Workshop to effectively compute and collaborate using free and open source software tools and techniques Jointly conducted by Mahiti, Bangalore and Comet Media Foundation, Mumbai

Date : From 10.00am-6.00pm on 11-13 January 2010

Venue: Comet Media Foundation, 1st Floor Topiwala School Building, Topiwala Lane (Opposite Lamington Road Police Station, near Grant Road Railway Station) Mumbai 400 007
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What is Free Software?

Free software as a concept and a practice is particularly appealing to those with an education and social work orientation due to its advantages as well as the philosophy it embodies. Its main idea is that the intellectual achievements of any age are public property and should be open to all. This is also known as the intellectual commons.

In these days when intellectual capital and its property rights are being enclosed in more and more forcible ways, a counter movement is also gaining strength. Known as Free Culture, it covers a range of human creations: music, art, literature, science and technology.

When it comes to software, proprietary software, whether 'legal' or not is ubiquitous in most workplaces today. NGOs find it prohibitive in cost and it comes with restrictions in use. Apart from these problems, proprietary software also has low security, as in periodic virus and cracking attacks. There is also the issue of formats becoming fast obsolete and the need to update the software frequently, with payments. Free software, which is continuously upgraded by an international community of software developers, frees users from these difficulties of obsolescence and old documents are always accessible, unlike those in obsolete proprietary formats.

NGO in a Box

NGO-in-a-box is a collection of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) tools selected for use by individuals and organisations in the social sector, along with workshops conducted to help users effectively deploy the software in their organisations.

Objectives:

This workshop is intended to enrich your knowledge and help your organisation to effectively leverage free software without licensing hassles. To learn about free software components and methodologies and how to enable it in your everyday work, join us for the workshop.

For details of previous workshops, visit NGO-IN-A-BOX

Participant profile:

This learning event is geared towards individuals and groups who have a need to migrate from proprietary software to open source alternatives and need to know how.

Faculty:

Rajeev Nair, Pruthvi and Vishnu from Mahiti
Preeti Kotian and colleagues from Comet

Coverage:

The workshop will cover the following broad domains:
Introduction to Linux-based distribution Ubuntu, along with hands on installation sessions
Open Office Tools - documents, spreadsheets and presentations
GNUKhata free and flexible financial software
Internet Tools (firefox/chrome, pidgin, thunderbird).
Photo editing with the GIMP, Web publishing (CMSs, wikis and blogs).
Audio/video editing tools (Audacity/Kino)
Google apps
How to migrate successfully to open source software and get support online

The trainers would be ready to shift or add content based on participants' demands.

Methodology:

Illustrated and interactive lecture-demonstrations, hands-on practice and assignments, case studies and experience-sharing, group discussions, review of websites, readings.

Registration:

Please contact Pooja Das Sarkar, Comet Media Foundation 2382 6674 or write to cometmediafdn at gmail.com.

A registration fee of Rs. 350 will be charged to cover meals and other expenses. Payments are to be made by cheque/DD payable in favour of Comet Media Foundation at Mumbai or transferred directly to our account no. 317 902 010 059 242 at Union Bank of India, Mumbai Samachar Marg Branch, Mumbai.