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Third World has a lot to gain from FLOSS, says study
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAVE CLEARLY LOT TO GAIN FROM FREE SOFTWARE, OPEN
SOURCE, SAYS REPORT FROM FINLAND
>From Frederick Noronha
Free Software and Open Source is not just "a useful and significant tool for
the developing countries" but clearly has the potential to help
democratization and positively help find solutions to the most pressing
problems faced by the populations of developing countries, says a report
just prepared on the subject.
To be released in Finland May 22, the report 'Free as in Education:
Significance of the Free/Libre and Open Source Software for Developing
Countries', is authored by the Helsinki-based researcher Niranjan Rajani
<niranjan dot rajani at maailma dot net> and has been undertaken in
collaboration with Juha Rekola and Timo Mielonen for the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs <http://formin.finland.fi/english/> Finland with OneWorld
Finland <http://www.maailma.net> and KEPA <http://www.kepa.fi/english/>.
"Even a quick look at the use of computers in the education sector, NGOs,
alternative media, and civil society is enough to convince us of the
potential of FLOSS," says the report, which makes a review of what's going
on in Latin America, Africa and Asia.
It points out that students, teachers, journalists, and democracy activists
have been using computers, email, web publishing, desktop publishing, and
internet to get their message across the world, participating in societal
debates, acquiring as well as disseminating knowledge, and skills.
"All of that can for sure be done without it but FLOSS has some intrinsic
characteristics that make it a convincing and integral ally of
democratization process," adds the report.
Says the study: "FLOSS has a complementary and reciprocal relationship to
education. One needs an educated section of the population to fulfil the
full potential of FLOSS, and at the same time FLOSS helps, enhances, and
complements education by providing tools to promote education."
It points out that in the case of education in computer sciences, FLOSS
provides opportunities which nothing else can: Unrestricted access to the
source code, an environment of unlimited experimentation and tinkering, and
collaboration and interaction with a community of programmers, coders and
users around the world.
Free Software and Open Source's "inherent qualities" make it a prime tool
for achieving local language educational software, "especially for languages
which are not deemed commercially viable for proprietary software vendors".
"If the adoption of FLOSS in developing countries is done wisely, it can
help stimulate indigenous software industry and create local jobs," says the
study. It looks at the possibilities of FLOSS playing a role in "reducing
conflict, enhancing independence, and meeting international obligations".
In Asia, of some 20+ countries looked at, "the highest overall FLOSS related
activity" seems to be taking place in countries like India, China and
Taiwan, (excluding Japan, which is not object of this study) followed by
South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand etc.
"Rest of the Indian sub-continent (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal
etc.) having a medium level activity, while Arab world (with the exception
of Israel) seems to be the least active zone, only Afghanistan and North
Korea being at the very end," says the report.
It adds that in Latin America, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina top FLOSS
related activity in overall usage of FLOSS as well as writing code, followed
by Colombia, Venezuela and Peru. "The Latin American programmers have made
significant contributions to the overall FLOSS projects around the globe,"
says the study.
In Africa, South Africa tops the list, closely followed by Kenya, Namibia,
Nigeria. Though there is significant activity starting in countries like
Ethiopia, Ghana and Zambia.
Says Rajani's report: "Of all the three regions reviewed, Latin America tops
in terms of code contribution, but Asia is not far behind, and ... South
Africa in the African continent is poised for more code contribution in
addition to its reasonably high use of FLOSS."
Rajani, a geek with a Master's degree in Philosophy who is originally from
Pakistan but based in Finland, says three factors "stand out" why Third
World countries opt for FLOSS -- cost, the anti-piracy campaign and security
concerns.
"Definitely the most overarching factor is the lower cost, despite a
well-known assertion that people in developing countries don't pay for
software anyway. It is true that a large number of users in the developing
countries don't and, more importantly, can't really pay for software," says
the report, pointing to the phenomenally high price of proprietorial
software compared to the average incomes of these countries.
It points out that in the 'developing countries', the costs associated with
re-training users and hiring skilled people to migrate and run FLOSS based
systems are not that high as in developed countries because of lower labour
costs.
More importantly, "people thus employed are locals contributing to the local
economy rather than paying expensive software license fees".
Many in the developing countries have also realised that not paying for
licenses for the software being used can not go on for ever.
"Combined with cost, security is perhaps the most important factor pushing
FLOSS in every country outside the United States," it argues.
But there are obstances too, for FLOSS in the Third World.
Firstly, Free and Open Source Software is relevant to a development effort
only if a reasonable investment in ICT infrastructure is made. "If no
hardware is available, software is good for nothing," says Rajani.
Factors like the dearth of trained IT professionals in many Southern
countries, the lethargy of the bureaucracy acting as another stumbling
block, and corruption ("despite being extremely cost-effective and of
competitive quality, is still kept out because companies with enough cash
can buy off decision-makers") are the other roadblocks.
"One thing is sure: FLOSS doesn't corrupt," says Rajani.
The brain drain means talent moves away from the 'developing countries'. But
in the case of IT, a software developer could still contribute to the growth
of ICT solutions back home.
This report will be available as html at:
http://fi.oneworld.net/article/view/56261 http://www.kepa.fi/english/
There are plans to take this report ahead collaboratively "using the FLOSS
model (so that it) can be developed further over the coming months and
years". Says Rajani in the report: "The hope is to put these reports on-line
and to fill in the blanks by people from the concerned regions." (ENDS)
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Frederick Noronha (FN) | http://www.fredericknoronha.net
Freelance Journalist | http://www.bytesforall.org
http://goalinks.pitas.com | http://joingoanet.shorturl.com
http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks
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