Frederick Noronha (FN) on Thu, 21 Aug 2003 04:52:51 +0200 (CEST) |
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<nettime> noronhagram x3: hydro-hubris, freeing computers, seven steps |
[digested @ nettime] "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org> SOUTHASIA-HIMAL: Hydro-hubris... and other issues (Aug 2003) Freeing computers ... in schools Seven steps to software samadhi... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 00:14:54 +0530 (IST) From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org> Subject: SOUTHASIA-HIMAL: Hydro-hubris... and other issues (Aug 2003) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- In the August 2003 issue of Himal South Asian (www.himalmag.com) Hydro-hubris What does the Government of India's proposal to link rivers across the landmass mean not just to India but also to South Asia's waters. A detailed inquiry by three eminent water experts from India. Ramaswamy R Iyer on The Making of a Subcontinental Fiasco (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/essay.htm) Himanshu Thakkar on Flood of Nonsense (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/perspective.htm) Sudhirendar Sharma on Suresh Prabhu and the Art of Selling Delusions (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/perspective_2.htm) '71 once again A battle soldier reminisces about the India-Bangladesh war of 1971. Subtle and evocative, the story hints at the futility of war with its share of lighter moments. Bahauddins' War by Ishrat Firdousi (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/reflections_1.htm) Afghanistan's manhandled economy Where is the Afghan economy heading under the care of donors? Economist CP Chandrashekar takes a close look in Aid, Expatriates and the Afghan Economy (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/analysis.htm) Chennai underbelly Read about the inner dynamics of the Chennai sex trade. Sex Work in the South by Syed Ali Mujtaba (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/report.htm) 'Supreme' courts? A critical look at the judicial system in India that has set up legal barricades around itself to ward off scrutiny. Contemptible Justice by Prashant Bhushan, Advocate, Supreme Court of India (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/commentary_in.htm) Review of Basic Water Science A comprehensive critique of hydraulic orthodoxy authored by the Kathmandu water engineer, Ajaya Dixit. (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/review_2.htm) Review of Unbecoming Citizens A reviewer, Bhim Subba, once labeled a criminal by the Government of Bhutan for fleeing the country, gives a thumbs up to SOAS author Michael Hutt's book on the Lhotshampa refugees. (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/review.htm) Our regular features Southasiasphere by CK Lal (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/southasianphere.htm) Mediafile (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/mediafile.htm) Lastpage by Kanak Mani Dixit (http://www.himalmag.com/2003/august/lastpage.htm) Announcements WISCOMP: The Scholar of Peace Fellowships The Appan Menon Memorial Award for 2003 Vacancy Researcher - South Asia Region Amnesty International (International Secretariat) www.himalmag.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 07:33:09 +0530 (IST) From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org> Subject: Freeing computers ... in schools FREEING COMPUTERS ... IN SCHOOLS Or, why Free Software makes sense in education Riza is a four-and-half Indian kid. For her, the computer is a toy. Instead of adding one more difficult 'subject' to her tiring school-day, she occasionally plays educational games on the PC. When her friends come over, they end up learning without even being conscious of it. One girl her size, who's never handled computers below, drags on the mouse. As she moves it across the mouse-pad, the image of a furry bear gets jerkily unveiled on the monitor. Another younger kid just dances to the music that a programme called 'Bump and Jump' plays. This particular piece of software was written by a team of Swedish students. They would like to get a thank-you email from anyone willing to take the trouble. Even if you don't, you can of course continue to use it. The best part is nobody paid for the CD they're using. It's not pirated either. You can run it off any computer, by just booting up from your CD-Rom drive! It comes in a 'distro' (distribution) called FreEDUC. See http://www.ofset.org/projects/edusoft/edusoft.html Okay, so what's the point? Free Software is opening up a whole new world. Education is one of its major beneficiaries, globally. Are we sitting up to take note, though? You have Free Software tools that help students, whether they're in kindergarten or studying complex streams of engineering. Let's start at basics... It's name might be a bit misleading. The term 'free' refers to 'freedom' and not price (as in, zero-cost). Free Software, and its more-recent offshoot called Open Source, gives the users a number of 'freedoms'. Unlike