[CS Bureau] Derrick's project - status after Prepcom 2

[Adam Peake]

I was an observer at the bureau meeting where software issue was 
discussed. Observing partly because the wifi was better in that room 
than anywhere else in the building :-)  But I did try to listen...

Georg, with respect, you might be over reacting a little.


>
>As has been pointed out repeatedly in multiple lists, there is no
>strong need for video conferencing, it indeed has the effect of
>excluding people on a cultural/language basis alone. The increased
>needs in bandwidth and computational power are additionally exclusive
>to people in the South.
>


It's to be used by the bureau to facilitate their work. The bureau 
thinks it should experiment and see if these tools help it do its 
work between meetings.  I did not sense any exclusion on basis of 
culture, language etc.  Note in Tracey's email that the bureau 
intends to ask Derrick about "translation".  I thought the question 
was about the interface in other languages, but I am perhaps wrong. 
Anyway, bureau seems well aware of the issues.

And whether Derricks's software passed the FOSS test of civil society 
was also discussed at that Bureau meeting. Someone mentioned FOSS 
software that might be able to do the job (I think it may have been 
Divina?), certainly the Bureau is aware of/concerned about the issue. 
I thought there was an action to investigate alternative software?

I believe Derrick's software works with FOSS OS.  In tests a few 
months ago it seems people who had tweaked there software struggled, 
but I know one person with a clean install of linux who had no 
problems, worked easily. It works on Mac.  But I think everyone knows 
it's not perfect.

And additional question I would ask is whether the archives of any 
meeting that used Derrick's software could be easily accessed, say as 
a simple MP3 audio file.

Hope these comments helpful.  And apologies, I wasn't paying full attention.

Kind regards,

Adam



>Robert,
>
>I must say I feel you have a strange understanding of what is
>considered constructive or useful.
>
>There may be many proprietary programs for which no exact Free
>Software equivalent exists. I know there are many Free Software
>programs for which no proprietary equivalent exists.
>
>Asking for specific features of specific proprietary programs is in
>fact a well-known current tactic to exclude Free Software in public
>procurement procedures.
>
>As has been pointed out repeatedly in multiple lists, there is no
>strong need for video conferencing, it indeed has the effect of
>excluding people on a cultural/language basis alone. The increased
>needs in bandwidth and computational power are additionally exclusive
>to people in the South.
>
>Email, web and chat -- if used properly -- are more effective, proven
>tools to fulfill the same task, but are inclusive and participatory.
>
>So instead of introducing an exclusive tool that violates the basic
>principles of Civil Society it would be more useful -- although
>admittedly less sexy -- to teach people how to use this technology
>more effectively and easily.
>
>Most people make bad use of the existing technology.
>
>Introducing more technology is a solution to that problem.
>
>
>If Derek wants us to consider his software for use in Civil Society
>communication, he should release it as Free Software and make sure it
>runs on at least three platforms (*nix, Mac OS, Windows) and can be
>used using Free Software only.
>
>Otherwise he -- and you -- should stop pushing.
>
>
>Respecting the basic principles of Civil Society should be the default
>and not the exception. So it should be the CHANGE that has to qualify,
>not the other way around.
>
>Many people -- including me -- have by now made it clear on many lists
>that they are not willing to sell my principles and my freedom for any
>amount of glass pearls.
>
>If you want me to accept something, give me arguments. Convince me
>that it is useful. Further excluding people from participating in
>Civil Society for a questionable use is something that does not sound
>very useful, so you need to do better than that.
>
>Regards,
>Georg
>
>--
>Georg C. F. Greve                                 <greve at fsfeurope.org>
>Free Software Foundation Europe	                 (http://fsfeurope.org)
>Join the Fellowship and protect your freedom!     (http://www.fsfe.org)
>
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