Links

NGO-in-a-Box: Powerful tools for the daily work of NGOs

NGO-in-a-box offers a set of peer reviewed and selected Free and Open Source software (F/OSS), tailored to the needs of NGOs. It provides them not only with software, but also with implementation scenarios and relevant materials to support this.

http://ngoinabox.org/

(Added: Fri Nov 10 2006   Modified: 2006-11-10   Hits: 123)

UNDP-APDIP International Open Source Network

The International Open Source Network (IOSN) is a Center of Excellence for FOSS in the Asia-Pacific Region. It shapes its activities around Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) technologies and applications. Via a small secretariat, the IOSN is tasked specifically to facilitate and network FOSS advocates and human resources in the region. The vision is that developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region can achieve rapid and sustained economic and social development by using affordable yet effective FOSS ICT solutions to bridge the digital divide.

http://www.iosn.net/

(Added: Mon Feb 28 2005   Modified: 2005-05-25   Hits: 101)

$100 portable computer for the developing world

The founder and chairman of the MIT Media Lab wants to create a $100 portable computer for the developing world. Nicholas Negroponte, author of Being Digital and the Wiesner Professor of Media Technology at MIT, says he has obtained promises of support from a number of major companies, including Advanced Micro Devices, Google, Motorola, Samsung, and News Corp. The low-cost computer will have a 14-inch color screen, AMD chips, and will run Linux software. An engineering prototype is nearly ready, with alpha units expected by year's end (2005) and real production around 18 months from now, he said. The portable PCs will be shipped directly to education ministries, with China first on the list. Only orders of 1 million or more units will be accepted.

http://www.redherring.com/Home/11203

(Added: Tue Feb 08 2005   Modified: 2008-10-01   Hits: 82)

UNCTAD Report on Free and open-source software: Implications for ICT policy and development

This important report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development examines the use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) by developing countries. It explains how FOSS and, for comparison, proprietary software are created -- not in a technical sense, but in an organizational sense -- and why that matters, for developed and particularly for developing economies. It suggests that the FOSS process produces better software that could match the unending improvements in computer hardware. (PDF 621 KB).

http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ecdr2003ch4_en.pdf

(Added: Wed Feb 04 2004   Modified: 2005-05-25   Hits: 106)

Indian President meets with Free Software Founder

The President of India has met with Richard Stallman, the leading light of the free and open source software (FOSS) movement. Dr. Stallman has devoted his life to countering Microsoft's policy of selling software that cannot be changed because its code is kept a secret. It also cannot be shared because of licensing restrictions. Dr. Stallman said the President was "receptive'' to his views that development of software should be seen as a political and social issue and not just from the technological point of view. At a meeting that lasted 40 minutes, they discussed the need to give people an alternative way to use computers by popularising open source software (OSS).

http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/01/stories/2004020104231000.htm

(Added: Tue Feb 03 2004   Modified: 2004-02-04   Hits: 94)

Linux steps into the limelight

Linux has long been the darling of highly-skilled programmers. But now, the program is going mainstream, reports BBC technology correspondent Clark Boyd. Some think open-source could be the way of the future, especially for developing countries. Dimo Calovksi, who works on development issues at the United Nations, believes open source could tap into the developing world's natural strengths. "In order to be a good information technology professional, to be a developer, programmer, system administrator, one has to have a problem-solving mentality," he said. "This is something that a lot of people in developing countries have. It is a natural for them to make do with little, and to produce something of value out of nothing."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3436289.stm

(Added: Mon Feb 02 2004   Modified: 2004-02-03   Hits: 102)

UNESCO Free Software Portal

The UNESCO Free Software Portal gives access to documents and websites which are references for the Free Software/Open Source Technology movement. It is also a gateway to resources related to Free Software.

http://portal.unesco.org/ci/ev.php?URL_ID=12034&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201/

(Added: Mon Feb 02 2004   Modified: 2006-05-02   Hits: 205)

The Free Software Community After 20 Years: With great but incomplete success, what now?

Richard Stallman reviews twenty years of efforts by the free software community to provide a complete free software system. He concludes by saying "The most effective way to strengthen our community for the future is to spread understanding of the value of freedom--to teach more people to recognize the moral unacceptability of non-free software. People who value freedom are, in the long term, its best and essential defense." The article also includes reactions by readers.

http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=04/01/05/1146229

(Added: Tue Jan 20 2004   Modified: 2004-01-20   Hits: 98)

Free and open source software activities in European Information Society initiatives

The aim of this website is to provide information on activities conducted within European programmes and initiatives with the objective of raising awareness and understanding of free and open source software (F/OSS). Links to European activities related to open source and to some well-known websites on the subject are provided.

http://europa.eu.int/information_society/activities/opensource/index_en.htm

(Added: Tue Jan 06 2004   Modified: 2006-04-19   Hits: 92)

Free Software Foundation Europe

The FSF Europe was launched on March 10th 2001 and supports all European aspects of Free Software; especially the GNU Project. We are actively supporting development of Free Software and furthering GNU-based Operating Systems such as GNU/Linux. Also, we provide an assistance centre for politicians, lawyers and journalists in order to secure the legal, political and social future of Free Software.

http://www.fsfeurope.org/

(Added: Tue Jan 06 2004   Modified: 2005-05-25   Hits: 97)

Free Software Foundation India

FSF India is a non-profit organisation committed to advocating, promoting and propagating the use and development of swatantra (free as in freedom) software in India. Our goal is to ensure the long term adoption of free software, and aim for the day when all software will be free. This includes educating people about software freedom and convincing them that it is the freedom that matters. They regard non-free software as a problem to be solved, not as a solution to any problem.

http://www.fsf.org.in/

(Added: Tue Jan 06 2004   Modified: 2006-04-20   Hits: 80)

The Free Software Definition

Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software: * The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0). * The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. * The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2). * The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms. Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to anyone anywhere. Being free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay for permission.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

(Added: Tue Jan 06 2004   Modified: 2004-01-06   Hits: 89)

The GNU Project

The GNU Project was launched in 1984 to develop a complete Unix-like operating system which is free software: the GNU system. (GNU is a recursive acronym for "GNU's Not Unix"; it is pronounced "guh-noo".) Variants of the GNU operating system, which use the kernel Linux, are now widely used; though these systems are often referred to as "Linux", they are more accurately called GNU/Linux systems.

http://www.gnu.org/

(Added: Tue Jan 06 2004   Modified: 2005-05-25   Hits: 104)

Linux reaches Afghanistan

Afghanistan is being rebuilt with the help of the Linux operating system. Working with Afghanistan's Ministry of Communications, the UN Development Program has been putting civil servants through classes that familiarise them with the open source Linux operating system. Linux is becoming a favourite among many organisations who want greater control over what they can do with software.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3067871.stm

(Added: Fri Jul 18 2003   Modified: 2004-01-06   Hits: 153)