in the world of proprietorial (pay-per-computer) software, the user has the right to run a Free Software program for any purpose, study how it works, redistribute copies, and also improve the program and release improvements to the public. In real terms, this means that it is next to impossible to charge huge amounts for that software you so badly need to make your PC productive. This is very relevant for a resource-poor, talent-rich country like India. Secondly, because knowledge is so freely shared, Free Software allows for very low entry barriers. Anyone can see the source-code of a program (without which, you wouldn't have a clue how it works) or contact coders who have played a key role in writing this program itself. Niranjan Rajani, a South Asian researcher based in Finland, recently put together a study titled 'Free as in Education: Significance of the Free/Libre and Open Source Software for Developing Countries' argues about the benefits of FLOSS, as it's also called. See http://www.maailma.kaapeli.fi/FLOSS_for_dev.html Says he: "Take the example of education. In terms of computer education, FLOSS has no match. Nothing else provides that much value to learners as FLOSS does. You're free to tinker with the code. Not only that, you can get in touch with the people who wrote the code and ask why this or that was done in a particular piece of code." Rajani adds: "FLOSS has a complementary and reciprocal relationship to education. One needs an educated section of the population to fulfil the full potential of FLOSS, and at the same time FLOSS helps, enhances, and complements education by providing tools to promote education." But it's not just computer education that we're talking about. Free Software has a big role to play, and here are ten good reasons why: o Not by bread (money) alone: Because Free Software evangelists are not motivated by money alone, chances are that they will work on areas which have the highest social need. Not just those that pay attention to the luxurious needs of the affluent. It's no coincidence that education is high on their agenda, both within India and abroad. o Some of the best brains are here. That's a fact. The strong sense of 'community' makes it very easy to share software, ideas and solutions. o Anyone can get involved. Entry barriers in contributing to Free Software are very low. Educators can, and are, shaping this movement and how responsive it is to the world of education. o Indian concerns, Indian developers: If we don't solve our own problems, will a giant corporation in the US do so for us? FLOSS makes it easy for anyone with the motivation, and a bright idea, to contribute to an exciting global network. And, the software world shows us that people contribute their skills and work not only for money. They do so for altruism, and a sense of sharing knowledge. They do it "just for fun" or because they find it a challenging task. They do it to develop new skills, or even in anticipation of indirect rewards (like improving job opportunities). o Affordability: Free Software is not about price. It's about freedom. Yet, in cash-strapped countries like India, the affordability of this tool makes it particularly suitable for deployment in education. o Support community worldwide: To scare off users from Free Software, one argument is that there are few firms behind this global campaign. Yet, once a region builds up its skills -- and we're fast getting there in India -- then these carry on spreading fast. Dozens or hundreds of mailing-lists and newsgroups exist that offer support from a worldwide community of users and programmers. o Indian-language solutions: If there are a handful of volunteers, it is possible to make rapid strides in Indianising software. Even for small languages, which proprietorial software might not see as viable. We can't restrict computing and technology to a handful of English-language speakers in this part of the globe. Networks like the Indic-computing-users mailing list are doing interesting work on this front. See http://indic-computing.sourceforge.net/ o Adapt, rebuild, reuse: You don't have to re-invent the wheel. Anyone interested can adapt existing software for their needs. In tiny Goa on the Indian west coast, the local chapter of ILUG (India Linux Users Groups) rebuilt a 'distro' that was meant to make it easy and uniform to install by even unskilled people in schools. Sankarshan Mukhopadhyay from eastern India wrote recently: "If you happen to meet Arvind Yadav, can you pass on a message -- my friends have successfully implemented LTSP (a terminal-server, which allows for the use of earlier generation hardware) with graphics thanks to his wonderful Goa Schools CD which he so kindly provided to me." Says Arun <arun@gnu.org.in> "We have tested gcompris (a set of educational software) in Malayalam (a language spoken by over 30 million, but still awaiting computing solutions in many spheres). Some games like typing tutor needs to be modified for Indian languages." This is an international educational software, who's name is based