Re: [Fsfe-uk] hacker definition

[Ramanan Selvaratnam]

> > I thought this was regarding the support for the distant learning 
> > courses.
[...]

> That's part of it, but I think OU policy is rather different in that if
> they produce something requiring particular proprietary software, the
> liability is all on a free-software-using student.  I don't know if
> Birkbeck have made a conscious decision to use an open platform for
> their coordination?
>  
OK, it is more clear to me now.  Some specific examples will be more 
helpful to understand the issue with OU, better.

The crystallography department at Birkbeck  have been at network 
computing  for so long, and in  such a specialist way, the issues are 
quite different to OU's I guess.
They seem to let the students decide on how far to take the course and 
it is the students' *attitudes* that need help (IMHO) in adopting more 
suitable/holistic  software systems.

The new online lifesciences resource at IBM (with a lot of emphasis on a 
certain kernel) can be of help  to a certain extent but I never felt 
comfortable pointing to various loosely related  resources to get to the 
point about the need for software freedom.
What is more comfortable is to point  to a software like  Gromacs 
[gromacs.org] for an example as it is well documented even w.r.t 
software freedom.

The missing link is a central resource that gives more depth to the real 
value of free software by highlighting the human touch to it all.

Yes, a bit like the 'Brave GNU World' directory but with a sense of 
relevancy and ina non threatening way.
It will be nice to have software for schools,  connectivity, 
astonomical physics (maybe?), creative industries....gentle intro. to 
emerging  politics etc. all a few clicks away but under a  strict  
focused aim.

> Is there a specialist list for these people?
Yes. GNU Mailman instances :-) but not public.
I once saw a job for developing a LMS in one of the related institutes 
of structural biology.


> > The point I am making is that distant study from the comfortable and 
> > *affrodable* locations will be fair on good citizens only if  teaching 
> > institutions adopt and support  free software.
> >    
>
> Now that is a good summary of what motivates me.  May I reuse it?
Only if you correct the spelling mistake(s).  I have given up trying to 
find the spell checker on Mozilla mail.

> > It is worth looking into the possibility of presenting a united front to 
> > highlight this for different  fields  of studies.
> > People like the OU will have to take notice then.
> >    
>
> How?  Petition or what?
>
>  
>
> > More worryingly  I have noted that my kid is being introduced to 
> > non-free software at playgroup that I cannot supply at home!!
> >    
>
> Ow!  Is there any way to change this?  An informal word with playgroup
> leaders may be the best first step.

> > The scope of free sofware is truly astonishing and it is time that there 
> > is one central resource highlighting/promoting this in the UK, to the 
> > common (wo)man.
> >    
>
> OK, but how do we best do this?  Link up with the UNESCO/FSF directory

Simple links will be a waste. Commented / supported guidance is worth 
exploring.
One could even view this as some form of recruitment too.

> somehow?  What other projects should we start or get involved with?
> How should we be involved with them?

> After tomorrow's meeting, hopefully we'll be able to put a better
> snapshot of current activities onto the web site and build it from
> there.  Maybe the above ideas can be a starting point for the
> discussion.


Best regards,

Ramanan