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.
