1. Free Open

2. The four freedoms of Free Software

4. This requires the source code

5. The four freedoms of Free Software

6. This requires the source code

7. Free vs proprietary Open Obfuscation Sourcecode

8. adding value scarcity + software itself has value Free vs proprietary Revenue

9. Freedom is scary e.g. the Craig Mundie speech of May 3, 2001 Much of the FUD

10. often The world of business is not simple!

11. Ray Noorda, the founder of Novell a situation where businesses compete in some areas and cooperate in others

12. Ray Noorda, the founder of Novell a situation where businesses compete in some areas and cooperate in others

15. Approaches Use existing –The organisation uses existing FOSS tools, such as GNU/Linux, and does not contribute to their development. Adapt existing –The organisation makes minor adaptations of existing tools to serve its own peculiar business needs. Join a project –The organisation puts resources, either money or a software developer, into an existing project. Sponsor a project –The organisation sponsors an external agency to create a tool on its behalf, and may assist that agency to locate other sponsors who could join the project. Create a project –The organisation creates a new project, puts its own developers onto writing the software and seeks other sponsors or others who may join the project. Product Process

16. Have a need for software

17. Have a need for software Procurement

18. Have a need for software

23. Flux

26. Product orientation

27. Process orientation Product orientation

29. This system cannot be understood by..

30. … knowledge of this system

31. Building capacity to develop, deploy, and support software in African higher education institutions through Free Software collaboration

32. The cost of participation in AVOIR is thus low… …and the potential benefits are high The cost of participation in AVOIR is thus low… …and the potential benefits are high Free Software

33. AVOIR members

37. Research objectives To create a network of software development organized around, but not limited to, higher education in Africa; To use the network to understand how ideas from knowledge ecology can create a sustainable system of FOSS development, application and support; To increase understanding of FOSS as a process, and how to use that process creatively and sustainably within Africa To help to build research capacity in researching the development, application and support of FOSS in Africa within African institutions; To test hypotheses regarding differences between Free Software and Proprietary Software ecosystems

38. Research objectives To create a network of software development organized around, but not limited to, higher education in Africa; To use the network to understand how ideas from knowledge ecology can create a sustainable system of FOSS development, application and support; To increase understanding of FOSS as a process, and how to use that process creatively and sustainably within Africa To help to build research capacity in researching the development, application and support of FOSS in Africa within African institutions; To test hypotheses regarding differences between Free Software and Proprietary Software ecosystems The first project A next generation e-learning system designed around the needs of African higher education Collaborative education Cross platform Interoperable A next generation e-learning system designed around the needs of African higher education Collaborative education Cross platform Interoperable

39. A bit on architecture MVC architecture for web interface –PHP –Modular Webservices blur distinction between desktop and web –PHP, C#, some Java PETS and other agents –Python, some PERL

40. Current status Using webservices to provide desktop functionality, yet interface to web application First beta C. 70 working modules Two desktop applications done in C# (with support from Microsoft SA) –Translation application –Offline content authoring Integrated Freemind, mind mapping tool in Java Active dynamic mirroring –in testing (alpha) –Win-Lin, Lin-Win, Lin-Lin

41. Sustainability Percentage of funding from different sources Research & development Research & development

42. Sustainability Percentage of funding from different sources

43. Sustainability Percentage of funding from different sources

44. This presentation can be used in whole or in part, and may be copied and redistributed for any purpose as long as this license subsists in any derivations or copies. Original artwork available under the same license on request to dkeats@uwc.ac.za This presentation can be used in whole or in part, and may be copied and redistributed for any purpose as long as this license subsists in any derivations or copies. Original artwork available under the same license on request to dkeats@uwc.ac.za