Fsf-friends

fsf-friends@gnu.org.in

3393 discussions

Malayalam OS
by Mahesh T Pai 17 Nov '02

17 Nov '02

Today's New Indian Express, Kochi edn has a good write up on how the govt is brushing asie the achievements in adding Malayalam support and localisation of GNU/Linux. If only more papers could see through the smoke screen. Regards, Mahesh T Pai.

2 1

Article on RMS and Free Software on The Telegraph
by Sayamindu Dasgupta 17 Nov '02

17 Nov '02

There is a one page long article. Thanx to Arko Provo Mukherjee for letting me know -sdg- -- Sayamindu Dasgupta [http://www.peacefulaction.org/sayamindu/] * GNU is Not Unix * .... Towards World Liberation .... http://www.gnu.org

1 0

Sunday magazine article on RMS & the FSM :: The Mathrubhumi
by Raghavendra Bhat 16 Nov '02

16 Nov '02

An interview with RMS by the Mathrubhumi will be published in their Sunday newspaper magazine tomorrow. -- ragOO, VU2RGU :: Visit us at http://symonds.net/~fsug-kochi/ Helping to keep the Air-Waves FREE Amateur Radio Helping to keep your Software FREE the GNU Project Helping to keep the W W W FREE Debian GNU/${kernel}

1 0

FROM GOA: Library Software (fwd)
by Frederick Noronha 16 Nov '02

16 Nov '02

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Hello Sir, I'm Shivprasad Ajgaonkar an ex-student of Goa Engineering College (computer) and this mail is in regards to the visit of Sir Richard Stallman to our College. Sir, I've coded a Library Software for GNU which I'd like to put for GPL. The Software Details and requirements are as Follows..... SEARCH TECHNIQES User can give a search for Books / Journals by various options viz. 1. Title 2. Author / Editor 3. Accession No / Journal No 4. I.S.B.N / I.S.S.N. 5. Classification No. 6. Topic. User can narrow the search by selecting the Field and Class option. In which �Field� refers to Branch and �Class� refers to Year or Standard. The search tells the Availability of the book as well. This saves time of user as well as of staff at the counter. A user can give a search by topic and he gets the book details which contains that topic. It is often found that users are never sure of their spellings especially of Indian authors like "BALGURUSWAMI" which can be spelled as "BALAGURUSWAMI" or "BALGURUSWAMI" taking this into consideration, the "SOUNDS LIKE" feature is kept so that the user doesn't face any problems while searching. By SOUNDS LIKE feature, N. D. BHATT can be spelled as N. D BHAT or PROGRAMMING IN C can be spelled as PROGRAMING IN SEA. Principle is that it should sound like the required search, spelling doesn�t matter. Imagine a situation where the user wants a book urgently but he finds that all the copies of that book are already issued to other members. On Clicking on the accession no of the book, the user gets the information about the person to whom the book with required Title and Author is issued, so that the user can contact and request for the book. DEMAND FEATURE Now, imagine a student staying far away from the college and is badly in need of a book�.. comes to college�.. the result is book not available�.. To reduce this, the feature of DEMANDS is introduced so that user can place a demand for the book sitting at home and book the copy for him and collect the same within specified date. Suppose user places a demand for a book which is not available at the counter then the user gets an AUTOMATED MAIL whenever the book is available. ADDITIONAL VITAL FEATURES User gets an account of books demanded by / issued to him and number of more book he can borrow / demand. Automated Mail Reminder is sent to the User 2 days before the date of Return and Every day after the date of Return. On every Member�s Birthday an Automated mail is sent to the member wishing him/her �HAPPY BIRTHDAY� Administrator can send mail to All Members / All Student Members / All Staff Members whenever required. E.g. Sending Greetings for Diwali, Sending invitation for monthly staff meeting. Sending mail to all members to make them aware of changed fine structure, etc. MENU AT THE COUNTER Issuing and Returning of Books can be done by scanning the barcode on the book and the Membership Card. Counter will have a menu for Issuing a book, Returning of book and Payment of Fines. No member of a Library can escape from paying Fines. Whenever the member comes to return a book, Software will indicate that this person has to pay fine and until and unless he pays the fine, the book is not returned and if book is not returned fine will go on increasing. (Amount of fine is set by the Administrator). ADMINISTARTOR RIGHTS Add / Edit / Delete Books, Members & Journals' information. Similarly he has right to Add / Edit / Delete Section & Fields Administrator has Mini Address Book wherein he can store the email Address of publisher / supplier and send him online order for books via INTERNET. The Administrator has to make an entry like Title, Author, No of Copies required, etc. and the AUTOMATED EMAIL goes to the Suppliers giving him the details of the book. Software provides a script to Generate and Print Membership Card (with Barcode and Members photograph and Librarian�s Signature) and Barcodes for Books. Librarian / Administrator has rights to enter/edit the college/school name, Librarian�s Name and E-MAIL ID, Set Standard Values viz. Fine Rate, Fine for Loss of Card, No. of Books issued to the members, No of days a member can keep the book etc. And very important Feature is Administrator gets the log of Books issued, Books Returned, Fines Paid, etc. �Librarian has to Show the account of all the books bought during the Year.� Taking this into consideration the facility is kept so that librarian gets details for the books bought between 2 specified dates. To reduce Librarian / Administrators task, two additional users viz. Member & Book are added to make entry of Members and Books respectively. MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENT: SERVER : HARDWARE : Pentium II 450MHz or above RAM 32 MB or above SOFTWARE : Linux As Operating system Apache Web Server PhP (Scripting Language) MySQL Database Server. CLIENT : HARDWARE : Pentium II 450MHz or above RAM 32 MB or above Barcode Scanner at Counter. (optional) Scanner to Scan Photographs. (optional) SOFTWARE : ANY O.S. WITH BROWSER WHY PHP ? Php is new and strong scripting language works with a web server. Strong feature of Php is, it is executed at the server and sends just the HTML output to the client thus saves the access time. Database handling thought Php is simpler. WHY MySQL ? MySQL is free if used with the Web-Server. And mainly because of Soundex function of MySQL. Search results are faster. Handles Large Data. Catch all the cricket action. Download Yahoo! Score tracker

