Tadao Takahashi on Brazilian Open Source Projects
Tadao Takahashi on Open Source in Brazil
URL = http://www.merit.unu.edu/seminars/20060413_abstracts/report.php
Discussions at http://www.intech.unu.edu/podcasts/20060413_takahashi_discussion.mp3
Description
"Presenting Brazil 's experience in the use of information and communication technologies for poverty reduction, Tadao Takahashi highlighted a number of government open source initiatives, including financial incentives for local computer producers to build in open source operating software, and the use of open source in the country's 30,000 public telecentres . However he also sounded a note of caution, saying that the scale of adoption is still too small to yield major economic benefits. âAlthough it is a training game, it is also a market game,â? he noted, â... it is useless for children to learn to use linux if there is no matching demand by employers.â? He identified several unresolved issues that need to be addressed including the lack of a proven business model, licensing, and the lack of âflagship applications' to accelerate the uptake of the technology amongst the general public. He also pointed out that to address the needs of the poorest users â whose priority is telephone access â there is need to focus on improving VOIP services and mobile phone convergence." (http://www.merit.unu.edu/seminars/20060413_abstracts/report.php)
Part of the United Nations University Seminar, see http://www.intech.unu.edu/podcasts/20060413_takahashi_discussion.mp3