Lab Notes, 3/30/04
Present: core volunteers - Olin Zuercher, Tom Brown, Jay Schlatter, Terry
Click, Carl Madzela; 6:00 - 10:00 PM
Present: volunteers - Phyllis Chapman, Judy Bradley, Frank Bradley, Sherral
Stamatovich; 6:00 - 9:00 PM
:: FreeBoxes
Nearly all lab activity centered around preparing 6 FBs for the class this
coming Saturday. Core volunteers refurbed the boxes, installed Vector Linux
and tested. Other volunteers cleaned the components.
We exhausted our supply of FreeBoxes and cannot conduct more classes until
we receive more donated computers.
:: FreeBox Classes vs. Demanufacturing
Today (4/1/04) I have a waiting list of a dozen people who want computers.
The situation makes demanufacturing all the more important.
We never intended to give away computers for passing a class. We
implemented the classes to continually clear out our limited storage space.
Since we weren't prepared to demanufacture, we couldn't place entry level
volunteers into the recycling operation. The classes also create a buzz and
considerable goodwill with recipients and the community at large.
But the truth is we need to ramp up recycling. We may be headed for a PR
fork in the road. Demanufacturing just doesn't sound sexy as FreeBox
does.Where are our Spin Doctors? How can we sex up demanufacturing, to use
the Brit expression.
:: Demanufacturing Workbenches
Olin set up a test workbench. The consensus is the workbench is fine for
most adult males but too high for the average female by several inches. I
need to find supports (plastic trash containers) 35" tall. The test
workbench functioned well for Olin.
:: Older Adults
One of the students from the FreeBox class for older adults was unable to
pass the test and came to lab for more instruction and practice. I helped
her as much as I could. I was also managing the FreeBox refurbing and
working with Carl on modem issues.
Unfortunately the student was still unable to pass the test after 2 hours
of practice and instruction. I set aside her computer and will hold it for
two weeks. I recommended that she practice on a friend's FreeBox until she
is 100% confident she can pass the test.
Working with older adults is a challenge. Mike, Jay and I talked about it
at length after the lab. Some older students may need:
1. To volunteer for demanufacturing to earn a computer. They will gradually
become familiar with computers in a less stressful environment than a high
pressure 3 hour FreeBox class.
2. A loaner computer to practice on at home between classes. Older adults
may have learning strategies which are not suited to classes and are
uniquely their own.
3. 2-4x as much instruction, divided into smaller chunks, with practice
time between lessons.
On the upside older adults are eager to volunteer time to FGM. They have no
dependents at home so their schedules are flexible. Younger adults want to
volunteer but have difficulty freeing time, particularly the parents of
school age children. Retired adults are probably a dependable long term
volunteer resource for FGM.
:: United Way Grant Application
Captains Jody and Nick Montgomery were impressed with the quality of our
grant application. They were also impressed with the fact we put it
together in 3 days.
The next step is a review board hearing. If the hearing board likes the
program as outlined, they will recommend funding. The funding won't show up
until fiscal year 2005. I know U.W. officials are eager to hear about FGM.
Rhonda Brown of the U.W. said so when Nick and I met with her for guidance
on the grant application.
:: Intel Controller-less Modem
Carl and I discussed strategy re cheap modems.
First, he will try to successfully compile and load the kernel module in
VmWare GSX (virtual server). If a module will compile and load in GSX, it
will certainly compile and load on a real machine. According to Carl GSX is
very rigorous.
Second, we may have to compile a different kernel for VL modem installs.
Carl may have to drop back to the 2.4.18 kernel to get the Intel HaM driver
to work. He also believes it is worth investigating the 2.6 kernel. The 2.6
kernel should run faster on a low resource box than 2.4.
Third, Carl brought up devising our own distro. I almost choked on that
one. If we use a 2.6 kernel, we are also looking at recompiling apps. At
that point we might as well roll our own distro, which brings up long term
support and maintenance issues. Carl favors Fedora as a base. I almost
choked again.
Fourth, we may want to test purchase other inexpensive modems which are
better supported for the Linux 2.4.20 kernel. Jay suggested purchasing used
hardware modems (internal) for $15 at surplus. Unfortunately most of them
are 28.8 kbps.
Tom
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