The International Open Source Network (IOSN)
Page Tools
IOSN, initiated in 2003, is a network with a small secretariat based at the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok and three centres of excellence – IOSN ASEAN+3, IOSN PIC (Pacific Island Countries), and IOSN South Asia, based in Manila, Suva and Chennai respectively. Together, these centres serve as a clearinghouse for information and they support research and development, networking, institutional strengthening, and training throughout the Asia-Pacific region on free/open source software, open standards and open content.
Free/Open Source Software
Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) is software that can be used, copied, studied, modified and redistributed without restriction. These freedoms that are for all – developers and users – are highly significant to the developing world as FOSS increases access, ownership and control of information and communication technologies. It provides a framework for the usage and sharing of intellectual capital in a way that is applicable to many areas of development. The adoption of FOSS presents opportunities for industry and capacity development, software piracy reduction, and localization and customization for diverse cultural and development needs.
Open Standards
Open standards ensure that products and services are of adequate quality and that they can interoperate and work together even though they may be from different parties or entities. Open standards ensure that the next purchase is not dictated by the last purchase, thus, increasing users’ choices, access to products, information and services, and opportunities for sharing and collaboration. In addition, open standards reduce training, and system and data conversion costs. IOSN is a member of the opendocument format alliance which aims to help ensure that government information records documents are accessible across platforms and applications even as technologies change.
Open Content
Open content describes any kind of creative work, including text, pictures, audio and video, that is published in a format that explicitly allows reproduction, redistribution and even modification of the work. Open content promotes learning and collaborative creation and dissemination of knowledge in different formats and languages. IOSN promotes the use of open content by releasing materials using the Creative Commons Attribution License whereby users may copy, distribute and display the original material and derivative works as long as the original copyright is cited. Find out more about IOSN at http://www.iosn.net or download IOSN brochure [PDF, 408kB]
Find out what people are saying about IOSN at http://www.apdip.net/about/accolades/iosn
IOSN is an initiative of APDIP and supported by the International Development Research Centre of Canada.
Projects
I. Policy and Technical Support
(a) IOSN provides policy and technical advice on FOSS, open standards, and open content to governments, civil society, academe, and the private sector in the Asia-Pacific region.
(b) Policy Dialogue on Open Standards
IOSN/APDIP led a policy dialogue on open standards at the Regional Conference on Open Standards in Bangkok, Thailand on 2 and 4 May 2006. 54 participants representing 13 countries from government, the private sector, academia and civil society openly discussed and share practices, and came to some common understanding and possible future collaborations.
(c) e-Primers on Free/Open Source Software (FOSS)
IOSN brings out a series of e-primers on FOSS that are targeted primarily at policy- and decision-makers. The e-primers serve as an introduction to a host of FOSS, open standards, and open content issues such as licensing, localization, and network security. Many important ICT personalities, organizations and corporations have contributed to the production of these primers.
II. IOSN.net Portal and Resource Centre
The IOSN web portal <http://www.iosn.net> serves as a comprehensive, online resource centre with latest news and events, publications, training materials, videos and articles in different formats and languages, and online discussion forums. It is a collaborative platform for the ‘open’ community-at-large, managed by practitioners of FOSS, open standards, and open content across the Asia-Pacific region.
The web portal is arranged thematically and by country. A number of community volunteers manage specific themes and country pages, and the e-Primers form the basis for thematic discussions, comments and news updates, and provide ideas for collaborative projects. Themes include:
Free/Open Source Software - General, Open Standards, Open Access and Content, Education, Government Policy, Licensing, Localization, Networking and Security, Free/Open Source Software for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises
For more information about how IOSN works, please refer to:
- APDIP e-Note 5 – Building Online Communities of Practice: The International Open Source Network Model
- IOSN Case Study
III. Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening
(a) Asia Source: Buidling the Capacity of Civil Society Groups
Through Asia Source, IOSN, with its partners, run residential camps aimed at building the FOSS skills of those working with NGOs in South and South East Asia. These camps assist them with the ICT skills to increase effectiveness and reach of their programmes such as improving governance with Internet campaigns and websites and connecting communities to the Internet with low-cost community wireless networks. The latest camp in 2005 trained over 100 participants from the Asia-Pacific region.
