Open Technologist

Linux History- Where it all started

In 1991, Linus Torvalds decided to share code that he had created for an operating system which would later become known as Linux, in the hope of getting feedback from others on how he could improve it. I came across the original email that Linus sent and was amazed by the modesty : Hello everybody out there using minix - I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. This has been brewing since april, and is starting to...

OLPC Available With Windows

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is non-profit organisation whose current focus is the development and distribution of the X0-1 laptop to children in developing nations. The laptop makes use of a Linux OS and a criticism from many countries is that it does not use a Windows OS. They felt that the students would be better prepared for jobs in the global workplace if they used Windows. In response OLPC will now be releasing a laptop running Windows XP Pro specifically built for the XO laptop. Peru...

South African IEC Website Blocks Open Source Users

I decided to have a look at the South African Independent Electoral Commission's (IEC) website to see where you could register for the upcoming elections. Instead I was presented with the following message: It seems their website only allows Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer users. So that means no Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Linux or Mac...

Innovation in the age of Mass Collaboration

Mass Collaboration occurs when large numbers of people work on a single project. The book Wikinomics highlites how technology and in particular the Internet is fueling mass collaboration and changing the way organisations are finding ways to solve problems. Mass Collaboration encourages all those involved in the business process  to share information and ideas. An increasing number of organisations have realised the benefits and for some it is becoming a major factor in corporate...