Role of IOSN

The IOSN will conduct awareness-raising activities such as conferences, seminars, and workshops. It will plan and execute events surrounding the many aspects related to Open Source. For example, IOSN can facilitate the planning, sourcing of funds and participants for an annual Conference on Open Source Licensing. Or, it can facilitate discussion on technical issues and other specific matters via mailing lists, discussion groups and the website.

Role of Software Repository
Open Source software is already available for government and/or educational uses, but not many know of their existence. Examples are MYSQL Database, OpenUSS, KEWL, and others. As a result, governments and organisations may not be using low-cost solutions. For Government and educational applications, open software must find a central home and be resourced toward specific uses at relevant institutions within Asia-Pacific. IOSN will play the role of an open source information repository, identifying, documenting, and advising institutions and governments toward free/affordable software. IOSN will also create a repository for Open Source software for collaborative work, providing Open Source developers and others with either the actual software itself in its databases, or a link to other sources. IOSN will link up with Open Source application developers such as Apache and CDS-ISIS, among others, sourcing solutions for the wider Asia-Pacific Region. The IOSN Portal will play a vital role in listing affordable Open Source software packages for use in the region.

Database of Experts and Human Resource
As a center for open source expertise and technical support, IOSN will create and maintain an open database of open source programmers, private entities, and experts in the region willing to take on challenges presented to them by governments and other institutions. Programmers will serve as resource persons to IOSN and the activities supported by it. The resource facility will also allow key experts the opportunity to take on projects secured through IOSN. Further, experts can be sourced to teach particular training sessions organized by the Network. Such an opportunity will aid governments in adopting affordable solutions while regional programmers have the opportunity to earn income, develop good reputations, and further their talents in the field.

Small Grants Programme
IOSN will establish a small grants program to support Open Source R&D (please see “R&D & Localisation” below). The programme will provide grants in the range of $500 to $10,000 for work on localisation efforts, local font development, and Open Source generally.

Technical Support
As IOSN becomes more advanced, and regional competencies and networks have been established, IOSN would be able to coordinate technical support for OS applications. It will do this in partnership with Open Source providers both small and large scale (eg. Red Hat). The service would be one of the intrinsic benefits for members and providers in working closely with the Network. Members can call in for assistance with technical issues while the Network can act as a clearinghouse for technical support, information, and other resources.

R&D & Localization
In the area of “localization,” where software markets are too small for major software vendors in justifying investments in developing local-language character sets, Open Source is the greatest avenue for the creation of local and relevant content. There is currently also a lack of understanding over the importance of local language capabilities and language representation online.

The R&D Component will cover the following major areas:

Local font development based on minimal, internationally acceptable norms and standards will be a primary focus of IOSN. This aspect is geared to assist local communities of various languages, to adopt and benefit from the ICT revolution. The creation of fonts and standards, including standards for internationalised domain names (IDN's), are important in Asia-Pacific and R&D work on this would be subcontracted by the Center throughout the region.

Localization will involve making applications available in several languages that are common in Asia-Pacific, and this is achieved primarily through the implementation of appropriate electronic interchange standard (Unicode) and designing fonts under internationally recognized standards (TrueType and OpenType). Similarly, for Operating Systems it is important that the Graphical User Interface (GUI) is geared for Asia-Pacific languages. IOSN will work towards facilitating localized Open Source custom solutions for the Asia-Pacific region and provide packaged information in the form of “toolkits” to aid the process of localization by indigenous researchers and developers in the region.

IOSN will also mirror websites where there are resources already available. The following is a preliminary list of broad areas/subjects: fonts, localisation, Linux/FreeBSD Kernel Source (with LXR), LDP and BSD (mirrored), and tools and resources for I18N. IOSN will produce technical and non-technical “Primers” for the IOSN community and governments requiring assistance as they implement Open Source. These Primers will assist governments understand the issues surrounding Open Source.

Much research needs to be done in ensuring equitable access, where all communities are able to benefit from networked technologies, applications, and operating systems. The R&D dimension of IOSN will conduct research on access methods through open source, standards for handicap access (especially the blind), the poor or disadvantaged communities. IOSN can support new applications that will benefit disadvantaged communities toward equitable access objectives.

IOSN itself could be involved in some testing and R&D work, as well as the production of Primers and toolkits, however, as noted above, all this work will primarily be subcontracted to the pool of researchers, developers, and other ‘experts’ connected with IOSN throughout Asia-Pacific. Programmers will be able to use the small grant scheme, which aims to assist programmers in their work. This will help build and strengthen human resources and technical capacities in the region.

R&D: Total Asia-Pacific OS Package (TAP)
This aspect could be undertaken in the later stages (3-4 year timeframe) of IOSN. Presently, a user requires installing various components in setting a Linux-based open source operating system, equipped with general applications. This is inconvenient and can be a potential barrier for people using Linux and open software applications. The vision of the Total Asia-Pacific OS Package (TAP) is to package pertinent components such mailbox, word processor, web browser, and other applications into one, customized open system for developing country governments in Asia-Pacific. The TAP package can aid non-expert users, especially those with little experience in Linux, to adopt Open Source operating system and supporting applications. Down the line when IOSN is more established, it could consider developing pre-packaged solutions for non-expert users in Asia-Pacific, distributed in several Languages.

Training and Capacity Building
One of the more fundamental challenges about Open Source is the lack of expertise in guiding individuals and institutions toward adopting open source solutions and applications. IOSN can facilitate training of individuals and government technicians in the Asia-Pacific. IOSN will partner with existing organisations and experts in providing training sessions on Linux. Curriculum could follow the following themes:

Theme (1): Linux and Programming

Theme (2): Open Source for localized computing, information exchange and processing

Theme (3): Creating Effective Technical Support

Theme (4): Open Source as an alternative to existing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) models

Other relevant courses will also be offered by IOSN in partnership with local and national public, private, academic, research, and other organizations working on Open Source in the region.