- Asia Source II: Free and Open Technology for NGOs and SMEs, Sukabumi, Indonesia, 22-30 January 2007
- Asia Source I, Bangalore, India, 28 January - 4 February 2005
(b) Linux System Administrator Training of Trainers in Fiji, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam
IOSN supports “training of trainers” for FOSS system administration based on open content learning materials. A GNU/Linux System Administration training programme has been developed and offered in Fiji and Viet Nam to build a cadre of certified trainers. The training programmes have resulted in over 50 trainers trained in Viet Nam, Thailand and the Pacific Island Countries. The open content of the programme has also resulted in other initiatives in Cambodia and Malaysia running programmes that have trained and certified over 100 more system administration personnel.
Similar training of trainers courses are planned in the Philippines and Thailand in 2006.
(c) GNU/Linux Desktop Guide for End-Users
IOSN produces training materials with open content licenses. The IOSN community members have collaboratively developed a GNU/Linux Desktop Guide for End-Users that serves as a self-learning guide for those interested in running a FOSS operating system on their personal computer, and it is available in print, online, and interactive multimedia formats. The User Guide has been translated into Portuguese and Spanish, and from the IOSN portal alone, has been downloaded over 20,000 times.
IV. Awareness Raising
(a) FOSS Asia-Pacific Consultation (FOSSAP)
FOSSAP is an annual IOSN event bringing together government officials, educators, and professionals. FOSSAP provides an effective policy-level platform for the exchange of information and experiences in the use of FOSS, open standards, and open content for development
(b) IOSN also organizes other events and produces materials (brochures, videos, television programmes) in collaboration with national, regional, and international partners to raise awareness. See News and Events for more information.
V. Research and Development
(a) USP-IOSN Microgrant Programme for Pacific Island Countries
To promote FOSS development in Pacific Island Countries, IOSN is operating a competitive grant scheme in partnership with the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji. Grants are awarded to projects that aims to develop original and innovative FOSS applications for Pacific Island Countries.
(b) While the use of FOSS, open standards, and open content is becoming more widespread, there is still a lack of understanding on their benefits, policy implications, and resources available. Supporting research and development is one of IOSN’s priorities. IOSN aims to develop position papers on issues related to FOSS, open standards, and open content for education and training, e-governance, gender equity, geographic information systems, health, public administration, and small- and medium-enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region.
Resources
e-Primers on Free/Open Source Software
This series serves as an introduction to various aspects and dimensions of free/open source software (FOSS) issues, with country case studies. It aims to raise awareness on FOSS issues and support capacity building efforts. Titles include:
FOSS: A General Introduction [PDF with cover, 2MB] [PDF without cover, 265kB] [OpenOffice format, 76kB] [Wikibook] Vietnamese version [PDF, 412kB] [OpenOffice format, 77kB]
FOSS: Education [PDF, 652kB] [Wikibook] Portuguese version by UNESCO Brazil [HTML]
FOSS: Government Policy [PDF, 1.8MB] [Wikibook]
FOSS: Localization [PDF, 771kB] [Wikibook] HTML-Wikipedia Remix by Taran Rampersad [Knowprose] [Wikipedia]
FOSS: Open Standards [PDF with cover, 823kB] [PDF without cover, 473kB] [Wikibook]
FOSS: Licensing [PDF with cover, 961kB] [PDF without cover, 235kB] [Wikibook]
FOSS: Network Infrastructure and Security [PDF with cover, 1.4MB] [PDF without cover, 367kB] [Wikibook]
FOSS: Open Content [PDF with cover, 1.1MB] [PDF without cover, 420kB] [Wikibook]
IOSN RESOURCES BY THEME
- Free/Open Source Software - General
- Open Standards
- Open Access and Content
- Education
- Government Policy
- Licensing
- Localization
- Networking and Security
- Free/Open Source Software for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises
OTHER IOSN RESOURCES
This is a compilation of case studies on the successful deployment of FOSS in select projects from across the world.
This publication includes a compilation of 14 case studies on the successful deployment of free and open source software (FOSS) in select projects from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Latin America. In each case study, the reason for choosing to use FOSS together with the development, implementation and impact of the FOSS applications are discussed. The benefits obtained and challenges encountered, as well as any valuable lessons learned are also highlighted.
Training Materials for Free/Open Source Software
This section includes the GNU/Linux System Administrator Training Materials.
