Free Software in Developing World Projects - Before the OLPC and Beyond
With Tomas Krag, wire.less.dk
In November 2005, Nicholas Negroponte and Kofi Annan introduced the prototype for a small, linux-powered (and bright green) laptop for children in the developing world. With the technology skills of the MIT Media Lab, and the backing of top politicians, the OLPC (aka XO-1 aka. $100 laptop) has gotten a lot of attention in global media, and stirred lively debate in the tech community. Not only debate about the need and appropriateness of bringing cutting-edge technology to the developing world, but also debate about the relative merits of Free/Open Source technology vs. proprietary systems.
Looking at technology projects in the developing world in 2007, it would be easy to conclude that the entire sphere consists of the OLPC and a variety of counter-products brought to world by global technology companies such as Intel's (windows-based) eduwise project.
However, as is typical in the world of Free/Open Source software the most interesting projects don't come from global technology companies have the backing of the United Nations. They are grassroots projects, built by communities of volunteers and developed by those who use them on the ground.
In this presentation I will look at a number of such community-run projects, talk about my own experiences teaching Free/Open Source technologies in the developing world and possibly come across as somewhat critical towards the approach of large projects such as OLPC and Intel's Eduwise.
Links: Wireless Networking in the Developing World
Tomas Krag
is Director of Technology at AllAfrica Global Media, co-founder of the copenhagen-based non-profit wire.less.dk and freelance linux consultant with Casalogic.
Tomas has worked with Free/Open Source software for over 10 years, and has focused on Free Software and unlicensed wireless in the developing world since spending 3 months as a volunteer with U.S.-based non-profit GeekCorps in early 2001. He has taught workshops on both topics in such places as India, Croatia, Ghana, Uganda, Namibia, South Africa, Armenia and Djursland, and he firmly believes that Free/Open technologies enable people to make a difference.
He does what he does because it's loads of fun!