[ossig] Elderly folks in M'sia learn open source

[Nan Phin <nplee@tm.net.my>]

By Charles Moreira, The Star Online
     Thursday, December 26 2002 1:54 PM

     PETALING JAYA--Senior citizens from a community group in Kuala Lumpur have
     greatly impressed their trainer, Colin Charles, by quickly learning how to install and
     configure the Linux Red Hat 8.0 operating system.

     "On the first day, some of these senior citizens--in their 60s and 70s--didn’t even know how to
     switch on a computer," Charles said, after hosting a three-day Open Source Software
     Workshop at the Cosmopoint Corporate Training Center earlier this month.

     "But they soon learned to install Linux Red Hat 8.0 all by themselves, and stayed the whole
     course," Charles, a Linux Professional Institute certified trainer, said in a recent interview.

     The group of 26 senior folks also learned how to configure modems and printers to work under
     Linux, synchronize a PalmOS-based handheld device, download pictures from a digital camera
     through a USB (universal serial bus) port, and edit them with the G-Photo photo-editing
     software.

     After graduating from the course, they hope to train their fellow members on Linux-based
     desktop productivity tools like OpenOffice.org, the Mozilla browser, X-CD-Roast CD burning
     software, Charles noted.

     For example, a school teacher, who declined to be named, said: "I can influence my school's
     computer clubs to use Linux...with open source software, they don't have to pay licensing
     fees."

     The workshop, which cost RM50 (US$13.16) per attendee, was organized by the Malaysian
     National Computer Confederation's Open Source Special Interest Group (MNCC-OSSIG).

     It was aided by Advanced Technology Studies Centre (atSC), Cosmopoint (which provided its
     premises and computer facilities), Delmaco, Getronics Solutions Malaysia, I-Enterprise Online,
     Ingenuity Microsystems and Meteor Technology.

     MNCC-OSSIG plans to hold its next workshop in Penang in February, as well as further
     sessions in the Klang Valley. However, MNCC-OSSIG members said they would need a
     sponsor like Cosmopoint to provide the premises and facilities.


--

best wishes.
/nan phin

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

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