IOSN facilitates localization of FOSS for the Asia-Pacific region by providing packaged information in the form of simple 'toolkits' to aid researchers and developers. The FOSS Guide to Localization covers all the steps involved in the localization process starting from fundamental topics such as Locale, Character Encoding and Fonts to advanced topics from Input Methods, Gettext Framework to Translation Guidelines. The guide also provides case studies of KDE, GNOME, OpenOffice and Mozilla (Firefox). In addition, the guide includes a list of tools useful for the various tasks in localization.
Software for Development: Is Free/Open Source Software the Answer?
This is IOSN/APDIP's feature event at the second World Summit for the Information Society in Tunis November 2005. The edited video shows highlights of the panel discussion led by key figures in ICT4D and FOSS, including, Robert Kramer of ComTIA, Louis-Dominique Ouedraogo of UN Joint Inspection Unit, Bruce Perens of Sourcelabs, Inc., Mark Shuttleworth of Ubuntu Foundation, Richard Stallman of Free Software Foundation and Shane Wall of Intel Corporation. Kenneth Cukier of The Economist moderated the event.
The Codebreakers DVD is a 40-minute version of a two-part programme first shown on BBC World during May 2006. It looks at the potential of free/open source software (FOSS) to bridge the digital divide. It includes stories and interviews from around the world where FOSS is making an impact.
The IOSN Live CD serves as a self-learning guide to using the GNU/Linux operating system and FOSS applications. It is a bootable CD that runs the GNU/Linux operation system off temporary memory and does not affect the hard drive. In addition to standard FOSS productivity and multimedia applications, it is bundled with a user guide that includes training materials on using the GNU/Linux operating system and FOSS applications, presentation slides for trainers to be used in conjunction with the training materials, and an interactive guide. The CD also contains three e-Primers on FOSS.
In 2005/2006, Computer Aid International partnered with the International Open Source Network (IOSN) to provide 25,000 copies of UBUNTU a popular version of the GNU/Linux operating system to education initiatives and ICT projects in Africa. This is an installation CD with a fully usable Linux operating system and FOSS applications, including a complete set of business productivity applications, Internet applications, drawing and graphics applications, and games.
This APDIP e-Note discusses the approaches, tools and technologies used by the International Open Source Network to build a participatory, sustainable and ever-expanding community of practice around issues related to free/open source software, open content and open standards.
APDIP e-Note 7 - Open Technologies: Catalyst for Transformation
This APDIP e-Note explains the value of open ICT ecosystems and elaborates on their principles and building blocks in simple terms.
This case study documents the community- and technology-related dimensions of this IOSN portal. The community dimension explores the participatory management of the IOSN portal, and the process of building a network that involves give and take within the IOSN community. The technological dimension examines the tools used for facilitating this participatory process within the IOSN community, and its outreach and advocacy activities.
IOSN is developing FOSS country reports on wiki. These country reports have been created on wiki and APDIP invites you to update the country reports. Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit webpage content using any web browser. New users to IOSN will need to register first at http://www.iosn.net/join_form
This is a bi-monthly e-newsletter that keeps subscribers informed of developments on free/open source software, open content and open standards in the Asia-Pacific region and worldwide. The IOSN e-Letter can be accessed in full, free-of-charge, on the IOSN portal and is disseminated to ICT4D and FOSS mailing lists.
FOSSAP is the Free/Open Source Software Asia-Pacific Consultation organized by IOSN. The first FOSSAP took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in February 2004 and the second one took place in Siem Reap, Cambodia in September 2005. Details about the event, the outcome and blogs on FOSSAP can be found on the IOSN website and Wikipedia.
News and Events
Click here for news and events related to free/open source software, open standards and open content.
Contact
For more information, please visit www.iosn.net or contact:
International Open Source Network
Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme
UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok
3rd Floor, United Nations Service Building
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 288 1234
Email: info@iosn.net
IOSN ASEAN+3
National Telehealth Center
University of the Philippines Manila
Taft Avenue, Manila
Philippines 1000
Tel: +63 2 525 6501
Email: asean3@iosn.net
IOSN PIC (a consortium made up of the University of the South Pacific, South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society)
The University of the South Pacific
Private Bag
Suva, Fiji
Tel: +67 9 323 1000
Email: pic@iosn.net
IOSN South Asia
Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
Block-II, 6/13, Park Avenue
Keshava Perumal Puram
Chennai-600 028, India
Tel: +91 44 2461 0880
Email: southasia@iosn.net
Last modified 2007-11-26 12:31 PM