on the French term "I understand". o The interest is here: In India itself, a number of groups are working to adapt Free Software to education. There's even one called LIFE. This list is at life@mm.hbcse.tifr.res.in, or write to its admin Prof Nagarjuna G. <nagarjun@hbcse.tifr.res.in>. See the box alongside. o It this won't work, nothing will... In the software world, the FLOSS movement has shown its ability to produce results. This is one area of life where the alternative is proving to be really good. Maybe better than the 'real' thing, i.e. the dominant model of software production! To wind up, some pointers on getting started. Using Free Software often means that you need an additional operating system (OS) to run it on. (Some software, on CDs like GNUWin or The Open CD, run on the Windows platform. But this is rare.) You can install a new OS alongside an existing OS like Windows, provided you have the space for it. You should be able to access much of your earlier work in GNU/Linux too, unless it is created under proprietorial file formats. GNU/Linux-based computing can achieve almost everything that a computer run on proprietorial software can, and more. CDs of Free Software can be download from the Net (a laborous process given the slow lines most of us use in India), or copied quite legally from friends. It can even be purchased from outlets in Bangalore or Mumbai, Belgaum or Pondicherry at a price of Rs 25-50 per CD. Many Indian cities have GNU/Linux user-groups, called LUGs or GLUGs. Find a list on www.linux-india.org or check gnu.org.in Paid services are also available, but if expecting friendly neighbourhood support, a little bit of politeness could bring you support that money simply can't buy! -- FREDERICK NORONHA is a Goa-based freelance journalist, who often writes on IT issues. He is actively involved with the GNU/Linux movement in India. For more details, contact him at fred@bytesforall.org For use as a separate box please: ------------------------------------------------------ Tools... available within arms reach: ------------------------------------------------------ Below are some tools available with the gcompris and drgenius and other GNU/Linux packages. junior-math # Basic arithmetic. Q&A. junior-toys # Simple toys to adorn your desktop. junior-typing # Typing tutor tuxtype # Educational Typing Tutor Game Starring Tux gperiodic # Periodic Table ding # language learning (default: german-english) 12e # English to spanish translation dictionary multiple versions of pool (billiards) games ksokoban # excellent game to teach logic. mathwar # A flash card game designed to teach maths. garlic # [Chemistry] a free molecular visualization program ghemical # A GNOME molecular modelling environment (Also Debian junior games for the network, simulation games, text-based games, junior internet tools, junior programming, junior puzzles, junior system tools and ucblogo - a dialect of lisp using turtle graphics famous for teaching kids.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- B O O K M A R K S ##################################################### ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For a listing of case-studies of GNU/Linux's use in education, visit http://casestudy.seul.org Schoolforge works to promote free and open resources for education. Join Schoolforge-discuss at http://schoolforge.net/sfdiscuss.php. One condition is that members must participate in discussions. As the volunteers say: "We are all busy, but we are all doing our best to collaborate wherever possible." They also encourage the setting up of Schoolforge units and meeting places wherever possible. Recently, a project has been started to produce a free school administration software package. It is at the planning stage and has need of volunteers to help define the requirements of the system and assist with the construction of it. See http://schooltool.sourceforge.net Some useful mailing lists include the demo-schools network in South India, the international schoolforge, and the Linux-Delhi schools network. See below: Demo-schools-discuss@nongnu.org, schoolforge-discuss@schoolforge.net, school@linux-delhi.org See also linuxforkids.com FREDERICK NORONHA is a Goa, India based journalist, who often writes on IT and development issues. He is co-founder of BytesForAll. He can be contacted via fred@bytesforall.org and welcomes mail and links related to the issues above. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick Noronha (FN) | http://www.fredericknoronha.net Freelance Journalist | http://www.bytesforall.org http://goalinks.pitas.com | http://joingoanet.shorturl.com http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks ------------------------------------------------------------------------- T: 0091.832.2409490 or 2409783 M: 0 9822 122436 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 11:26:32 +0530 (IST) From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org> Subject: Seven steps to software samadhi... Interesting ;-) FN --__--__-- Message: 6 from: LinuxLingam <linuxlingam@bhairon.com> to: The Linux-Delhi mailing list <ilugd@lists.linux-delhi.org>, linux-india-general@lists.sourceforge.net date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 16:18:12 +0530 cc: bg2000g@indiya.com, bg2000g@indya.com, fred@bytesforall.com subject: [LIG] [ilugd] 7 steps to software samadhi reply-To: linux-india-general@lists.sourceforge.net hi bharat, read your email with interest. especially the part on why you wish to migrate to gnuLinux. i have discovered an insightful trend over the past few years: 1) those who *react* to the problems they face in the M$ soup of OS and applications, *rush* to gnuLinux, are totally dazzled and bewildered by the completely different paradigm, and sobered, crawl back to their M$, with a 'been there, done that' attitude towards gnuLinux 2) those who *respond* to the problems they face in the claustrophobic and constrained world of M$ OS and applications, also realize M$ is really a small fraction, the visible aspect of the looming iceberg ahead, into which they crash. some aspects of the problems extend to almost all proprietory, non-freedom based software, on *any* platform. those who *respond* to the problem, always migrate successfully. so don't react, just respond. don't blame M$ or any other proprietory software company. Make your thirst for freedom, choices, of being responsible and in control of your computing, your real fuel. the desire for 'muft' and 'mukt' software should be your fuel. so how do you respond? i call it the seven steps to software samadhi by linuxlingam. step 1) get hold of a cd of gnuWin2 this cd contains freedom-based software for windoze. install openoffice, mozilla(web browser), chat software, and other stuff for windows. start using them, taking files back and forth between these and your other software, until you feel quite familiar with these software. step 2) get hold of a cd of knoppix. this is a 'live' cd of gnulinux. pop it in your cdrom, boot the machine, and presto! your pc boots into gnuLinux, forgetting the windoze in your 'c:' drive. the entire operating system and soup sits in the ram of your machine, and works off the cd. explore knoppix, reding the helpful articles provided in the browser window. explore the applications, softare, and other stuff available on the cd. you will find your openoffice, mozilla, and all other software, right there under knoppix, running under gnuLinux. so you have conquered half the battlefield already. log off from knoppix, remove the cd from the hard drive, and reboot the machine, and you are back into the world of win doze. as if nothing happened. step 3) at this point, if you feel you must migrate, buy a very good book on gnuLinux. i recommend peter norton, but you can go pick up a collection of books if you want,. this is always helpful. start reading the book, and playing with knoppix to understand the initial topics. step 4) get hold of monkeyLinux, or dragonLinux, and install them into windoze! these are special versions of gnulinux that install in the start menu of windoze, but on running them, they actually give you a complete gnulinux os! so from within windows, you can use gnuLinux. step 5) reading the book, and with help from mailing lists and friends, and tldp.org, yolinux.org, etc., learn how to partition your hard disk, and dual-boot it into windows and gnulinux. so you can use gnuLinux, and when you find you have to get back to windoze, or have to use that application not with an equivalent yet on gnulinux, use windoze. step 6) configure your gnuLinux, to network with other win based machine on the network, to access your legacy win data over partitions, etc. make sure you do all your work more and more in gnuLinux alone. step 7) my favourite one: the day you discover you don't boot into win for weeks, reformat the win partition, and free up space for more space for your data files, or install a second distribution of gnuLinux, or yet another alternative operating system, on your pc. and do go and distribute the cds of gnuWin and knoppix to your other colleagues as well. so the essence: migration is never instant. it happens in stages, and takes time, in days, weeks, or about 1 to 3 months to the outer-limit. enjoy the migration, it is a beautiful adventure in itself, and quite rewarding. it will teach you many new things. happy gnulinux software samadhi. :-) LL *** copyright 2003: LinuxLIngam. verbatim copying, distribution, and sharing of the above text is allowed in any media, so long as this notice is preserved. _______________________________________________ Linux-india-general mailing list Linux-india-general@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/linux-india-general - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - # distributed via <nettime>: no commercial use without permission # <nettime> is a moderated mailing list for net criticism, # collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets # more info: majordomo@bbs.thing.net and "info nettime-l" in the msg body # archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: nettime@bbs.thing.net