[GLLUG] GLLUG: Collaboration

[Jeff Lawton]

Collaboration is a great Idea. We have done several things in the past.
We do several install fests throughout the year; we also do training on
linux, and we did a teaching project in conjunction with LCC. We have
also done Penguincon, and setting up a complete computer lounge. In
addition to that, Clay, Matt, and Charles have developed a burn box,
which is a kiosk machine with a bunch of linux distributions that people
can burn. 

We can contribute to an existing project,  help with documentation, help
organizations use linux, or possibly even help schools with their 
technology labs, maybe with LTSP? I know DeWitt  has trouble with its
technology lab, not due to the stability of linux, but due to the lack
of people who know how to administer a linux machine. I think there are
many opportunities available and would like to suggest that after our
normal GLLUG meeting, the people who wish to collaborate meet and
brainstorm ideas for about a half hour. At the end of the half hour, we
can take votes on what we wish to focus on, and from that, choose one.
Then we can go for that and see what we can do.

If  you are interested, please say that you are. Then we can set up an
upcoming meeting to go over it. It will be at least two weeks out. If
you have any more ideas, please submit them to the list.



Charles Ulrich wrote:
> Nathan Hartley wrote:
>> I have often wondered if Closing the Digital Gap needed any help, but
>> have to many other responsibilities.
>> I really love the concept, sort of the Habitat for Humanity for
>> computers. They offer free training to low-income qualified candidates.
>> At the end of the class the students receive a free computer (from
>> donated parts, assembled by students in their A+ program) and one year
>> of Internet access from ACD.net. 
>
> I looked into this when I had first moved to Lansing. It is a great
> idea, but I talked with a couple people who were involved with CTDG
> and they said that some of the people in the group's chain of command
> were extremely hard to work with. Basically, it boiled down to the
> fact that you can either volunteer your time for hardware hacking
> (cannibalizing numerous old dusty half-broken 10 year-old machines to
> make one good one) or classroom training. Basically, the vibe I got
> was that they weren't interested in new ideas, even if the cost was
> low or would even save them money in the long run.
>
>> I bet a free OS, maybe Ubuntu, would be a big hit with the right support
>> behind it.
>
> Indeed it would, but right now they're training their students on
> Microsoft operating systems and software and guess what gets preloaded
> on their systems? I don't know that I even blame them all that much.
> When you really think about it, a typical member of CTDG's target
> audience has maybe seen a computer and their lack of computer skills
> is part of what keeps (or will keep) them in the low-income bracket.
> Windows makes sense here because it is the lowest common denominator.
> Wherever these people go and have to interact with a computer, it will
> almost certainly be a Windows computer. Their friends and family will
> probably have Windows computers. When they call tech support, the
> person on the other end will only be able to support Windows.
>
> I think that currently, the best way to promote Linux is to continue
> converting people. Show users of other operating systems the power,
> freedom, and cost-effectiveness of open source software. Especially
> now that some distributions are getting drop-dead simple to use. As
> geeks, we have an easier time relating to those who already know what
> they're doing on a computer and they are going to be the ones who
> understand what in the world we're talking about and why the heck we
> make such a big deal over whether our Intarweb icon is an "e" or a
> cartoon fox. The technically adept are also more likely to grab a box
> of live CDs and evangelize right next to us.
>
> Sorry if this turned into a bit of an uncontrolled rant. Wasn't trying
> to make any specific point, it's just the way my brain's been
> operating lately, especially this time of night.
>

-- 
Jeff Lawton
Ideal Solution, LLC
517-679-0695 ext 220
jeff at idealso.com
http://www.idealso.com