Release skeleton code to the public in an open source license format, allow the public to flesh out, debug, etc. then NASA applies to ongoing program. Public feels a part of the program (greater enthusiasm) and NASA likely gets better code on an extremely reasonable budget. Win/Win for geeks on both sides of the fence.
Maybe MTB downhill racing owners of those bikes will be a bit bit more interesting now, I always get waxed when my kids are in the attached Burley trailer, as it currently stands.
You've obviously never been on call, those "pockets of dead space" were always a savior when you were doing something much cooler than responding to the helpdesk.;-)
Let's look into getting the infant mortality below 20% first.
Careful at what depth you address things, many societies have addressed infant mortality with larger sized families. A strong immunization program is much easier to implement than is a family planning initiative. The former can occur in a generation, the latter may take generations. What may result is a population boom with limited food sources. Environmental equilibrium can be subtle, but it is there.
I certainly hope Peace Corps intends to use open source for these projects. One of the most import tenants of Peace Corps projects is sustainability from a host country's perspective - a perfect dovetail for open source code.
Is this project at the behest of the villages or an outside person assuming only positive things will result? Cultures have been quickly torn apart by ideas which seemed positive to outside initiators.
In this situation, and similar ones, where the GPL license is either infringed on or blatantly abused, what party would take up the legal fight if numerous persons have contributed to the GPL'ed software?
Often times, only facilitators are needed; the governments tend to have people with the needed knowledge, skills, and desire to help, but what they are lacking is transportation/budget money. NGOs and their field work foster dependency if the host governments are cut out of the loop, knowingly or unknowingly.
Lending to the third world is similar to adults playing children (of another culture, nonetheless)in Monopoly, easy pickings from an education and capitalist experience perspective. In the spirit of competitiveness, foreign govts and corporations often lose sight of this and win handily, only to become frustrated at what appears to be bone-headed moves by the opponents. Money and the associated cultural baggage that comes with it is quite a bit different as one moves from a society based on independence to one based on extended families.
Technology in developing countries can be a double edged sword and must be implemented slowly and carefully. Having witnessed many defunct projects as Peace Corps volunteers in Papua New Guinea, my wife and I quickly realized the importance of ownership by the community (monetary and sweat equity), passage of maintenance knowledge to the community, and relationship building between the community and their own government. Many countrys' governments have the expertise for such projects, however, aid/church organizations cut them out of the loop. Finally, technology can have subsurface cultural ramifications that are completely hidden from outsiders' views, often resulting in vandalism, land disputes, etc.
Teach independence, not dependence.
Slashdot Mirror
hear voices? :P
Release skeleton code to the public in an open source license format, allow the public to flesh out, debug, etc. then NASA applies to ongoing program. Public feels a part of the program (greater enthusiasm) and NASA likely gets better code on an extremely reasonable budget. Win/Win for geeks on both sides of the fence.
Maybe MTB downhill racing owners of those bikes will be a bit bit more interesting now, I always get waxed when my kids are in the attached Burley trailer, as it currently stands.
magine a world where microscopic biomechanical devices are used to cure diseases
And we can then use the wonders of nanotech to kill off the resultant human overpopulation
You've obviously never been on call, those "pockets of dead space" were always a savior when you were doing something much cooler than responding to the helpdesk. ;-)
Let's look into getting the infant mortality below 20% first.
Careful at what depth you address things, many societies have addressed infant mortality with larger sized families. A strong immunization program is much easier to implement than is a family planning initiative. The former can occur in a generation, the latter may take generations. What may result is a population boom with limited food sources. Environmental equilibrium can be subtle, but it is there.
I certainly hope Peace Corps intends to use open source for these projects. One of the most import tenants of Peace Corps projects is sustainability from a host country's perspective - a perfect dovetail for open source code.
You can find the name of your respective legislators at this helpful EFF link: http://action.eff.org/legdirectory/index.asp
Is this project at the behest of the villages or an outside person assuming only positive things will result? Cultures have been quickly torn apart by ideas which seemed positive to outside initiators.
Is because I write "Return to Sender" on every CD they send to my house.
In this situation, and similar ones, where the GPL license is either infringed on or blatantly abused, what party would take up the legal fight if numerous persons have contributed to the GPL'ed software?
Here's his e-mail address:
Ninthnet@mail.house.gov
Often times, only facilitators are needed; the governments tend to have people with the needed knowledge, skills, and desire to help, but what they are lacking is transportation/budget money. NGOs and their field work foster dependency if the host governments are cut out of the loop, knowingly or unknowingly.
Lending to the third world is similar to adults playing children (of another culture, nonetheless)in Monopoly, easy pickings from an education and capitalist experience perspective. In the spirit of competitiveness, foreign govts and corporations often lose sight of this and win handily, only to become frustrated at what appears to be bone-headed moves by the opponents. Money and the associated cultural baggage that comes with it is quite a bit different as one moves from a society based on independence to one based on extended families.
Technology in developing countries can be a double edged sword and must be implemented slowly and carefully. Having witnessed many defunct projects as Peace Corps volunteers in Papua New Guinea, my wife and I quickly realized the importance of ownership by the community (monetary and sweat equity), passage of maintenance knowledge to the community, and relationship building between the community and their own government. Many countrys' governments have the expertise for such projects, however, aid/church organizations cut them out of the loop. Finally, technology can have subsurface cultural ramifications that are completely hidden from outsiders' views, often resulting in vandalism, land disputes, etc. Teach independence, not dependence.