Comments on: Marvin Pascual on FOSSAP 2005 http://www.pinoytechblog.com/archives/marvin-pascual-on-fossap-2005 The Philippines' Longest-running Technology Blog Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:51:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Meshiel http://www.pinoytechblog.com/archives/marvin-pascual-on-fossap-2005/comment-page-1#comment-143797 Meshiel Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:08:56 +0000 http://www.pinoytechblog.com/archives/marvin-pascual-on-fossap-2005#comment-143797 Ask lang po ilan ba ang dialect natin?Thank u po. Ask lang po ilan ba ang dialect natin?Thank u po.

]]> By: Carl http://www.pinoytechblog.com/archives/marvin-pascual-on-fossap-2005/comment-page-1#comment-986 Carl Sun, 09 Oct 2005 17:29:29 +0000 http://www.pinoytechblog.com/archives/marvin-pascual-on-fossap-2005#comment-986 1) Budget and funding - this is something that must be addressed, although given this country's current economic situation, this issue is likely to hit the back burner. Private industry is likely the best means of getting support. How to get that support without being saddled with commercial apps is a kink to be worked out. Perhaps we should consider the "500 magic machine" (a $500, 500 MHz notebook that runs Linux and has a _hand crank_ to provide emergency power)? *grins*2) Training - is a big issue. User resistance to change is remarkable; UNIX has been around for well over twenty years, but has been favoured by specialist users for a reason. "grep, sed, awk" are a far cry from the fancy GUIfied utils most people are familiar with. 3) Localisation - is, as Jerome said, quite important. Like it or not, the Philippines is still largely in an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) state, especially in the provinces. Adapting the GUI to local needs posts a remarkable challenge - how many dialects should it support? Many prospective users have not only never seen a computer before, but are also incapable of speaking English or the national language (assuming a worst-case rural deployment scenario). Not that I'm suggesting it's impossible, but the challenges posed are awesome. It will be interesting to see FOSS warriors taking the fight where it matters most - to the front lines of the digital divide. ^^ 1) Budget and funding – this is something that must be addressed, although given this country’s current economic situation, this issue is likely to hit the back burner. Private industry is likely the best means of getting support. How to get that support without being saddled with commercial apps is a kink to be worked out. Perhaps we should consider the “500 magic machine” (a $500, 500 MHz notebook that runs Linux and has a _hand crank_ to provide emergency power)? *grins*2) Training – is a big issue. User resistance to change is remarkable; UNIX has been around for well over twenty years, but has been favoured by specialist users for a reason. “grep, sed, awk” are a far cry from the fancy GUIfied utils most people are familiar with. 3) Localisation – is, as Jerome said, quite important. Like it or not, the Philippines is still largely in an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) state, especially in the provinces. Adapting the GUI to local needs posts a remarkable challenge – how many dialects should it support? Many prospective users have not only never seen a computer before, but are also incapable of speaking English or the national language (assuming a worst-case rural deployment scenario). Not that I’m suggesting it’s impossible, but the challenges posed are awesome. It will be interesting to see FOSS warriors taking the fight where it matters most – to the front lines of the digital divide. ^^

]]> By: Jerome Gotangco http://www.pinoytechblog.com/archives/marvin-pascual-on-fossap-2005/comment-page-1#comment-973 Jerome Gotangco Fri, 07 Oct 2005 15:52:26 +0000 http://www.pinoytechblog.com/archives/marvin-pascual-on-fossap-2005#comment-973 The issue of localization is not a matter that has to be ignored. Localization is important for the improvement of the language. Even if majority of Filipinos can communicate in the english language, there are still some people who can't. Localization is a major factor that can eliminate the so called digital divide. Even if majority of filipinos speak in english, we should still strive to improve the mother tongue. The issue of localization is not a matter that has to be ignored. Localization is important for the improvement of the language. Even if majority of Filipinos can communicate in the english language, there are still some people who can’t. Localization is a major factor that can eliminate the so called digital divide.

Even if majority of filipinos speak in english, we should still strive to improve the mother tongue.

]]> By: Blah! » Blog Archive » Marvin Pascual shares lessons from FOSSAP http://www.pinoytechblog.com/archives/marvin-pascual-on-fossap-2005/comment-page-1#comment-969 Blah! » Blog Archive » Marvin Pascual shares lessons from FOSSAP Fri, 07 Oct 2005 10:08:39 +0000 http://www.pinoytechblog.com/archives/marvin-pascual-on-fossap-2005#comment-969 [...] Want to know what Marvin Pascual wants to share about FOSSAP? Check my entry today on PinoyTechBlog. [...] [...] Want to know what Marvin Pascual wants to share about FOSSAP? Check my entry today on PinoyTechBlog. [...]

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