Testing
ഇത് ഞാന് ആദ്യമായി ഫെയിസ്ബുക്കിലൂടെ പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ചത്.
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COURTESY DOWN TO EARTH
February 27-March 10, 2008. As the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Class x) exams unfold across government schools in Kerala, students appearing for ‘it Practicals’ key in their answers into a computer that runs on foss, acronym for free and open source software. These students are comfortable with foss usage. As 13-year-old Nalin Sathya, who will sit for these exams next year, puts it, “The system is very easy to use and I can now use it even without seeing the monitor. Python programming language is very easy. I am trying to learn it.” Read more >>
The Left Democratic Party (ldf), then in opposition, took up cudgels. It berated Microsoft for the raids, and for derailing friends. Kerala State Teachers Association (ksta) in collaboration with the Free Software Foundation began a campaign to sensitize teachers on the costs and restrictions of proprietary software, and to encourage schools to shift to open source software. Read more >>
When we buy a proprietary software, we are only buying the licence to use it under certain conditions. The conditions of use are explicitly laid out in the end user licence agreement.
But very few of us go through the elaborate licence agreement because it doesn’t make much of a difference to a non-technical user (who is not into programming, for example). The licence agreement prohibits users from taking a part of the software to study how it works, modify, improve or even copy it. Read more >>
Kerala’s conversion comes at a time when free and open source software (foss) acceptance is upscaling. Consider, first, other states. As early as 2002, Madhya Pradesh introduced foss in its e-governance (Gyandoot) and computer-enabled school education (Headstart) initiatives. Read more >>
“While about 65 per cent of servers use foss, about 90 per cent of personal computer users still use Microsoft in India,” says Sunil Abraham, director of Mahiti, a small-scale software enterprise in Bangalore, pointing to a skew in the culture of computer use. What explains it? “It is still difficult to get services for such a software. Read more >>
impressed
Dishaa '08 a big success
the first GNU/Linux Install Fest, organised here on Saturday turned out to be a big
success with hordes of people queuing up with PCs and laptops to install free software braving
heavy summer showers.
As many as 40 installations were made and around 280 CDs were distributed in the fest. Many
people, who turned up at Kanakakunnu Palace for the fest, were astonished by the animation films
made using free software.
The event, organised by Free Software Foundation of India, GNU/Linux Users Group-Trivandrum
and Space-Kerala, was hosted by a group of engineering students of the Sree Chitra Thirunal
College of Engineering, Pappanamcode.
Actor Suresh Gopi also turned up with his laptop wishing all success to the youth behind this novel
attempt.
The fest's main objective is to promote free software by making the public aware about its
features, said the students who were also members of GNU/Linux Users Group-Trivandrum.
Free software is a must to ensure software freedom. It provides freedom to study, redistribute and
make changes to the already existing programmes therby allowing you to adapt the program for
your use they said.
Its main advantage is that it's free of viruses. Generally viruses attack on the vulnerability of the
software. To fix the problem we should know the source code of the software. Unlike proprietary
software, source code is available to every single user in free software. As lakhs of people around
the world are working with the same source code, it is easy to fix the virus, said Anoop Jacob
Thomas, final year computer science student of the college.
This is the reason why many of the viruses affecting the Windows operating system are yet to be
fixed by Microsoft itself, he said.
In the proprietary softwares we don't have the freedom to make a new feature or to distribute the
software
Courtesy: The new Indian Eapress 13-04-08
Free software a big draw
Special Correspondent
Thiruvananthapuram: The world of free software opened its doors to dozens of students, professionals and people from different walks of life who turned up for the GNU/Linux Install Fest at the Kanakakunnu Palace here on Saturday.
The event was organised by some the students of the Computer Science department of the Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering to popularise free software. It was sponsored by the GNU/Linux Users Group Trivandrum, Free Software Foundation of India, Space Kerala and Zyxware Technologies.
Many visitors brought their laptops or desktop PCs for free installation of the GNU/Linux operating system. The organisers had arranged to distribute CDs and articles. Presentations and talks on free software, demonstration of GNU/Linux games and a quiz on free software were other highlights of the event.
Some visitors sought assistance in configuring their printer or modem.
Students, who formed the majority of visitors, were hooked to the Linux games. The Malayalam support facility on Linux was another attraction.
“The objective of the festival was to spread the free software philosophy. We are glad that, despite the heavy rain, people had come from as far as Kozhencheri, Kollam and Kilimanoor with their systems to get GNU/Linux installed. About 35 machines were installed with free software at the venue itself,” said James, coordinator, FSF-India.
