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This item from one of last month's TAD
newsletters (since renamed SANTEC) takes another (positive) look at free /
open source software in the global South. Note brief mention of
adaptability for local languages.
Don Osborn
Bisharat.net
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DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAVE
CLEARLY LOT TO GAIN FROM FREE SOFTWARE, OPEN SOURCE, SAYS REPORT FROM FINLAND
>From Frederick Noronha
Free Software and Open Source is not just "a useful
and significant tool for the developing countries" but clearly has the potential
to help democratization and positively help find solutions to the most pressing
problems faced by the populations of developing countries, says a report just
prepared on the subject.
To be released in Finland May 22, the report
'Free as in Education: Significance of the Free/Libre and Open Source Software
for Developing Countries', is authored by the Helsinki-based researcher Niranjan
Rajani <niranjan dot rajani at maailma dot net> and has been undertaken in
collaboration with Juha Rekola and Timo Mielonen for the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs <http://formin.finland.fi/english/>
Finland with OneWorld Finland <http://www.maailma.net> and KEPA <http://www.kepa.fi/english/>.
"Even a quick look at the use of computers in the
education sector, NGOs, alternative media, and civil society is enough to
convince us of the potential of FLOSS," says the report, which makes a review of
what's going on in Latin America, Africa and Asia.
It points out that students, teachers, journalists,
and democracy activists have been using computers, email, web publishing,
desktop publishing, and internet to get their message across the world,
participating in societal debates, acquiring as well as disseminating knowledge,
and skills.
"All of that can for sure be done without it but
FLOSS has some intrinsic characteristics that make it a convincing and integral
ally of democratization process," adds the report.
Says the study: "FLOSS has a complementary and
reciprocal relationship to education. One needs an educated section of the
population to fulfil the full potential of FLOSS, and at the same time FLOSS
helps, enhances, and complements education by providing tools to promote
education."
It points out that in the case of education in
computer sciences, FLOSS provides opportunities which nothing else can:
Unrestricted access to the source code, an environment of unlimited
experimentation and tinkering, and collaboration and interaction with a
community of programmers, coders and users around the world.
Free Software and Open Source's "inherent
qualities" make it a prime tool for achieving local language educational
software, "especially for languages which are not deemed commercially viable for
proprietary software vendors".
"If the adoption of FLOSS in developing countries
is done wisely, it can help stimulate indigenous software industry and create
local jobs," says the study. It looks at the possibilities of FLOSS playing a
role in "reducing conflict, enhancing independence, and meeting international
obligations".
In Asia, of some 20+ countries looked at, "the
highest overall FLOSS related activity" seems to be taking place in countries
like India, China and Taiwan, (excluding Japan, which is not object of this
study) followed by South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand etc.
"Rest of the Indian sub-continent (Bangladesh,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal etc.) having a medium level activity, while Arab
world (with the exception of Israel) seems to be the least active zone, only
Afghanistan and North Korea being at the very end," says the
report.
It adds that in Latin America, Mexico, Brazil and
Argentina top FLOSS related activity in overall usage of FLOSS as well as
writing code, followed by Colombia, Venezuela and Peru. "The Latin American
programmers have made significant contributions to the overall FLOSS projects
around the globe," says the study.
In Africa, South Africa tops the list, closely
followed by Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria. Though there is significant activity
starting in countries like Ethiopia, Ghana and Zambia.
Says Rajani's report: "Of all the three regions
reviewed, Latin America tops in terms of code contribution, but Asia is not far
behind, and ... South Africa in the African continent is poised for more code
contribution in addition to its reasonably high use of FLOSS."
Rajani, a geek with a Master's degree in Philosophy
who is originally from Pakistan but based in Finland, says three factors "stand
out" why Third World countries opt for FLOSS -- cost, the anti-piracy campaign
and security concerns.
"Definitely the most overarching factor is the
lower cost, despite a well-known assertion that people in developing countries
don't pay for software anyway. It is true that a large number of users in the
developing countries don't and, more importantly, can't really pay for
software," says the report, pointing to the phenomenally high price of
proprietorial software compared to the average incomes of these
countries.
It points out that in the 'developing countries',
the costs associated with re-training users and hiring skilled people to migrate
and run FLOSS based systems are not that high as in developed countries because
of lower labour costs.
More importantly, "people thus employed are locals
contributing to the local economy rather than paying expensive software license
fees".
Many in the developing countries have also realised
that not paying for licenses for the software being used can not go on for ever.
"Combined with cost, security is perhaps the most
important factor pushing FLOSS in every country outside the United States," it
argues.
But there are obstances too, for FLOSS in the Third
World.
Firstly, Free and Open Source Software is
relevant to a development effort only if a reasonable investment in ICT
infrastructure is made. "If no hardware is available, software is good for
nothing," says Rajani.
Factors like the dearth of trained IT professionals
in many Southern
countries, the lethargy of the bureaucracy acting as another
stumbling block, and corruption ("despite being extremely cost-effective and of
competitive quality, is still kept out because companies with enough cash can
buy off decision-makers") are the other roadblocks.
"One thing is sure: FLOSS doesn't corrupt," says
Rajani.
The brain drain means talent moves away from the
'developing countries'. But in the case of IT, a software developer could still
contribute to the growth of ICT solutions back home.
There are plans to take this report ahead
collaboratively "using the FLOSS model (so that it) can be developed further
over the coming months and years". Says Rajani in the report: "The hope is to
put these reports on-line and to fill in the blanks by people from the concerned
regions."
(ENDS)
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