This notes taken by Mathe
Silvano is doing another presentation which is more involved in humanitarian activities. He is presenting the work of the organisation called Software without borders. The particular focus is on bridging the digital divide. Under the banner of this organisation, software that can be used by all is written and distributed.
This initiative was inspired by efforts of developing nations in bridging the digital divide. These nations are typically faced with the reality of making something out of nothing. A film capturing this reality has been made. (The film resonates with typical films/videos made about Africa! In the film, we have people making remarks such as: “we need rain and it is not the internet that would bring the rain”).
The underlying message behind the film is that information is key to development and in particular to bridging the divide. Thus, the following need to be unserstood in order solve and perhaps solve some of the problem areas that may act as barriers:
- Political elements e.g. corruption
- Financial elements e.g. monopolies
- Geographical elements e.g. this include the terrain and population densities
- Cultural elements e.g. elements that are built around perceptions based on cultural believes
The key objective for bridging the divide lies in developing multiple strategies that involve improving education, communication, health, social conditions, research and business at the same time. Specific projects that have since emanated as result of the formulation of the strategies include:
- LIFE (Linux Integrated Free Environment) – The core of this project is to create a windows free environment.
- The African GRID – This project aims to bring capacity to research by empowering African universities so that they can join international research. The GRID also facilitates on-line resource donations.
- The mobile web -The idea is to use mobile phones to avail internet content. In many developing countries the penetration of mobile phones is higher than that of PCs.
- AFRICA@home (www.africaathome.org) – This provides a shell to host computing models. It is based on BOINC (Berkley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing). The principle behind BOINC is to harvest unused CPU power so that it can be used by those in need. One of the applications built based on the borrowed CPU is an application that calculates epidemiology figures for a research to combat Malaria.
- MANGO-Net (MANGO acronym for Made in Africa NGO)- The project aims to help Africa to build its own computers. The obvious benefit is that cost for purchasing PCs will be reduced and there will be more capacity building.