Courtesy: Thehindu Daily 13-04-08
ഒരു സുവര്ണാവസരം നിങ്ങളുടെ മുന്നിലെത്തുകയാണ്. നിങ്ങളുടെ കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറുകളില് പൂര്ണമായും സൗജന്യമായി ഗ്നു-ലിനക്സ് ഓപ്പറേറ്റിംഗ് സിസ്റ്റം ഇന്സ്റ്റാള് ചെയ്ത് തരുന്നു. ഇത് സംഘടിപ്പിക്കുന്നത് ഫ്രീ സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് ഫൗണ്ടേഷന് ഓഫ് ഇന്ഡ്യ , ഗ്നു-ലിനക്സ് യൂസര് ഗ്രൂപ്പും സ്പെയിസ്-കേരളയും ചേര്ന്നാണ്. കമ്പ്യൂട്ടര് വൈറസുകളില്നിന്നും നിങ്ങള് സ്വയം സ്വതന്ത്രരാവുക.
Here is a golden oppurtunity to get Gnu/Linux installed on your computer and experience the fun of Gnu/Linux. The security, reliability and robustness provided by Gnu/Linux is unmatchable with any proprietary/non-free operating systems.
ഇവിടെ സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറിന്റെ പ്രചരണാര്ത്ഥം അരങ്ങേറ്റം കുറിക്കുന്നത് സമര്ത്ഥരായ ശ്രീ ചിത്തിര തിരുനാള് എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് കോളേജ് വിദ്യാര്ത്ഥികളാണ്. പ്രസ്തുത പരിപാടിയില് ഉല്പ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ള വിഷയങ്ങള് ഇവയാണ്.
1. സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറുകളെക്കുറിച്ച് ഡോ. വി.ശശികുമാര് സംസാരിക്കുന്നു (ഇദ്ദേഹം ഇന്ഡ്യന് ഫ്രീ സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് ഫൗണ്ടേഷന് ഡയറക്ടര് ആണ്)
2. ഗ്നു-ലിനക്സ് ഇന്സ്റ്റലേഷന്
3. ഗ്നു-ലിനക്സ് സി.ഡികളുടെ വിതരണം
4. ഫ്രീ സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറിനെക്കുറിച്ച് അവതരണം
5. സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറുകളെ സംബന്ധിച്ച ലേഖനങ്ങള് വിതരണം ചെയ്യുന്നു
6. ഗ്നു-ലിനക്സ് കളികള്
7. ഗ്നു-ലിനക്സ് ഡമോണ്സ്ട്രേഷന്
8. സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറിനെ സംബന്ധിച്ച ക്വിസ്
cheerful cheerful
anxiousഇന്ഡ്യന് നാച്വറല് റബ്ബര് എന്ന പേജില് പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ചത് ഇന്റെര്നെറ്റ് എക്സ്പ്ലോറര് പേജില് വായിക്കുവാന് കഴിയാത്തതിനാല് ഇവിടെയും അതേ പോസ്റ്റിലെ വിഷയം അവതരിപ്പിക്കുന്നു
Ref. No.59/1/2008-Vig. 4 March, 2008
O R D E R
The appellant Shri S Chandrasekharan Nair, Shri Raghav, Perukavu, Peyad PO, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 573 had approached the Public Information Officer, Rubber Board, Kottayam vide his application dated 24.1.2008 under Section 18(1) of the RTI Act (2005) for getting details of export of natural rubber made during 2006-2007 in a format detailed by him viz., date of export, name of exporter, quantity of export, grade/type of export, country to which exported, and value of export etc. The Public Information Officer vide his letter No. 41/2/07-08/PUB/RTI-56 dated 8.2.2008 informed the appellant that the details of export are not maintained by the Board in the format as sought for by him and the preparation of the details in such a format would involve lot of additional work and diversion of disproportionate resources of the office and as such the request of the appellant could not be considered in his favour, but informed him that the details as compiled and kept in the Board could be furnished to the appellant on remitting a sum of Rs.6/- by DD/Bankers Cheque/Indian Postal Order in favour of Dy. Director (P&PR), Rubber Board, Kottayam. The appellant when informed the Public Information Officer that he is interested in getting the information in the manner in which it is compiled by the Board and on remitting Rs.6/- by him, the details were furnished to the appellant.
The appellant, being not satisfied with the manner in which the information was furnished to him, has approached the Appellate Authority with an appeal dated 21.2.2008 stating that the Public Information Officer provided him only a little information and that he requires the information as per the format 1) date of export, 2) name of exporter, 3)quantity of export, 4) grade/type of export, 5) country to which exported, and 6) value of export. Based on the appeal, the Appellate Authority verified the manner in which the information was furnished to the appellant and found that the information was furnished to the appellant after getting his concurrence in the matter. While doing so he was also informed that the details were not maintained in the Board’s office in the manner as sought by the appellant and that the preparation of such details could be done only by diversion of the resources and manpower of the Dept. which are already in short. When the Appellate Authority informed the appellant, the circumstances and the manner in which the information was provided to him by the Public Information Officer, vide letter No. 51/1/2008-Vig. dated 25th February, 2008, he informed vide his letter dated 29/2/2008 that information furnished to him is not useful, unless all such details are not received and that he shall be satisfied if copies of those pages of data lying at various files and registers are made available to him as such so that he can compile them to arrive at the published figures; how many may the number of those pages be. Taking into account the said request of the appellant, the Appellate Authority confirmed from the Public Information Officer that the details of the information sought by the appellant are to be photo copied from about 350 pages of the concerned files/registers. In the circumstances, if the appellant is interested in getting the copies of those pages, he can do so, by remitting its cost @ Rs.2/- per page by Demand Draft/Bankers Cheque or Indian Postal order in favour of Dy. Director (P&PR), Rubber Board, Kottayam and on making such remittance, the Public Information Officer shall furnish to him copies of the pages covering the details sought for by the appellant within the prescribed period. The appeal petition is disposed of with the above directions.