2 1

Fwd: Re: [gscp] Goa Syllabus for Linux
by Daryl Martyris 16 Nov '02

16 Nov '02

Fred, There are a few issues here 1. We are talking about computer skills not computer aided learning. That is a seperate topic in itself. I have looked at the syllabi for a couple of other states, and they don't differ much..a spreadsheet is a spreadsheet is a spreadsheet, and a desktop is a desktop and there are just so many things to be learnt about them. How they are taught is another matter, and not part of the syllabus IMHO. 2. It you think its possible to generisize, thats great. In looking through the syllabus, I felt that it was necessary to replace windows specific terms with Linux specific terms. In short, if your fear is that your efforts will be frowned upon by the pubdits, rest easy, the board has already accepted the de facto situation where the syllabus is being taught with Linux. All that is needed is to present them with a new syllabus that is either generic or LInux specific. In the latter case schools will have the choice of following either >From: Frederick Noronha <fred(a)bytesforall.org> >Reply-To: gscp(a)yahoogroups.com >To: gscp(a)yahoogroups.com, fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in >CC: "Nagarjuna G." <nagarjun(a)hbcse.tifr.res.in> >Subject: Re: [gscp] Goa Syllabus for Linux >Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2002 11:42:41 +0530 (IST) > >Two points: > >(i) The syllabus does not need to be "Linuxised", it just needs to be made >product-neutral and OS-neutral, and task-oriented. > >(ii) Secondly, apart from just doing the above, it also needs to be >reevaluated. Look at the crap they're being taught in schools in Goa! > >I could easily volunteer anytime. But educationists are going to turn >around and say that the syllabi was framed by people without a background >in pedagogy. > >Apparently Dr Nagarajuna of the TIFR is working on collating comparative >syllabi of different institutions (if I recall right... my 'hard-disc' >is too cluttered). We need to see what the others are doing, and perhaps >go in for a best-case practise. FN > >On Wed, 13 Nov 2002, Daryl Martyris wrote: > > > > While Kerala forges ahead on developing a Linux computer curriculum, our >very own Goa computer syllabus needs to be Linux-ized. Linux is de-facto >being used in all the 18 schools we have finished setting up with LTSP, but >we need a volunteer to go through the syllabus and replace the MS terms >with Linux ones e.g. Windows with Linux, Ms Office with abiword, Excel >with Gnumeric, so that it can be presented to the Goa Board. > > ..about 1 hour's worth work..any takers..? > > > > Syllabus attached if anyone's up for this. > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Frederick Noronha > > To: Arun M > > Cc: gscp(a)yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 10:53 PM > > Subject: [gscp] LINK: Volunteers required for textbook preperation > > > > > > This is for both English and Malayalam. FN > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > > > > Section on Wordprocessing, programming, spreadsheet(partial),desktop > > (partial) done. Materials on Freesoftware needs to be made so that it > > can be added as boxes. Write up on tools like Dr Genius has to be made. > > > > More important is support service network. Arranging for training master > > trainers. Providing distro CDs. > > > > > Can you put up the syllabus also, so that we know what exactly is the > > > scope of the text book? > > > > Area & sub Area > > --------------- > > > > * Word Processing > > > > + technological terms & tools > > > > > > Curriculum Objectives > > --------------------- > > > > + To open word processor > > + To format typed text with an aesthetic sense and accuracy > > + To insert clip arts and word arts appropriately > > + To identify the situation where the templates