effiejayx’s blog

A couple of weeks ago I attended this University fair like event called Expotecnología at Jose Gregorio Hernandez University, Maracaibo Venezuela (Sorry for not posting before but had no pics to show :S) . This is an event organized by the University and  oriented to Students of Engineering. Overall experience It was great fun to see students talk about projects and I was greatly shocked when I entered a room of
Operating Systems.

Students present KUBUNTU

Students present MANDRIVA

Students present FEDORA

I was really pleased to see these demonstrations in stands. These students actually installed on their own machines, learned and then  presented their knowledge to the other students or teachers that passed by. Other stands featured programming languages and methods of construction for civil engineering. I was very pleased to see teachers encouraging their students to go and try FOSS.

I felt in dream land…

The talks at Expotecnología par II were all very appealing to students. the guys from the Microsoft Professional Community kicked off the event and they had a nice show off of their latest and greatest in the programing and now design suits for “Rapid Application Development”. Having used microsoft products before, I sat through the talk and even asked questions like “Is it compatible with the previous version?”. Nobody seemed familiar with the last 3 versions off Microsft’s proprietary development suite. Truth be told, None of the students seemed to have been using the Programing Suite that the guy was promoting and that is and indication that this particular is piece of software is not reaching students. The Speaker would have had an even better time if the students had been familiar with the products. I am impressed at the speed these speakers can say the names of all the product (and believe me they are a handful).

The Solaris talk was definitely more interesting to me. Antonio Amendoli, iForce Business Developer for Sun Microsystems de Venezuela, gave a very interesting talk on Solaris and the different benefit of running it on servers. Students were appealed by the simple fact that it was different. they got a real idea of why to run Solaris on servers and finding out that various *well known* companies in Venezuela were already in the Solaris train.

Then it was me with the MAGNIFICENT, EYE POPPING, HEART THUMPING, SUPER DUPPER, “Free Technologies” TALK. It was a delight to come and talk to these people because when I asked “Have you tried ubuntu before?” Half the audience raised hands. That shows that we are accessible most definetely. People ended up talking along side me which generated a great ambiance in the room. Students were actually asking real questions and I was happy to follow the MS guys so that I could enlighten a bit on the use of free tecnologies for development, the reasons why we should use transparent, Sustainable, Technologies we can trust. Unfortunatelly the Microsoft guys couldn’t stay. they had traffic to fight on their way back home.

The last stop was the FOSS vs Propietary Software. I can only say each side stood their grounds, Gustavo Vilchez Doctor in the software Engineering field, I (FOSS/Ubuntu advocate at heart) and a professor from the Jose Gregorio Hernandez University who was ready to bash on whatever we said .

First, one of the most *well known* figures in the FOSS community and University Professor Gustavo Vilchez started off by pointing out the roots of Free Software and the Open Source movement and mainly focusing on the endurance of the movement despite the various inconveniences on the way.

Then it was turn for the University Professor representing Propietary software. I really want to believe this guys was not speaking for all proprietary software vendors. He was taking this talk as if he was Boxing Champion, to my view wrong perspective. He had a very opinionated and proud view on software patents. He even bragged about it

The translation to what the slide in the picture reads:

“One of the universal indicators taken into account when measuring the scientific developments of a country or nation is the number of patents registered. It is therefore necessary to to take into consideration a article from the Digital Era: “Innovation is expensive to produce and easy to reproduce.

It seems fair to think that the author of works (fine art?) …. (covered by hand) … benefit according to his of her effort. all under…. (covered by hand)

Propietary Software that uses Copyright. “

I think he mixed apples and oranges… one thing is Fine Art, which is oriented towards entretainment, amusement (Music, Scultures, Paintings) and another thing is Applied Arts (things such as containers, supports and shelter) to name a few. that these must be developed for the greater good of humanity. Is software not a necesity? In my country , You *need* software to get a passport (online service), You *need* software to access foreign currencies. You *need* software to vote. tell me, is it right to consider software fine art and patent it as such?

you can read about the usage of free technologies in Pia Waugh’s presidential message for Software Freedom International , the Importance of Free and Open Source Software in education in Mark Shuttleworth’s post , and a very interesting keynote talk from Jeff Waugh in Ubuntu live (video)

The professor later went on to state that Universities should embrace more propietary products as tools for generating knowledge because it simply makes life easier for students. In this University professor’s opinion, these technologies are more attached to the needs of the world.

