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Domain: translate.org.za

Stories and comments across the archive that link to translate.org.za.

Comments · 8

  1. Re:Future for FLOSS, ODF for internal docs by Siener · · Score: 1 · on South Africa Adopts ODF as a Government Standard

    Apparently there's a long-term strategy to move to FLOSS

    OSS has a big following in SA for many reasons. One of the obvious benefits is that OpenOffice and many other open source programs are available in all 11 official languages - something that the likes of MS can't offer.

    The celebrity of Mark Shuttleworth in SA and the success of Ubuntu no doubt played its part as well.
  2. Re:Social Networking RFC Anyone? by khanyisa · · Score: 1 · on Facebook Apps Facing Delays and Uncertainties

    Appleseed looks really interesting. I'm concerned about how to convince others of the importance of not being locked in to closed networks. MugShot is also pretty interesting - not distributed, but free software, and can link stuff from facebook, myspace etc into your mugshot page...

  3. Re:Related Projects by khanyisa · · Score: 1 · on Zoep Goes Open Source

    See my post here for builds of jingle-supporting versions of Jabber clients Psi and Kopete: http://www.translate.org.za/blogs/david/archives/2 006/01/27/T09_06_04/

  4. Re:Just at the right time... by Otter · · Score: 1 · on OpenOffice.org In Swahili
    In case you're not already familiar with this -- the South African free software translation project. They do a number of translations (KDE, OpenOffice) to languages that will be much more applicable to where you're going.

    There's a lot already in place in South Africa, so make sure you're not reinventing the wheel. But congratulations to you all for taking on this project! Have a great trip!

  5. The Digital Divide by Rico_za · · Score: 4, Interesting · on Ask Ubuntu Founder (And Astronaut) Mark Shuttleworth

    Ubuntu, SchoolTool,Translate.org.za are some of the projects you support that seem to tackle the digital-divide head-on. Do you have any views or ideas on how to make Internet access cheaper so more people in developing countries can have access to it? More specific, any plans on convincing the South African government that not over-regulating the telecoms industry will be good for everyone?

  6. Re:HP by musicator · · Score: 2, Interesting · on HP Markets Cheap 4-User PCs To African Schools
    Agreed. And to add to this, there are organizations like Translate. They have done proper, high-quality translations for both the OpenOffice.org and Mozilla projects into a number of local South African languages. Whilst doing so, they also employed people from disadvantaged backgrounds, adding lots of value to the community as a result.

    A quick Google for similar initiatives in India pulls up a huge number of hits, one good example being the Linux Localisation Initiative in Bangalore. The point is that HP have realised that with Linux one can empower people to do for themselves. Kinda like the "don't feed the man, teach him how to fish" story, but that is exactly what Open Source enables us to do. You should see the look in such people's eyes when they realised that they have just solved a problem not just for themselves, but for a whole community of people. Priceless stuff.

  7. Re:Interesting by amber_of_luxor · · Score: 3, Interesting · on Thawte Founder Launches Open Source Campaign

    Rumor is that the CD in question is TheOpenCD 1.4.

    Given the multi-lingual nature of South Africa, an open source cd, created from the software at translate.org.za makes more sense than The Open CD. Two CD's almost makes sense. The Open CD, to expose people to the range of software available, and one with localizations for South Africa.

    Amber

  8. Re:Digital divide? by bshuttleworth · · Score: 1 · on NACI: Gov't of South Africa Pushes Open Source
    Ummmm... As a current South African I think a counter-comment is in order here. Yes, South Africa is a country with big divides, most of them economic, some of the racial. But there are two schools of thought on the way forward: either you do something, or you sit around going "oh dear, look, we have problems, noooooo...."

    No prizes for guessing which school of thought is actually going to help.

    Who cares about Open Source? Everyone should: schools do (because they can barely afford the computers), libraries do (see schools) and companies should (because, frankly, it gives you an economic advantage over people forking out money for licenses).

    Why do schools care? Because an awful lot of people can't speak/read/learn in English. How does Open Source help? Read the document, and look at the translation project. All of a sudden people who had to battle through arcane English ideas to use a computer can do it in their own language. Read about the TSF and its schooltool project, library projects and so on. OpenSoure can make a huge difference to a lot of people.

    And before anyone says "ooooh, we've got so many problems" read a history book - every "1st world" country once had a Genie co-efficient that would make an economist blanch. How did they change that? By giving everyone the (a) opportunity and (b) tools to make a difference in their lives and the community around them.

    OpenSource, who cares? I care. Students everywhere care. And anyone who believes that acting to benefit a community is worthwhile cares.