, genuinely concerned citizens and factual information have more impact than free ice-cream, boatloads of hired lobbyists and outsourcing threats,' said Jonas Maebe, a spokesman for the FFII."
HURRA! HURRA! HURRA!
This is not only important for the economic growth that will benefit the citizens of Europe, it is of extreme importance for the DEVELOPING WORLD so they can build up their own knowledge societies without beeing a colony. The world is indebted to the FFII and Free Software Foundation and thousands or millions of other people struggeling for freedom in the knowledge era!
HURRA! HURRA! HURRA!
This is not only important for the economic growth that will benefit the citizens of Europe, it is of extreme importance for the DEVELOPING WORLD so they can build up their own knowledge societies without beeing a colony. The world is indebted to the FFII and Free Software Foundation and thousands or millions of other people struggeling for freedom in the knowledge era!
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
FT.com / World - EU parliament set to drop software directive
FT.com / World - EU parliament set to drop software directive: "The European parliament is on Wednesday expected to strike down plans for a controversial new patent regime for the software industry, a move that would draw a line under one of the most bitterly fought legislative projects in recent European Union history."
Vienna starts desktop Linux migration - ZDNet UK News
Vienna starts desktop Linux migration - ZDNet UK News: "The Austrian capital city of Vienna kicked off its soft migration to open source software on the desktop on Tuesday.
Vienna town councillor Rudi Schicker presented the city's bespoke Linux distribution, known as Wienux, at a press conference."
Vienna town councillor Rudi Schicker presented the city's bespoke Linux distribution, known as Wienux, at a press conference."
Monday, July 04, 2005
Open bibliographic and cataloging standards and software
Open bibliographic and cataloging standards and software: "With the proliferation of robust and powerful open source software, the Internet, and standardization on XML data formats, there are unprecedented opportunities for the collection and management of information. Given the greatly increased access to information in the Internet era, metadata — in essence, information about information — becomes all the more essential. For scholars and researchers, among the most essential metadata is bibliographic. Being able to reliably store, find, use and communicate bibliographic data is a basic need of academic research. And yet the state of bibliographic software is largely stuck in the 1980s."
This was written in april 2004, and a lot has happened since then. Hopefully the OpenOffice 3.0 will have the right bibliographical tool.
This was written in april 2004, and a lot has happened since then. Hopefully the OpenOffice 3.0 will have the right bibliographical tool.
bibliographic: Bibliographic Project Homepage Open Office
bibliographic: Bibliographic Project Homepage: "When will this wonderful facility be available ? new !Bibliographic enhancements are planned to be included in OpenOffice version 3.0."
darcusblog � [ANN] XBib
darcusblog � [ANN] XBib: "Time to finally announce the stuff I’ve been working on …
XBib provides important building blocks for dramatically improved bibliographic and citation support in XML. The project consists of three key pieces:"
XBib provides important building blocks for dramatically improved bibliographic and citation support in XML. The project consists of three key pieces:"
Financial Express
Financial Express: "Despite the TRIPS attempt to strike a balance between the long term social objective of providing incentives for future inventions and creation, it is likely to stifle basic research while encouraging the commercialisation stages which benefit advanced industrialised countries which have the capacity to innovate on a continuous basis. "
Very very good article! Recommended reading.
Very very good article! Recommended reading.
Techworld.com - Norwegian government backs open source
Techworld.com - Norwegian government backs open source: "Norwegian Minister for Modernisation Morton Andreas Meyer is asking all government institutions to have a plan for the use of open-source software by the end of 2006.
Without referring specifically to Microsoft Meyer, who is responsible for the Norwegian government's IT policy, said that 'proprietary formats will no longer be acceptable in communication between citizens and government.'"
Without referring specifically to Microsoft Meyer, who is responsible for the Norwegian government's IT policy, said that 'proprietary formats will no longer be acceptable in communication between citizens and government.'"
Sunday, July 03, 2005
An open letter to the open source community
An open letter to the open source community: "We end users are happy with the way the open source movement is progressing. With Linux now a stable operating system worthy of mainstream deployments, we've begun looking up the stack to see where else open source can fit in our data centers."
Open Conference Systems
PKP @ SFU: Demos and Downloads: "What is Open Conference Systems?
Open Conference Systems (OCS) is a free Web publishing tool that will create a complete Web presence for your scholarly conference. It has been developed by the Public Knowledge Project at the University of British Columbia to improve the scholarly and public quality of research online. OCS will allow you to:
* create a conference Web site
* compose and send a call for papers
* electronically accept paper and abstract submissions
* allow paper submitters to edit their work
* post conference proceedings and papers in a searchable format
* post, if you wish, the original data sets
* register participants
* integrate post-conference online discussions
"
Open Conference Systems (OCS) is a free Web publishing tool that will create a complete Web presence for your scholarly conference. It has been developed by the Public Knowledge Project at the University of British Columbia to improve the scholarly and public quality of research online. OCS will allow you to:
* create a conference Web site
* compose and send a call for papers
* electronically accept paper and abstract submissions
* allow paper submitters to edit their work
* post conference proceedings and papers in a searchable format
* post, if you wish, the original data sets
* register participants
* integrate post-conference online discussions
"
BBC NEWS | Technology | Global raids target piracy gangs
BBC NEWS | Technology | Global raids target piracy gangs: "Suspected internet pirates in 11 countries have been raided in a global operation against illegal distributors of movies, games and software."
Why be a pirat when the best software is free??? The mass think that when a product get a price it is because it has a higher quality compared to the product that is free. Many people say that the bottled water in shops taste better than other water, try it on blind tests.
Why be a pirat when the best software is free??? The mass think that when a product get a price it is because it has a higher quality compared to the product that is free. Many people say that the bottled water in shops taste better than other water, try it on blind tests.
BBC NEWS | Technology | Google maps shows the way forward
BBC NEWS | Technology | Google maps shows the way forward: "Instead of thinking about making a few thousand pounds here and there from licensing, they could add millions to the economy by providing real-time traffic congestion information to commuters on an open platform with an open API."
Saturday, July 02, 2005
WiMAX aims to stretch wireless farther
WiMAX aims to stretch wireless farther: "'It will allow other nations to engage more effectively where they were before constrained,' Phillips said. 'India and China already have a huge push going for them already,' but the biggest changes will be in Latin America and Africa, which are still catching up."
The day the world united … the day the work really started - [Sunday Herald]
The day the world united … the day the work really started - [Sunday Herald]: "After the concerts we all have a responsibility to pressure those we elected to office to agitate for real change, to show that there will be consequences if the expressed wishes of millions are once again ignored. If we turn our heads and walk away, if we move on to the next fashionable cause, the next cool wristband, then we will have failed just as badly as the G8 leaders."
Economist's View
Economist's View: "IBM's success in the mid-1960s led to inquiries as to IBM antitrust violations by the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed a complaint ... in ... 1969.' Was Marshall right? My own view follows Keynes, 'In the long-run we're all dead,' and I would prefer more vigilance against market power in the short-run than is currently in vogue among regulators."
My opinion: I agree.
My opinion: I agree.
Linux moves into midrange Motorola phones | CNET News.com
Linux moves into midrange Motorola phones | CNET News.com: "Motorola announced a new step this week in its plan to remake most of its mobile phone line with Linux, expanding use of the open-source operating system to midrange phones."
TCS: Tech Central Station - Joke on the Water
TCS: Tech Central Station - Joke on the Water: "One of the least sexy of Geneva's many institutions is the World Intellectual Property Organization, or WIPO for short (but not for long in francophone Geneva, where it is better to call it by its French acronym, OMPI). Despite its inherent air of bureaucracy and diplomatic tranquility, it's worth taking a look at this institution because it is at risk of being hijacked by an alliance of special interests who, though they promise to help the world's poorest nations, will hurt all nations, rich or poor, if they succeed."
Copyright & YOU - Richard Stallman to Visit Montreal - CMAQ
Copyright & YOU - Richard Stallman to Visit Montreal - CMAQ: "Flanked by several other speakers from the field, Stallman will talk about copyright, 'intellectual property', and digital freedom in an age of mounting corporate pressure on governments and populations worldwide. "
Further copyright policy suggestions on how to Make Poverty History. | Digital Copyright Canada
Further copyright policy suggestions on how to Make Poverty History. | Digital Copyright Canada: "'every license for Office plus Windows in Brazil - a country in which 22 million people are starving - means we have to export 60 sacks of soybeans'."
More and more people have discovered the link between software, development in the third world, climate change, USA-Europe-led intellectual property legislation in the WTO.
Brazil is burning forest in and extreme tempo because to produce soybeans for the USA is one of few possibilities to make money.
More and more people have discovered the link between software, development in the third world, climate change, USA-Europe-led intellectual property legislation in the WTO.
Brazil is burning forest in and extreme tempo because to produce soybeans for the USA is one of few possibilities to make money.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Google Hush-Hush Project Searches Subscription Content � MarketingVOX
Google Hush-Hush Project Searches Subscription Content � MarketingVOX: "Google is testing a search service that will access 'Deep Web' content, providing searchers with free previews of restricted or subscription content, reports BetaNews (via paidcontent). The service is being tested with a few sites, which are under confidentiality agreements, but apparently one of them is singing like a canary. 'Premium content will be indexed and tagged as paid, and will be displayed in a special content area on the right side of Google's search results, underneath the AdSense advertising links,' according to the report."
Comparing security on Windows and Linux
Comparing security on Windows and Linux: "Recent U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) vulnerability metrics reported 250 episodes for Microsoft Windows, 39 of these having a severity rating of 40 or greater. With Red Hat Linux there were only 46 episodes, of which only with only 3 scored over 40. There are thousands of reports that compare the two operating systems but reports like this by an independent government body, on the relative number of critical flaws between them, should be given greatest consideration."
Model Credit Bureau Open Source Solution Being Tested in Morocco
Model Credit Bureau Open Source Solution Being Tested in Morocco: "Casablanca, Morocco (PRWEB) July 1, 2005 -- PlaNet Finance Maroc (Morocco) and Grameen Foundation USA (GFUSA) today announced a joint initiative to develop a software package for creating a credit bureau for microfinance borrowers. This innovative program, when implemented, will allow poor borrowers in Morocco to establish a credit history which will help move them into the financial mainstream. "
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