hi Tyler, Despite some thoughts below might not be new in north hemisphere, there goes my Latin American user vision:
#OSGeo is already inside the minds of power GIS users and GIS developers, we already know like things work and how/what to be done to work. Now maybe is the time to make OSGeo more visible and understood by users ##ok, it's a long process but it has to begin. eg.: general population already knows that "oh Linux? yes, I got. It's free of charge right?" and some commercial users, after 2008 economical crisis plus web2/social networking boom, already got that it's not just a matter of cost, but also because free/opensource tool will not make a big change of architecture, basic concepts/structures without talking to users ( eg.: MapServer mapfile programming structure is almost the same since it was born, but in some commercial tools things may change a lot in minor/major releases) ##these same end-users ( including independent workers, commercial users) must to see that F4G platform can help SERVICES market: helping to cut costs on software acquisition ( smaller total project/service costs) and making service providers FREE from this or that software supplier ( and to help services market is help on job opportunities too... a cool social role of foss and foundations) ##and maybe one way to help on that is to make more SOLUTION cases visible. First step is to prove that existing foss technology works and this is done. The step to enforce is to 'sell the fish' that integration with commercial solutions is possible and support on foss communities can even be better/faster than commercial support centers. ##certification and stamp matters: for corporate communities/users is important to ensure that this or that software/solution have an "OSGeo certified stamp". There are a lot of users that do not need more than one or two softwares. And most of them is always looking for work with only one, if possible. So, if the second tool the user will look for also has the "osgeo stamp", user may feel better with that. In this sense, a certification program (eg. Linux LPI) for professional geo users is a plus too. ##interoperation: another oportunity maybe could be to insert OSGeo stamp/talks on other kind of events - not only on GIS events but also on business events ( logistics, environmental, agriculture, forestry, mining, etc) with less tech language and more 'executive' presentations ##inside corporate world, acronym like GeoBI, GeoETL, GeoEAI or GeoCRM can take attention of sponsors ( managers, directors). And this will also help on base techs projects advertising. ##OSGeo partnering with academia projects ( R&D) and private/publich companies will always be welcome too. #for the power user who follow planet OSGeo is not hard to get the 1st contact with a new released tool. But, for the newcomers, a simple setup can take a month or months. How to help on that? More docs ( 'for dummy' guides, quick ref cards, process oriented manuals and not only function guide/reference guide) and tutorials and this include local references. ##and for translation tasks, I believe it's not only to do the translation. But to adapt texts, images, data and senses can be a plus on users influence ##tools such as surveys (online, magazines, collected on events) could help to map local gap's and user desire/needs #communication: I think local committees/communities should always be in talk to international foundation goals and tasks and vice-versa. Parallel initiatives such as local groups must be inserted/combined on OSGeo projects/tasks - we should sum efforts and not divide. So, it's important to highlight the benefits on working together OSGeo to these parallel heads. Ten or fifteen years ago I saw a lot of projects and services to be killed because the lack of free options or free cases. Now, we have a lot of options to replace or interoperate with. We need more visibility, more users enabled to call the attention of other users. best Eduardo Patto Kanegae http://www.webmapit.com 2011/8/5 Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) <tmitch...@osgeo.org>: > With a very encouraging list of nominees for the open board positions, it > might help (at least me!) if some could share their thoughts about OSGeo and > its future direction. > > As a potential director: > * What important areas do you see OSGeo needing to fix or strive for in > order to grow? > * What challenges do you see for OSGeo in the short and long terms? > * What kinds of goals do you have for the organisation? (It's not a > presidential race, but curious on what you see as goals for the org). > * What is needed for a board to be successful? ...For OSGeo to be a success? > * Have you had to deal with similar challenges before? > * Etc... > > I'm sure others have good questions too, but thought I'd share the ones on > my mind based on my experience working alongside the board. > > Any thoughts? > > Tyler > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > 2011/8/5 Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) <tmitch...@osgeo.org>: > With a very encouraging list of nominees for the open board positions, it > might help (at least me!) if some could share their thoughts about OSGeo and > its future direction. > > As a potential director: > * What important areas do you see OSGeo needing to fix or strive for in > order to grow? > * What challenges do you see for OSGeo in the short and long terms? > * What kinds of goals do you have for the organisation? (It's not a > presidential race, but curious on what you see as goals for the org). > * What is needed for a board to be successful? ...For OSGeo to be a success? > * Have you had to deal with similar challenges before? > * Etc... > > I'm sure others have good questions too, but thought I'd share the ones on > my mind based on my experience working alongside the board. > > Any thoughts? > > Tyler > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > -- Eduardo Patto Kanegae http://www.webmapit.com +55(19)9610-8768 _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss