Software for Development: Is Free/Open Source Software the Answer?

Software for Development
Is Free/Open Source Software the Answer?

18 November 2005
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Room Jerba, PalExpo Kram

Software drives the information society.  Software enables us to connect and communicate in ways that drastically changes how we work and play.  It facilitates productivity, at the same time, delivers the digital lifestyle.

For developing countries, the adoption of software solutions, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in general, as an enabler for social and economic development is severely limited by financial constraints.

Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) represents an opportunity for developing countries, an alternative choice to prohibitive license fees and piracy. However, in reality, that choice is not so clear cut - neither are the issues, which go beyond the financial dimension.

What are the clear benefits specific to the adoption of FOSS for developing countries?  How does the choice of software (FOSS or proprietary) impact the outcomes of ICT-enabled, sustainable development?  What are the proven business models of FOSS development and related services? Should governments play a role in promoting software preferences outside the public sector? Should it be an either or decision - either FOSS or proprietary software - when public resources are involved?

To discuss these questions and more, and to introduce the complexity of these issues at the opportunity presented at the World Summit on the Information Society (Tunis phase), UNDP's Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (UNDP-APDIP) invite you to participate in a discussion led by a distinguished panel.

Panelists

• Robert Kramer, Vice President of Public Policy, CompTIA
• Louis Dominique Ouedraogo, Inspector, UN Joint Inspection Unit
• Bruce Perens, Vice President, Sourcelabs, Inc.
• Mark Shuttleworth, President, Ubuntu Foundation
• Richard Stallman, Founder, Free Software Foundation
• Shane Wall, Vice President of Channel Platforms Group and General Manager of Channel Software Operation, Intel Corporation

Moderated by: Kenneth Cukier, Technology Correspondent, The Economist

For more information visit us at the UNDP Sharing the Future Pavilion (Stand no. 1307.1) at the ICT4All Exhibition.

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