[cdtd] Minutes from 15 Aug 02
- From: Al Stone <ahs3@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: cdtd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 21:41:11 -0600
Howdy.
Sorry to take so long to get these out, but attached are
"minutes" of sorts from our last meeting on August 15th.
These are from my notes; let me know if I missed something
or got it not quite right.
At the end of these notes are several things I wrote down
that I think people volunteered to do. Again, I think I
got everything down, but let me know if I missed something
or it's wrong.
Can we meet again on Thursday, 5 September, at 7:30pm over
at John 23rd?
Does anyone have news on used PCs?
And thanks to everyone for attending -- I look forward
to working with all of you!
--
Ciao,
al
----------------------------
Al Stone
Linux Systems Operation
Hewlett-Packard Company
Phone: 970-898-0345
Telnet: 898-0345
Fax: 970-898-3804
E-mail: albert_stone@xxxxxx
----------------------------
-- Attached file included as plaintext by Ecartis --
-- File: 15aug02.txt
CDTD Technology Infrastructure Meeting
--------------------------------------
Date: 15 Aug 2002
Attendees: Eric Schwartz
Steve Henry
Peggy Gustav
Mike Meyer
Al Stone
Mark Freeman
Fr. Marcel
Meeting Minutes:
----------------
Introductions were made. Everyone indicated who they were, why
they were interested in the project, and what they thought they
could bring to the effort.
503.1(c) Non-profit Status: Steve gave us an update on how all
this was going. Providing funds to Africa via non-profits has
to be done properly, otherwise it becomes money-laundering --
not exactly what we what to do. So, a non-profit corporation is
being formed here -- called the West African Development Support
Organization (WADSO) -- that will solicit funds and then respond
to grant requests from CDTD. WADSO is nearly in operation with
significant help from Steve, Cindy Cloyd, David Cloyd, and JJ
Johnson (fundraiser). Currently, plans are underway to approach
the Gates Foundation (of Denver), the Boettcher Foundation, and
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
We talked about the projects that need to be planned and figured
out:
-- Technology Infrastructure: getting the connection made
to the internet, and connecting students and communities to
the university so they can get to the internet.
-- 1000 Computers: getting a few computers to a few people is
interesting, but not much of an impact. So, the goal is to
get 1000 computers to students and communities through out
the area.
-- Vocational School: what happens when the computers break?
We need to find a way to provide the materials and training
to people so that they can become self-sufficient.
-- Short-Term Office Needs: there are machines and office
equipment needed in the near term.
Then we started brainstorming what we have, what we need to do,
how we might get there. The goal was really just to collect ideas
to try to develop a strategy for completing these projects. Over
time, we will need to develop presentations and materials that can
be used to solicit funds, explain the vision, and lay out the plans.
In no particular order:
Q: How do we maintain communications between Ivory Coast and here?
Can we arrange video links via the net or IRC channels for text
chat?
Q: Do any of the other Dominican Fathers have computer training?
A: Fr. Marcel is really the only one, but the other priests are
knowledgeable computer users (but not experts).
How do we bootstrap this effort?
-- It may be very difficult (if not impossible) without sending
someone there. For example, we may have to send someone to
show folks how to set up the first five and then they can
take it from there.
-- Distance Learning: can we latch onto what CSU, NTU already
do?
-- Language may be a barrier. The priests can act as translators
but knowledge of English is not common, nor is it taught
in school. Note that English *and* French are the official
languages of the CDTD.
Q: Do the cities/schools have computer access?
A: No, not really. Fr. Marcel told about a "computer school" that
claimed to train people but had no computers whatsoever. When
asked what computers they had worked with, all the students could
say was "none". There are Cyber Cafes here and there in the large
cities (such as Yamasoukkra) but bandwidth is very, very limited.
What impact will social structure play in how we get computers to
people? For example, would we always have to make sure we provide
the first computer to an elder, or clan leader, or village leader,
before we can give to anyone else? Will there be prohibitions
against training women?
What do we do about power? Solar will probably be a good option,
since there is plenty of sunshine, but this does imply that low
power machines (e.g., laptops) will be preferred, and that backup
power and UPSs will be very useful. Solar chargers would also
be very useful.
Power cables will probably be strung to the CDTD site within about
a year.
Power is 220 volts, 50 Hz.
Video standard is probably NTSC, so that videotapes made here in
the US can be used in the Ivory Coast.
Fr. Marcel has to find out who has access to the wireless tower
in Yamasoukkra, and find out if we can get access to it.
CDTD will have cell phones. Phones use the GSM system.
Fr. Marcel walked us through some of the building plans and some
of the buildout plans.
Short term needs: 3 computer desks, 3 laptops, micro printer,
wireless access point, fax machines. See also the CDTD web site
for a detailed list. Plotters, survey tools and GPS equipment
are also needed.
There was a lot of discussion around sources for computers. The
basic question is: how do we find 1000 computers at little or
no cost? We did come to a few conclusions:
-- We can't really accept any computer older than a Pentium.
We'd prefer fairly new machines, but anything older than
a Pentium is not really very useful (unless perhaps it
can be used as part of the vocational training).
-- Linux vs. Windows? We agreed (I think) that being self-
sufficient is an important aspect of the CDTD. Because of
Linux's open source approach, it has a major advantage in
this regard. Linux also has some practical advantages in
terms of security, reliability, and it's ability to be usable
on even pretty old machines. On the other hand, we are not
going to say that things are Linux only -- or Windows-only,
for that matter. If the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
wants to provide 1000 Windows machines and 1000 copies of
Windows, we will *not* look a gift horse in the mouth.
-- Ask your employer for the old stuff when computers are being
replaced. Peggy had some potential sources at PVH that could
turn out to be incredible -- machines, routers, cables,
switches -- the whole shebang. HP has some sources, too.
Mike said the old cement plant may have some stuff that
we can use.
-- Pass the word to families and friends. According to some
of the statistics available, there are a large number of
computers that have been abandoned in people's closets or
basements. Get 'em. Ask for 'em. Even if we can't use
it directly (perhaps it takes too much power or something),
we can at least use it in a vocational school where we
teach people how to build their own.
Action Items:
-------------
Al: will contact NTU and CSU to understand what they do to support
distance learning and what would be needed in the Ivory Coast.
Fr. Marcel: find out who has access to the wireless tower in Yamasoukkra,
and find out if we can get access to it.
Everyone: start looking for machines. Pass the word. Scrounge what
you can :-).
Al: find out how to set up an IRC channel that Fr. Marcel et al can
get access to.
Al: start outlining the presentations needed.
Eric: will talk to CWX (Colorado Wireless Exchange) to see about extra
equipment and/or expertise they may be willing to share.
Peggy: will talk to her boss at PVH to see what will become of the
old used equipment (a potential gold mine!).
Eric: will talk to HP Surplus Equipment folks to see what we can
scrounge.
Mike: will talk to folks at the cement plant to see if they have old
PCs we can use.
Al: schedule next meeting.
Other related posts:
