Free Software In The State

Awareness for Free Software usage in Awareness for Free Software usage in the State the State

Because public information is Because public information is ourour digital heritage digital heritageWe must make sure that it remains wellWe must make sure that it remains well

Free Software in the StateFree Software in the State

Mgter. Carlos Brys Computer Science DepartmentFaculty of Economics Sciences

Universidad Nacional de MisionesArgentina

[email protected]

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Table of Contents

The StateThe State

ParadigmsParadigms Computer ParadigmsComputer Paradigms

Technological DependenceTechnological Dependence

Free SoftwareFree Software

Reasons for the State toReasons for the State to adopt the Free Software adopt the Free Software

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The State

What is the State ?The State is a set of individuals who joinhe State is a set of individuals who jointogether to satisfy their needs.together to satisfy their needs.

It is a community of mutual assistance,It is a community of mutual assistance,in which men are complementedin which men are complementedto satisfy their needs.to satisfy their needs.

PlatoPlato427 b.C. - 327 b.C427 b.C. - 327 b.C

The state is the set of institutions who possesses theThe state is the set of institutions who possesses theauthority and power to establish rules,authority and power to establish rules,govern a society, having internal and external sovereignty govern a society, having internal and external sovereignty on a given territory.on a given territory.

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Let's talk about Paradigms

What is a Paradigm?What is a Paradigm?Some definitions:Some definitions:

It's a model to followIt's a model to follow Accepted FactsAccepted Facts

Beliefs ValuesValues

Game's Rules Vision of RealityVision of Reality

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Paradigms

"The way we see things"The way we see thingsis the source of how we thinkis the source of how we thinkand the way we act ...and the way we act ...

These assumptionsThese assumptionsgive rise to our attitudesgive rise to our attitudesand our behavior ...and our behavior ...and our relations with others”.and our relations with others”.

Stephen CoveyStephen CoveyThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

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Paradigms

The paradigm serves as a The paradigm serves as a physiological filter, physiological filter,

as a colour filter beforeas a colour filter beforeour eyes that allows us our eyes that allows us

to see the reality, to see the reality, but in the colour that we choosebut in the colour that we choose

The rulesThe rulesof the new paradigm areof the new paradigm arecompletely completely invisibleinvisible for those which still are for those which still are subscribing to the subscribing to the old paradigmold paradigm

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Paradigms

A paradigm explains the world where we liveA paradigm explains the world where we liveand can predict its behaviourand can predict its behaviour

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Paradigms

““When in the middle of a paradigm, it is difficult to When in the middle of a paradigm, it is difficult to imagine any other”imagine any other”

Adam Smith Adam Smith (Powers of the Mind)(Powers of the Mind)

““It's easier to disintegrate an atom than a prejudice”It's easier to disintegrate an atom than a prejudice”Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein

The Chained ElephantThe Chained Elephant

The circus elephants are held onlyThe circus elephants are held onlywith a stick in the ground.with a stick in the ground.

While the elephant may go when he like, While the elephant may go when he like, it does not, because when was small he it does not, because when was small he has "learnt" the paradigm that while the has "learnt" the paradigm that while the stick is on the ground, stick is on the ground, he can't lefthe can't left

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Paradigms

Paradigm Blindness and ParalysisParadigm Blindness and ParalysisJoel BarkerJoel Barker

An example: Who invented the quartz watch?An example: Who invented the quartz watch?Those Swiss! (but is manufactured in Japan)Those Swiss! (but is manufactured in Japan)

Common expressions of blindness paradigm:Common expressions of blindness paradigm:

““Things aren't made this wayThings aren't made this way””““It wont workIt wont work””““That's impossibleThat's impossible””““If you have my years of experience, you would know that you are If you have my years of experience, you would know that you are wrongwrong””““We always made it this way. We're not going to change now!We always made it this way. We're not going to change now!””““I do not want!I do not want!””

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Computer Paradigms

Today, the collective awareness thinks that ...Today, the collective awareness thinks that ...

Those who do not have computer skills,Those who do not have computer skills,will be illiterate in XXI Centurywill be illiterate in XXI Century

Computers are very important,Computers are very important,let's teach computing in schools and universitieslet's teach computing in schools and universities

Computer skills are …Computer skills are … know how to use Windows,know how to use Windows, Word, Excel, Power Point, also … Word, Excel, Power Point, also … Internet and emailInternet and email

Migrate to Free Software requires so much effort andMigrate to Free Software requires so much effort and money. It is preferable to continue using privative software money. It is preferable to continue using privative software

If companies give us computer labs, we can't be so fool not If companies give us computer labs, we can't be so fool not to accept, for the sake of educationto accept, for the sake of education

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Computer Paradigms

However ...However ...

Unrestricted access to knowledge will reduceUnrestricted access to knowledge will reducethe digital divide and empower the Information Societythe digital divide and empower the Information Society

Computer science is very important,Computer science is very important,let's teach computer science in schools and universitieslet's teach computer science in schools and universities

Let's begin to teach to use software"tools" for information Let's begin to teach to use software"tools" for information management, instead of teach using “brands" of commercial management, instead of teach using “brands" of commercial productsproducts

Free Software is more cost effective and productive.Free Software is more cost effective and productive.In the end, the benefits of using it will always be greaterIn the end, the benefits of using it will always be greater

Privative products that we teach to use our students are not Privative products that we teach to use our students are not free, and then can hardly acquire this products to study with free, and then can hardly acquire this products to study with them them

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Technological Dependence

If the institution uses a computer application and is not freeIf the institution uses a computer application and is not freeto contract with respect to additions and corrections of the to contract with respect to additions and corrections of the system, there is a technological dependece in which thesystem, there is a technological dependece in which thesupplier is able to dictate terms unilaterally,supplier is able to dictate terms unilaterally,terms and prices.terms and prices.

A particularly insidious way of this technology dependenceA particularly insidious way of this technology dependenceis through the way they are stored data.is through the way they are stored data.

If the program uses a open storage format,If the program uses a open storage format,then you can be sure that in the future maythen you can be sure that in the future maycontinue decoding the information.continue decoding the information.

If, by contrast, if the data is stored in a secretIf, by contrast, if the data is stored in a secretformat the user is trapped in a particular supplier, theformat the user is trapped in a particular supplier, theonly it can offer some guarantee of access.only it can offer some guarantee of access.

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Technological Dependence

For as regardsFor as regardsto Information Technologiesto Information Technologiesthe State is a sovereign and independentthe State is a sovereign and independent

We need:We need:

That the Software used may be FreeThat the Software used may be Free

That Standards used must be Open That Standards used must be Open

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What is Free Software?

Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the softwarestudy, change and improve the software. . More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:software:

A program is free software if you have all of these freedoms:A program is free software if you have all of these freedoms:

The freedom to run the program, for any purpose

The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needsneeds

The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor

The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements (and modified versions in general) to the public, so that the whole community benefits

Definition of Free Software: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

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Free Software in the State

Benefits of using Free Software in the StateBenefits of using Free Software in the State

Technological independence

Compatibility

Interoperability

Long-term universal access

Preservation of Digital Heritage

Equality and non-discrimination

Freedom of choice

Information Security

Opportunity for local growth and development

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““The global wasteThe global waste in using proprietary software in using proprietary software

is more than $1 trillion annually” is more than $1 trillion annually”

Michael TiemannVP of RedHat and head of the Open Source Initiative

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Let's do some counts....Let's do some counts....

US$ 95 to US$ 170US$ 70 to US$ 200

The license cost * to use an Operating System more an Office Suite

is US$ 165 to US$ 370 per each computer

A privative Operating System costs

A privative Office Suite costs

* Users pays for a license to "use" the softwareUsers not acquire ownership of the product

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In the majority of National Constitutions,In the majority of National Constitutions,inescapable State obligations are:inescapable State obligations are:

Ensuring the welfare of the people

Protect Health

Promote Education

Provide Security

Then, How the spending of State in licensing of privative softwareon its obligations to the people impacts them?

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If a State spends US$ 165 to US$ 370If a State spends US$ 165 to US$ 370of public money on privative software licenses,of public money on privative software licenses,for a single computerfor a single computer .... ....

Will stop buying 60 to 130 reading booksWill stop buying 60 to 130 reading books

And from 600 to 1300 childrenAnd from 600 to 1300 childrenwill lose the opportunity towill lose the opportunity tolearn to readlearn to read

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Will stop buyingWill stop buying44 to 88 gallons of fuel44 to 88 gallons of fuel

And they no longer makeAnd they no longer make1030 to 2310 Miles1030 to 2310 Milesof urban patrollingof urban patrolling

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Will stop buying Will stop buying 415 to 925 doses415 to 925 dosesof meningitis vaccineof meningitis vaccine

And from 415 to 925 childrenAnd from 415 to 925 childrenwill lose the opportunity towill lose the opportunity tobe immunizedbe immunized

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Will stop buyingWill stop buying156 to 350 gallons 156 to 350 gallons of milkof milk

And they lose the opportunityAnd they lose the opportunityto provide 2,950 to 6,000to provide 2,950 to 6,000portionsportions

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In the current paradigm ...In the current paradigm ...

The spend of public money on licenses of The spend of public money on licenses of privative software, when there are free alternatives, privative software, when there are free alternatives, can be channeled toward to most urgent can be channeled toward to most urgent population needspopulation needs

Condone or encourage illegal copying and use of Condone or encourage illegal copying and use of

software that is protected by copyrights lawsoftware that is protected by copyrights lawis a crimeis a crime

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Governments that already movingin the adoption of Free Software philosophy

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China,Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, England, France, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Norway, Nigeria, Perú, República Dominicana, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Venezuela ...

Even the U.N. recommended to useEven the U.N. recommended to use Free Software to member countries Free Software to member countries

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Awareness for usingFree Software in the State

There is aThere is aNew ParadigmNew Paradigm

possible:possible:

is Freeis Free

is Openis Open

is Legalis Legal

is Socially Acceptableis Socially Acceptable

is Politically Correctis Politically Correct

For the Awareness For the Awareness of usingof using

Free Software in the StateFree Software in the State

You are free:You are free:

To share, copy, distribute and transmit the work,To share, copy, distribute and transmit the work,remix, adapt the work, and make derivatesremix, adapt the work, and make derivates

Under the following conditions:Under the following conditions: Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).work).Noncommercial. You may not use this work for commercial purposes.Noncommercial. You may not use this work for commercial purposes.

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Free Software In The State