can be used. > > + To use template as part of the day day to activity. > > + To edit and modify text and graphics so as to suit individual > > situation. > > + To insert table in a document, and format it. > > + To select the most appropriate tool for specific task. > > + To check spelling and grammar > > > > > > * Spread sheet > > > > + tools and methods > > + technological terms & tools > > + practical issues > > > > Curriculum Objectives > > --------------------- > > > > + To open Spread sheet > > + To use appropriate &n various tasks. > > + To identify most suitable method to navigate through cells > > + To apply formula in a cell and bring its relation to other cells. > > + To format cells and sheets. > > + To apply logic in accomplishing a task. > > + To aesthetically arrange a work book. > > + To use graph and charts using wizards. > > to enhance communication efficiency. > > + To easily prepare summary and & statistics. > > + To insert hyperlinks to other documents. > > > > > > * Presentation software > > > > + tools and methods > > + technological terms & tools > > + practical issues > > + As a powerful teaching and learning tool > > > > Curriculum Objectives > > --------------------- > > > > + To open presentation software > > + To use appropriate tool for various tasks. > > + To identify the most suitable method to prepare > > slides > > + To insert and format texts in slides. > > + To insert pictures in slides > > + To insert word art on slides > > + To apply colours,textures designs and pictures as background. > > + To apply background designs. > > + To use graphs and charts to enhance communication efficiency > > + To use custom animation and sound > > + To use slide transition > > + To insert sounds videos motion clips etc. in presentation > > + To insert hyper links to other slides, other presentation > > and other documentation. > > > > > > * Introduction to Graphical Desktop (GNOME ?) > > > > + tools and methods > > + technological terms & tools > > + practical issues > > > > Curriculum Objectives > > --------------------- > > > > + Logging in to the graphical desktop. > > + To navigate through the desktop > > + To create a graphical file and save it. > > + To delete, copy, move, rename and change attribute. > > + To create a directory and move its location. > > + To customize desktop. > > > > > > * Learning support applications > > > > > > Curriculum Objectives > > --------------------- > > > > + To identify the power of the mathematical > > drawing tools available in Dr. Genius > > + To enable the student to use IT tools and applications > > for effective learning and communications if various subjects > > like physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, SS etc. > > > > > > * Introduction programming. > > > > + Basic Elements > > + Syntax > > + Conditional > > + loops, functions > > + simple program > > > > > > Curriculum Objectives > > --------------------- > > > > + To understand basic elements ( variables, statements, expressions ) > > + To understand basic structure of a program (syntax) > > + Basic functions (I/O , Maths) > > + Control structure. > > + To understand iteration. > > + To understand structured programming. > > + To use programming for solving simple problems (maths) > > and to write, run and debug simple programs. > > > > * Introduction GNU/Linux > > > > + History of GNU > > + Ethical issues & free software concepts. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Fsf-edu mailing list > > Fsf-edu(a)mm.gnu.org.in > > http://mm.gnu.org.in/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fsf-edu > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Sponsor > > ADVERTISEMENT > > > > > > > > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > > gscp-unsubscribe(a)yahoogroups.com > > > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963

