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Honourable Minister, There
Is Another Side To It!!
By Muyiwa Taiwo
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A recent story
quotes the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr.
Alhassan Bako Zaku as announcing “plans to provide computer
software for polytechnics in the country”, during a
visit to him by some Nigerian officials of Microsoft Corporation.
The move deserves some comments: Microsoft likes the world
to believe that there are no other sources for computer software.
As ridiculous as it sounds, most people, including some computer
professionals, are aware only of Microsoft software in various
categories. So, when such people think of word processing,
they think of Microsoft Word.
When they think of e-mail, they think of Microsoft Outlook.,
etc.
The truth however, is that free and open source software exists
for virtually everything a Polytechnic may want to use computers
for, ranging from office administration, document production,
teaching support, electronic and distance learning, to educational
administration, including staff management, document management,
management of research outputs, etc.
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Many
people may be unaware that Microsoft has been known
to offer to give money to companies “for marketing
purposes” if those companies replaced competing
software from government-purchased computers with Microsoft
software. The Minister should watch his staff, suppliers
and consultants.
Microsoft may offer to supply the software “free”
to start with, but start charging “license fees”
later.
Even more important is the fact that the license terms
of Microsoft software is in reality only a license to
use the software. That's right. That software for which
you've paid so much doesn't actually belong to you.
It belongs to Microsoft.Microsoft software periodically
sends back reports on what you do with your computer
back to Microsoft, without
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informing you. This
is done under the guise of checking for license compliance,or
ensuring that your computer is free of “undesirable”
programs.
Anybody who has an interest in computers would have heard about
free software. What does it really mean for software to be free?
What is free software? Free software means, at the most basic
level, that the software is free of cost.
Microsoft software costs money.
Therefore, if the Minister is serious about providing computers
and software at the minimum cost to the Polytechnics, there
is no better way than to use free software. Even more importantly,
free software means that the software gives its users four freedoms:Freedom
to use the software for any purpose; |
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Freedom to inspect
and modify the code to suit ones needs access to the source
code is required for this. Access to source code is referred
to as 'open source';
Freedom to distribute the program, so that you can help
your neighbour;
Freedom to improve the program, and to share that improvement
to the community |
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access to the
source code is required for this. How do these freedoms benefit
Polytechnics? By being free to use the software for any purpose,
Polytechnics, being havens of creativity and intellectual ability,
can explore the full capability of the software, and use it
in ways which may not have been thought of, or intended by the
creators of the software. Free software encourages creativity
and curiosity, and promotes learning.
By having access to the source code, not only are Polytechnics
able to modify the software to suit their needs, they will be
exposed to global programming and software developing best practice,
thereby being able to participate as equals on the global software
stage. Free software empowers local information technology practitioners
and equips them for the world stage.
Freedom to distribute the software means that if one Polytechnic
for one reason or another is unable to obtain a copy of the
software, another one can simply provide a copy, without fear
of engaging in software piracy. In other words, free software
eliminates software piracy.
Polytechnics can improve software related to their area of strength,
and distribute the improvements throughout the Polytechnic system.
By working collaboratively in this way, Polytechnics will leverage
the limited software development expertise within individual
institutions.
The minimum the Minister can do is to ask Microsoft if it can
match all freedoms. A simple 'yes' or 'no' is all that is required.
No long story. The answer will of course be 'no'. The Minister
must then live up to his oath of office and provide the country's
Polytechnics with not only the lowest cost software for any
task they may want to do with computers, but also software which
is able to empower the students of the Polytechnics to become
active participants in the global knowledge economy.
Muyiwa Taiwo, an engineer, lives
in Tauranga, New Zealand
*Culled from CyberschuulNews.com
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