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Open Economies - RE: [OpenEconomies] Is Linux Right for Africa?

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RE: [OpenEconomies] Is Linux Right for Africa?

  • To: "'openeconomies(at)cyber.law.harvard.edu'" <openeconomies(at)cyber.law.harvard.edu>
  • Subject: RE: [OpenEconomies] Is Linux Right for Africa?
  • From: "Moore, James" <jmoore(at)geopartners.com>
  • Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 11:56:42 -0400
In Michael Taylor's article, he wonders whether it makes sense to load Linux
as the sole OS on machines to be used for children kindergarten through
sixth grade--or whether he should make the machines dual boot with Windows
as well as Linux.

For children k-6 the most likely (and perhaps best) use of the computers
will be to run well-designed educational software games--e.g.
TreasureMathStorm, the ReaderRabbit series, TypingTutor, etc., as well as
word processing.  As far as I know, most mainstream educational games will
not run on Linux.

This would cause me to want to use Windows.

Of course there is also the Apple Macintosh OS--which will also run all the
best software for kids--often better than the PC.

If you really are determined to develop an alternative to Windows in
developing countries, one road would be MAC OS (which is a UNIX variant, and
thus in the same lineage as Linux) for elementary schools, and Linux for the
technical programs in technical schools.

Of course this would require someone convincing Steve Jobs to help seed the
developing world with MACS....

An alternative might be a massive, coordinated campaign on the part of the
Linux community to work with educational software companies to make the best
titles Linux-compatible.

Best, Jim

 
Dr. James F. Moore
Senior Fellow
Harvard Law School
Director, Open Economies
Berkman Center for Internet and Society
Pound Hall 511
1563 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
 
www.openeconomies.org
jmoore@cyber.law.harvard.edu
jmoore@geopartners.com
Office phone number US 1 617 495-7547

-----Original Message-----
From: Mikael Pawlo [mailto:mikael@pawlo.com] 
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 7:32 PM
To: openeconomies@eon.law.harvard.edu
Subject: [OpenEconomies] Is Linux Right for Africa?


In an article published by LinuxToday volounteer Michael Taylor asks if
Linux is right for Africa. Taylor is going to Ghana in two weeks to set up
IT solutions for schools and clinics. He is now seeking advice whether to
use an open or propietary solution to the African IT needs. Taylor is
anxious not to sacrifice the Ghana children on the shrine of the free
software principle and is looking for input on this issue.

Article (with email address to Taylor):
http://linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2002-07-15-014-26-OP-CY

Regards

Mikael


_________________________________________________________________________

  ICQ:35638414                              mailto:mikael@pawlo.com
  +46-704-215825                              http://www.pawlo.com/



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