10 9

Swathanthra Malayalam Computing Project at Savannah
by Baiju M 16 Nov '02

16 Nov '02

http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/smc

1 0

LINK: No Windows in West Bengal schools?
by Frederick Noronha 15 Nov '02

15 Nov '02

http://www.zdnetindia.com/news/national/stories/nsl,70367.html No Windows in West Bengal schools? Indranil Chakraborty, Kolkata, November 13, 2002 The West Bengal government is considering using open-source operating systems (OS) like Linux as an alternative to Microsoft Corp's Windows OS in its school computer literacy programme, and has approached hardware maker International Business Machines (IBM) to provide the system support.

1 0

Re: Sibrary Software
by Frederick Noronha 15 Nov '02

15 Nov '02

Really sorry, I forgot to include Shivprasad Ajgaonkar's email id in the past mail. It is i_am_shiv(a)yahoo.co.in Tks, FN

1 0

Free Software: What does freedom really mean... to whom?
by Frederick Noronha 15 Nov '02

15 Nov '02

>From geert(a)desk.nl Sun Nov 10 15:12:16 2002 > 'Free' Software doesn't mean the same as zero-cost software. It means > that, unlike proprietory software, it gives freedom to its users as > outlined in the GNU General Public License. That's a bit of a myth, Frederic. Free software potentially only gives freedom to those users who are capable of programming, who know how to write code and want to change the source code of a program. For non-technical users this freedom is a nice idea but meaningless. With the rise in users, coders are a diminishing group of people. Normal users may expect other 'freedoms' or values. I think it is time for the programmers community to take this in account and stop the Stallman talk of freedom, free lunch and free beer once and for all. These metaphors are not only confusing but also running out in a time when free software really becomes popular and transcends its original scene where every user by default was a programmer. It is time to take the non-technical user into account. That's the 'cultural turn' the free software movement is heading towards. Ciao, Geert --------------END OF GEERT's NOTE----------------------------------- Geert, There was another point that I was thinking of, in parallel. Free Software talks about four freedoms. Freedom 0, 1, 2 and 3. Perhaps it would make sense to include a fifth freedom: Freedom of users to get access to computing power at a price that does not exclude them simply because they don't have the resources to pay. Tell me if this is being unrealistic.... Of course we're not still misconstruing the word 'free' to mean zero-price here. But the fact that GPL'd software is copyable without unfair restrictions on sharing it with your neighbour, surely means that it mostly cannot/will not be priced at astronomical prices, as in the case of proprietorial or non-free software. This may not seem important from a programers point of view. But from a user's point of view, it is. More so in the price-sensitive countries which we live in. As a user myself (who hasn't done a line of code in my life), this issue is something that has been gaining my attention subconsciously and otherwise. It is great that the idealism of the Free Software programmers eggs them on to write world-class software, often (or in many cases) without thinking of financial returns alone. That they share the fruit of their work with others is also great. So is the fact that this helps spread the process for creation and sharing of knowledge. But where does the user fit into this whole project? On another issue, I think that the ideals of Free Software need to be extended to other fields too (including journalism, where the money has become good in recent years in countries like India but increasingly journalists are feeling choked by their inability to express themselves freely). Maybe there is still confusion in understanding the issues involved. But this debate could help. Copying this to others for a wider debate. Flames welcome. FN -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 BYTESFORALL www.bytesforall.org * GNU-LINUX http://linuxinindia.pitas.com Email fred(a)bytesforall.org * Mobile +9822 122436 (Goa) * Saligao Goa India Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference

6 8

Re: [Fsf-india] [Fsf-press] Press Release from FSF India
by CK Raju 15 Nov '02

15 Nov '02

That was an excellent artwork, timed perfectly to match the rhetoric. FSF should be smart enough now, to eliminate and nip out in the bud, 'mock representations' of Free Software, when it comes up for discussion at Government level, to avoid recurrance of 'comic history' and further confusion. Well done and cheers. CK Raju

1 0

Jump to page:

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

Fsf-friends