"DOES FLOSS (Free/Libre and Opne Source Software) offer developing countries any significant alternative in addressing crucial problems, such as the alleviation of poverty, the democratization of society, the reduction of literacy, confilict reduction, access to knowledge, dealing with natural calamities and other emergencies, etc? Does FLOSS have the potential to help bridge the digital divide?
"In our view, the answer to most of the above questions is a definite YES, but without attributing some magic-wand status to any technology, especially Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), including FLOSS."
-- Niranjan Rajani, in the introduction to his study 'Free as in Education: Significance of Free/Libre and Open Source Software for Developing Countries' For details contact niranjan dot rajani at maailma dot net (online versions available)
**PRESS RELEASE** A new knowledge-based initiative from iLUG-Kolkata --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
For the Kolkata chapter of the Indian Linux Users Group (iLUG-Kolkata), 2003 has been one of the best years till date. With the commendable and much commented upon presence at COMPASS 2003, a spanking new-look website with lots of nifty features and an upward swing in the membership (currently at over 325), it seems that things are looking good and as the ditty goes they can only get better.
The Study Resource Group Initiative
iLUG-Kolkata has managed to notch up another first - the Study Resource Group initiative (or SRGi). Based on the concept of sharing knowledge by proper collation and classification techniques, SRGi aims to be the nodal point of dissemination of focussed knowledge as well as become a well thumbed information resource.
Every person who tinkers around with a computer becomes in due course of time, a store of some amount of knowledge and information distilled with the touch of personal experience. More often than not, such tips are shared amongst a close circle of friends and/or kept to oneself. It is this knowledge base that SRGi desires to tap and publish. Thus SRGi is aimed at being an open-ended informational matrix of these work-notes, observations, first-person accounts, mini-HOWTOs, notes/remarks on quality of documentation on specific topics etc
SRGi members are Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in their chosen area of expertise. Along with volunteers from iLUG-Kolkata, SMEs aim to create a rich knowledge base available for perusal under convenient licensing regimes. The authors writing constructive articles on various topics in their respective areas of expertise will definitely be one of the cornerstones of SRGi, however it will not be the *only* stone in the structure.
The SRGi will comprise of Articles, Reviews, Tutorials, Notes, Pointers to useful resources on various topics. By having the capability to easily allow people add to existing information can help a long way in tapping into the latent informational resources available with individuals and publishing it for the benefit of all and sundry. More than a single volunteer may wish to work together at a time of a segment/article in a collaborative manner (e.g. the Newbie FAQ Collaborative Book at the website).
At a "micro-level" aspect, the SRGi is also looking into the possibility of assisting in Bengali Translations of available Linux Documentation (a huge task by any standard). The SRGi is actively looking at the inputs and lessons to be learnt from the on-going Gnome-Bangla Translation Project.
The ultimate idea is the SRG to be a collaborative, community based, open documentation/informational matrix, with the value proposition being the wealth of personal experience of the SRGi members, that may or may not always fall in the category of the typical HOWTOs, but are highly useful resources none-the-less!
In it's endeavor to evolve as a truly open, community-based information matrix, the SRGi has undertaken a bold step which makes it stand out among all other projects of similar aim and/or nature. With its deep commitment to FLOSS philosophy, the project will attempt to foster a inclusive social environment.
By allowing SRGi authors/contributors to choose from among a basket of 4 basic licenses (all of which are FLOSS friendly in nature) to publish their content, the project expects to empower the contributor(s) and ensure inclusive participation at all levels of the project.
To be a part of this Initiative, you need to join the srg-discuss@ilug-cal.org mailing list, by sending a plain-text ASCII e-mail to majordomo@ilug-cal.org with "subscribe srg-discuss" in the body (without the quotes). The list requires to you confirm your subscription, this is done to prevent unauthorised subscription and spam bots as well as ensure the address provided is a working one.
The SRGi functioning is facilitated by its Working Group, constituting of SMEs and other active volunteers of the Group. Membership to SRGi Working Group is based on a strict meritocracy and on the level of contribution to the community. Members are inducted by invitation after a nomination is passed as per SRGi Charter.
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Frederick Noronha (FN) -
Sankarshan Mukhopadhyay