Re: [9fans] UN to fund linux for the 3rd world

[Zigor Salvador <zigor@si.ehu.es>]

Informaticiens Sans Frontières is putting together a new Linux distro to
support third world countries' special needs. It's called LIFE. More
info at http://isf.cern.ch, just in case you're curious.

Zigor

Quoting 'Informaticiens Sans Frontières':

LIFE (Linux Integrated Free Environment)

ISF focuses exclusively on Free Open Source solutions. It doesn’t make
sense to deliver platforms equipped with proprietory software in areas
where poverty and economical crisis makes it impossible or at least
extremely difficult to purchase or upgrade the software required to use
the resources. This is particularly true when considering that free OSS
software has reached an equal (if not higher) power and efficiency than
commercial.

LIFE is not just an operating system, but a complete environment,
bringing a full scale solution to cover a range of needs and
requirements. It is based on an Open Source Linux distribution
(Knoppix), and it features three user “levels” (basic, advanced,
administrator). A basic user is shown only the applications needed for
basic tasks, and to learn the computing environment better. Typically a
basic desktop includes a web browser, a document and e-mail writer, and
an e-learning tool. Most basic users of cybercafés only need to access
e-mail or the web. In particular, we cope for situations with poor
connectivity by supplying a document and e-mail writer that can work
offline, avoiding to keep connected when accessing a mail provider on
the web for extensive periods of time. The e-learning tool must be able
to teach first time users their way through the system, and also to
teach illiterate users how to read, write and type. This is the first
step needed for a democratisation of ICT. Basic teaching kits will be
modular and targeted to different user ages. A “child” and “adult”
alphabetisation curricula will be provided as integral part of the
environment.