I gave the audience a very good reason why we shouldn’t. In a Database class at my university, we were instructed to design a database using a propietary app called Power Builder by Sybase. the version installed in the Lab at the Uni was version 7. We could not take the software home to work on it we had to be subject the availability of the Lab. The trial versionswe could find on the internet were version 9. Incompatibility was the issue, we designed our databases in version 9 and once we wanted to show the teacher. the databases wouldn’t work. Problem? University needs to upgrade the Lab, but they have other priorities in budget and it is not in the inmediate plans to replace the version. the affected party… the students.

Sure, agreements with universities, proprietary software accessible to students… but What happens when students become professionals? they will not be able to generate new technology… only use what is provided? How much of these technologies can be used for any purpose? Can they take it home?, Can they really make it their own? If this had happened in Helsinki, Where would linux be? Must we not learn how to create our own Filesystems, Frameworks and OS’s just because there isn’t a need for it? Must we learn PRODUCTS at a University Level?
In Venezuela, we need to work harder to bring FREE SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES to Schools and Universities. I shall work harder on that this year… make no bones about it… first step taken http://edu.softwarelibre.org.ve and I am willing to work together supporting projects like this one in Argentina. GLEDUCAR.

“… moral y luces son nuestras primeras necesidades…”
-Simón Bolívar

How do you know SUPER BOWL is a big event?

answer: When you call for a Ubuntu-ve LoCo meeting and people say… “WHAAAaaat, are you nuts dude… IT’s SUPER BOWL SUNDAY…

Wow.. I didn’t know American Football was so big here in Venezuela.

PS: GO GIANTS…. (My Friends from the US currently living in Maracaibo, Ben and Annie are Giants Fans)

I decided togive a litle introductory talk to jump start some enthusiasts. The guys at ubuntu-es where nice enough to let me use their IRC talk project. C.U.P.I.E.

QUE: Charla Introductoria MOTU

CUANDO: mañana, 17 de enero

HORA: 16:00 UTC

DONDE: #cupie @ freenode

Tomorrow, I’ll be attending a university tecnological fair were Free and Open Source Software reps will share a panel with a Propietary Software reps, a Microsoft guy (not really sure if he is a representative or if he is just an enthusiast). My question for you my dear reader is… 

What would you ask the microsoft panelist if you had just one question?

P.S. There have been ocations like this before in Venezuela. From what I have heard, Several times the Microsoft panelist does not show.  

WHAT: MOTU Q&A session

WHEN: TOMORROW (and EVERY FRIDAY)

WHAT TIME: 13:00 UTC

WHERE: #ubuntu-classroom on irc.freenode.net

Dear all,

I was asked about My motu progress by three of the Ubuntu-ve team members. they asked me if I could run a motu session in spanish. Thruth be told I AM NO MOTU YET… however I can talk about my experience and my journey. Is English a barrier… probably but we won’t know until we get there… I may be running and IRC talk on MOTU all in spanish to briefly introduce MOTU to all spanish speakers.

In the long run

I will see the prominent rise of more spanish-speaking MOTU to help out those begining. The very helpful people at Debian-ve shared some ideas on how they handle the language barrier and It clearly underpins the only factor… “time” give more time to the ever growing spanish-speaking community and we will bridge more people into the development… Debian-es and Debian-ve have been around for a long time and it has a solid spanish-speaking DD work force. Let time bring in even more colaboration between  spanish-speaking LoCo teams (we have been doing great)… maybe mruiz and beuno can help lead the way… se vienen “Los amos del universo”

My MOTU journey

It seems to be going a bit slow, but truth is I have a clear path on where to  go… and I am focusing this weekend… maybe the talk will empower me more…

“Watch files, look at upgrade paths and FTBFS (and always, bugs need fixing).” the always wise words from #ubuntu-motu…

so I am diving into motu again… This train doesn’t stop.