Sd/- PC JOHN
APPELLATE AUTHORITY
(under the RTI Act 2005)
To
1) Shri S Chandrasekharan Nair
Shri Raghav, Perukavu
Peyad PO
Thiruvananthapuram - 695 573.
2) Public Information Officer
(MG Satheesh Chandran Nair
Dy. Director (P&PR)
Rubber Board, Kottayam -2)
==================================
My request as follows:-
Sir,
In this connection I am to request you to send the required information (350 Pages) by registered post, the cost for which shall be borne by me. Kindly inform the postage expenses also to me. So that I can remit it in advance at your Regional Office, Thiruvananthapuram.
annoyed
cheerful cheerfulഖാദി ബോര്ഡിന്റെ ജില്ലാ ഓഫീസടക്കം പൂര്ണമായും കമ്പ്യൂട്ടര്വല്ക്കരിച്ചപ്പോള് സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് ഉപയോഗിച്ചതു കൊണ്ട് ഉണ്ടായ ലാഭം 10 ലക്ഷം രൂപയാണ്. 90 കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറാണ് ഇവിടെയുള്ളത്. കെല്ട്രോണാണ് കമ്പ്യൂട്ടര് സ്ഥാപിച്ചത്. അതേസമയം മൈക്രോസോഫ്റ്റിന്റെ വിന്ഡോസ് ആണ് ഉപയോഗിച്ചതെങ്കില് കമ്പ്യൂട്ടര് ഒന്നിന് 6,500 രൂപ വീതം ചെലവുവരുമായിരുന്നു. സെര്വറിന് വേറെയും. എല്ലാ സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറും സൌജന്യമാണെന്നതാണ് സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറിന്റെ സവിശേഷത. ആര്ക്കും ഇന്റര്നെറ്റില്നിന്ന് ഡൌണ്ലോഡ് ചെയ്യാം. മൈക്രോസോഫ്റ്റിന്റെ റെയ്ഡ് ഉണ്ടാകുമെന്ന ഭീഷണിയും വേണ്ട.
ഖാദിബോര്ഡില് ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നത് 'ഫെഡോറ' എന്ന ഫ്രീസോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറാണ്. അധികം കമാന്ഡൊന്നും കൊടുക്കേണ്ടി വരുന്നില്ല. കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യാന് ചെറിയ പരിശീലനം മാത്രം മതി. ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നയാളുടെ വിവരശേഖരം ഭദ്രവും. എട്ടു മാസത്തിനിടെ ഒരു സിസ്റ്റം പോലും വീണ്ടും ഫോര്മാറ്റ് ചെയ്യേണ്ടിവന്നില്ലെന്നതാണ് പ്രധാന നേട്ടം. ഓണ്ലൈനില് എല്ലാ ജോലിയും ചെയ്തിട്ടും വൈറസ് കടന്നിട്ടില്ല. സെക്രട്ടറിയറ്റില് ഫ്രീസോഫ്റ്റ്വെയര് ഉപയോഗിക്കുംമുമ്പ് മിക്കവാറും കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറുകള് തകരാറിലായിരുന്നു.
ഫോട്ടോഷോപ്പിനു പകരം 'ജിംപ്' എന്ന സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറും എക്സലിനു പകരം 'സ്പ്രഡ്ഷീറ്റു'മൊക്കെയാണ് ഫ്രീ സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറില് ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നത്. ഉപയോഗിച്ച് ശീലമായതില്നിന്നു മാറാന് മടിച്ചാണ് പലരും ഫ്രീസോഫ്റ്റ്വെയറിനെ എതിര്ക്കുന്നത്. എന്നാല്, ഉപയോഗിക്കാന് വളരെ എളുപ്പമാണെന്നാണ് സെക്രട്ടറിയറ്റിന്റെ അനുഭവം. ഇംഗ്ളീഷ് അറിയാത്തവര്ക്കും ഉപയോഗിക്കാമെന്നതാണ് ഇതിന്റെ പ്രത്യേകത. മലയാളത്തില് 'തുറക്കുക, അടയ്ക്കുക' എന്നൊക്കെയുള്ള നിര്ദേശങ്ങളും നല്കിയിട്ടുണ്ട്.
കടപ്പാട്- ദേശാഭിമാനി 23-02-08
anxious
